AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 16

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

By

KEELSON.

RACE TO AWAROA BAY

NOTES FROM AKARANA When it is taken into consideration that small yacht racing on the Waitemata in recent years has not drawn large fields the muster at the \karana Yacht Club's meeting on Saturday must he regarded as satisfactoComparisons are always informative and legitimate if not designed to hold uo one club against anotner—-a Partiality which has never been brought against this column. Therefore, analysed Akarana's fixture on Saturday as compared with that of a year ago indicated practically the same number of starters. The figures are: 1828, 52 boats; 1929. 60. Class by class the statistics are as follow, last season's being given in parentheses: —V class. 4 (4); L, 7 (9); N" 0 (3); H. 4 (2); C and E, 7 (a), A and B. J (4): Star, 2 (3): launches, 5 (a); M, 4 (5); S 4 (4); T, X and Y. 10 (4): outbroads, 0 (4). The figures show an improvement in H. C and E. and T, X and Y classes, the others being stationary or smaller. Last year a stronger and steadier breeze, also from the sou’-sou -west, was blowing and the racing was more lively. Nevertheless, there was plenty .►f incident in Saturday’s racing and most of the boats had some fun with their spinnakers owing to the trip down harbour being not quite a run. Several lost their tacks and had trouble in picking the end up. Starloch and Manene won in their respective classes this year and last, otherwise the prizes were differently distributed. On the way down to the bay Mahakl and Gloriana came into < ollision and the latter was seen staggering home on Sunday with a juryrigged mainsail. The honour of recording fastest time to the destination goes on this occasion to Nga-Toa, which did the distance of 15i nautical miles in 7sec under the two hours. Usually one of the big mullet boats shows the slickest pair of heels. Ngatoa was sailed this time by Mr. Geo. Winston© himself. It was unfortunate that Mystic arrived 25min. late for the start of the V’s. She was assisting a boat in Shoal Bay which had got into difficulties. As it turned out Mystic completed the trip Bmin faster than any of the other three, and this without any extras whatever. The two Star boats brought up the rear of the flotilla after starting veiy late. Close sailing was staged by the I/s. Venus arrived 38sec ahead of Valeria, which finished 25sec before Doreen. Rakoa was next and only lsec further away. Mr. A. G. Brown is to be congratulated in breaking in on Mr. Scott Wilson’s string of successes in the M class. Although Mr. Wilson in Mawhiti was going well and looked like netting his fourth successive win, Mr. Brown made the most of his chance on the run to the Bastion for the second time and caught his formidable rival and was never headed. It is good for the sport that honours should go round. Now then, Maratea, Maroro, Manua and Matarere there are plenty of races left this season! The decision of the officials to reverse the harbour courses, which as originally published would not have required a slog, was a wise one, but it ultimately led to confusion. In V class Lois and Opah threw away Their advantage by going round the Resolution the first time on starboard instead of port. The rest saw the error in time to make the correct turn.

THE CHRISTMAS REGATTAS

The Tauranga Regatta Committee has extended the date for the entries for the Colin Norris Memorial Gold Cup race to December 20. That interest in ihe regatta is taken from elsewhere is evidenced by inquiries being received from Rotorua, Waikato, Gisborne and other places. Auckland sportsmen will be well represented. Mr. S. Ford is taking two outboard motor-boats to compete for the Quirk Cup. Mr. J. B. Cleaver, of Point Chevalier Sailing Club, will be present with a 14-footer. A large number of the rowing clubs have entered teams. Mr. lan C. Horton is to fly down in his Moth airplane. Given fine weather the regatta should be a record meeting. The final meeting of the Whangarei Regatta Association prior to its annual carnival at Onerahi on New Tear’s Day was held recently at Onerahi. The secretary said he had forwarded a sketch plan of the harbour to Aerial Services, Ltd., in view of the proposed visit of its flying-boat on New Years* Day, but owing to the fatal accident in which the plane figured during the week, it was decided to ask if another plane could be supplied to replace the other. The secretary was instructed to forward a letter to Aerial Services, Ltd., expressing deep sympathy on account of its accident. The Northern Steamship Company wrote stating that the Clansman would run to the regatta, returning the same night, as in previous years. The sailing committee's report on rules governing the New Zealand championship race for the 22ft mulletboat class stated that the boats were to sail under the ordinary Whangarei Regatta Association’s rules, with the following additions:—(l) Crews of boats not to be more than five, or fewer than four, including the fairplay man: (2) 20cwt of ballast to be carried underneath the floor, and not to be removed. Mr. F. Crosby promised to donate a cup, and it was decided to give it to the New Zealand championship race for the 22ft mullet-boats. Kntries for both Russell and Tauranga regattas will now close with the secretary of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at five o’clock on the afternoon of Friday next, December 20.

MODEL YACHT NOTES

The results of the Orakei Basin Model Yacht Club racing on Saturday are as follow: —Boys’ race: Venice <3min), 1; Tigress (3min), 2; Silver Wing (limin), 3. General handicap: Venice (2Jmin), 1; Bonzo (limin), 2; Tigress (3min), 3. Racing enthusiasts realise how hard it is to pick a double let alone win a double, but Venice, due to her renovation had no difficulty in winning her two races. News that the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee is again placing model yacht events on its programme, has given much satisfaction in model yacht circles. The prizes, which are in keeping with their splendid programme, are well worth the competition seen each year, and this year will be exceptional.

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OUT OF THE LOCKER

NEWS FROM THE CITY The outboard division of the New Zealand Power Boat Association will hold elimination trials on the Whau River this afternoon to select the boat to defend the interprovincial challenge shield at Russell on December 27. Two heats and a final will be run, the first race beginning at 5.30. The events form part of the programme which was to have been held last Saturday, and which was postponed on account of the death of Mr. Charles Goldsbro, who was killed in the flying-boat accident. The entries are as follow:—First heat: Hum Bug V., Silvertown Kid, Baby Gay, Ocean Mile, Breakaway, Miss Marquette. Second heat: Sea Horse, Miss Arawa, K. 0., Baby Olds, Miss Akarana. The first three boats in the two heats will compete in the final. Outboards which are expected to figure prominently this afternoon are Mr. L. Stericker’s Hum Bug IV. (Elto Quod), Mr. Brit Allen’s Sea Horse (Johnson 32), Mr. Sam Ford’s Ocean Mule (Johnson 32) and Mr. Frank Pidgeon’s Silvertown Kid (Johnson 32). Messrs. W. D. Ross and A. M. Wilson will be in charge of the starting and time-keeping. * * * The B class yacht Daisy, which has been on her mooring outside Judge’s Bay throughout the whole of the winter, has been lent to Mr. Vic Grahame for a space. He has scraped and cleaned her down, and intends taking a party for a cruise during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Messrs. H. Hookham and P. Gunson, well-known as veteran yachtsmen on the Waitemata, who had been members of the Daisy “crowd” for years, are both married and living in Wellington. At a meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee held last evening under the chairmanship of Mr. E. B. Webster, the preliminary programme for the 1930 regatta was agreed to. Two events for the Sanders Cup competition were included in the programme, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Provision was also made fcr a race for the Tauranga 7ft class and model yachts. In the motor-boat division races for all classes of power craft are provided for. It was also agreed to start the races for outboard motor-boats in the morning instead of the afternoon. * * * The May Belle, Twilight, Huia, Kenya and Nyria spent Sunday at Shelly Bay, Beachlands. * * • The usual weekly dance of the Akarana Yacht Club will be held in the club-house tomorrow night. * * * The hall at Awaroa, kindly lent by Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, was packed to the doors on Saturday night, when the Akarana Yacht Club held a dance. Music was supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Tarr and several extras were contributed by visitors. Dance numbers by Mr. John Andrew on his accordeon were very much appreciated. Several musical items and humorous sketches were also given. At the conclusion of the dance a set supper was served at Gordon's boardinghouse. • * * Shipmasters are perturbed by the continued practice of launch and yacht owners of anchoring in the Rangitoto Channel for fishing. On Sunday no fewer than 15 boats were scattered in the fairway of shipping, and it is feared that if the practice is persisted in an accident will happen sooner or later. The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, issues a warning, and for guidance of boat owners gives the bounds behind which boats should keep when fishing. “If boats keep to the east of an imaginary line drawn from Duder’s buoy and the red light buoy in the channel, and to the west of another line from rough rock beacon and Beaii Rock light, they will be quite safe, and there will be no cause for complaint,” says the harbourmaster.

DEATH OF MR. GOLDSBRO

The unfortunate accident to the Dornier-Libelle fiying-boat and the death of its two occupants came as a shock to boating men no less than to other members of the community. Those on the sea have a kinship with airmen who make the water their place of recreation, or business or duty. Yacht and power-boat men have joined in expressions of sympathy with the relatives of two good men. Mr. Charles Goldsbro was well-known to many of us. He was a valued member of the New Zealand Power-Boat Association’s outboard division, and raced in its last meeting on the Whau River three weeks ago. The decision to postpone the racing fixture set down for last Saturday was in accord with the sentiments of all boating men. The outboard division was represented at Mr. Goldsbro’s funeral.