AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 888, 4 February 1930, Page 14

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

SANDERS CUP CONTEST RACING IN RETROSPECT lii pome respects the Sanders Cup f.ontcst mailed on the Waitemata Harbour las*: week was a disappointment. Jn so describing the racing there is not the slightest intention to imply that Auckland yachtsmen are whipping the cat over the loss of the cup. Not at all. On the contrary, 80 per cent., probably more, are genuinely pleased that honours once again have gone to another part of the country It is good for the sport. But most do feel that the contest was an inadequate trial of strength, that four races did not demonstrate conclusively the capabilities of the four competing crews. Examined dispassionately, what did Otago’s victory* mean? Eileen crossed the finishing line first three times out of four. The medicine which George Kellett, skipper of Eileen, mixed for Auckland consisted, did it not, of one part pure luck, ono part half-luck, half-refusal-to-be-led, and the third part complete out-generalship of Joe Patrick. Thus . n analysis of the three races. George Kellett was first to acknowledge that he hadn’t a show in the wide world of winning that third race until Avalon emptied out. As for the halfluck, half-refusal-to-be-led race, no one can say what the result would have been had Joe not set off for the •wrong mark. Eileen was leading at the time, but could Kellett have maintained his advantage? KELLETT’S GENERALSHIP As for the third ingredient in Auckland’s gruel, every clear-minded spectator who knows anything about the game will admit that George Kellett • >ut-generalled t?ie veteran Aucklander. And further, because Kellett was willing to take the very great risk of carrying a crew of two beside hmself, while the other boats each had four, Eileen was able to outsail Avalon, both off the wind and on although <*n the beat, when w*eights are equal, Avalon is undeniably the faster boat. After the race one of Auckland’s crew readily agreed that Eileen could not be caught because Avalon carried too much weight for the patchy w*inds, and also because of that unnecessary short board early in the first round. Although Joe Patrick did several things which showed he was off colour in comparison with his former brilliance, he certainly sailed two fine races, namely, the second, in which he won, and the third until he capsized. In both instances he left that excellent yachtsman, George Kellett, standing. Patrick was, of course, very lucky in the second race. He went round the home mark on starboard instead of on port and lost 90 seconds in correcting the error. Somebody on the wharf pointed out the mistake in stentorian voice, but doubtless three men in Avalon had already acquainted their skipper of his wrong turn. The point is, had Eileen, or other of the pack been nearer Joe might have lost the race. Some there are who have blamed him for capsizing. Shouldn’t have been risking a spinnaker when he was streets ahead of Kellett. Such criticism is not right. Patrick would have been taken to task if he had not used the extra on that breezy run, so Where do the critics stand now? RULES ARE RULES

About that foul at the start of the fourth race. Eileen’s spinnaker boom touched Avalon. The judges noticed it. Many onlookers did also. The starter admits the incident; it happened when the boats were under his control. If Avalon’s skipper had chosen to prot€;st an inquiry would have been precipitated with probably only one outcome. The judges conferred. They decided there was nothing to take action about. Why? Rules are rules. If they are going to be circumvented what’s the use of the Y.R.A. code or any other? The incident would have been a great deal easier to handle had the foul been committed by any other than the winning boat.

In the circumstances Joe Patrick in not protesting did the only thing a skipper situated as he was could have done. Any more could only have come from the judges. Imagine the liowls of public disgust with the sport had the nation, untutored in the fine points of sailing regulations, opened the papers and read something of this sort: “Eileen defeats Avalon but Auckland skipper lodges protest— Eileen's boom tips Avalon’s mainsail.” The question of sportsmanship does not enter into the matter. Anyone who knows veteran Joe Patrick knows a. synonym for sportsman. If the touch did take place, and it has not been disputed, then Patrick was legally wrong in omitting to report tho accident, but morally right. And this side of the balance weighs overwhelmingly in his favour. TWO-BOAT CONTEST The contest was additionally disappointing in that from the outset it was purely a two-boat encounter. Colleen (Canterbury) and Clyde (Wellington) were never in the picture. Prank Collins did not have the boat beneath him for a show against Avalon or Eileen. This was particularly apparent in view of the fresh weather which prevailed for three out of four races. As for Clyde, better things were expected. She won two races and was runner-up to Avalon at Akaroa last year. The explanation, according to Wellington supporters, was that Neil Rowntree did not get the hang of the harbour, was erratic and inclined to wild speculation. What a number of yachtsmen would like to have seen •would have been a change of boats and skippers after the decision of the contest. say, two or three test races. Probably with Kellett or Patrick at tho tiller, Clyde could be made to perform attractively. But not Colleen. It was regrettable that domestic discord in Canterbury resulted in the withdrawal of Betty and her business-like skipper, George Andrews. Further disappointment followed the nonappearance of Val, which was coming North to show Avalon what she did not show in the 1928 trials, now historic and famous. Now that the Sanders Cup has been taken away by Eileen, this column joins its warmest congratulations to George Kellett with those of yachtsmen throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. But, George, Auckland will be down your way next year. DUNEDIN PRESS VIEW “It may be surmised that it was with no great expectation of recovering the cup for Otago that the Eileen was sent to Auckland to take part in the annual competition,” says the Otago “Daily Times.” in an editorial. “For that reason the success that has been achieved by Eileen will be all the more gratifying. Otago yachtsmen will, however, prudently refrain from declaring that the result proved that their representative was the best boat in the contest.” The “Times” says it has to be admitted, frankly, that luck, always an element to be taken into consideration, entered a good deal into the first and third races, and that it was distinctly favourable to Otago. “In the fourth race,” it is added, “Eileen seems to have fairly won on her merits, and on the superiority of the judgment exhibited by her skipper.”

By KEELSON. OUT OF THE LOCKER The launch Kenya left on Friday last for a cruise up North. Mr. Heard and party intend to try their luck on the fishing grounds at Cape Brett. The auxiliary mullet-boat Twilight cleaned at Matiatia at the week-end. She leaves on Friday on a cruise to Russell. * o The E class keeler May Belle spent the week-end at Matiatia and Motuihi. Motuihi proved a popular rendezvous for boat-owners at the week-end, 52 boats being in the bay on Sunday. Among them were: Huia, Aratliusa, Queenie, Starlight, Starloek, Omatere, Rover, Doreen, Opah, and Beaute. The A class keeler Ilex cruised as far as Matiatia and up the outside of Motuihi on Sunday. The launch Nyria, Mr. F. Jeffers, was at Motuihi at the week-end. The commodore of an Auckland yachting club was the centre of quite an amusing little incident at Motuihi one week-end recently Immaculately clad in whites, it was his intention to go aboard his yacht. But the best of dinghys have a habit, when one steps into them the wrong way, of capsizing, and the commodore received a thorough wetting. A young lady also shared his fate. # * # The launches Ramona and Adelaide, with the Southern visitors to the Sanders Cup contest, called in at Motuihi on Sunday. * * * The usual weekly dance of the Akarana Yacht Club will be held in the clubhouse, Mechanics* Bay, tomorrow evening. , $ * s* General satisfaction is expressed in Tauranga with the success of the lads in the 7-footer events at the Auckland regatta. On their return home they were met by a number of citizens and were congratulated by the Mayor upon their wins. Mr. W. J. Stevens, commodore of the Yacht and Power-boat Club, also spoke, and cheers were given for the lads. * $ * The racing for the Australian Cup in the International Star Class will be held this week-end, the first of three races being held in conjunction with the Devonport Yacht Club regatta on Saturday. Ola IV. will not be participating, as Mr. E. Swinnerton, now in the Waikato, cannot get to the harbour. His boat is still under cover. Mr. Mouatt, owner of Moa, has been absent from the City for some months, too, so that the projected race with a representative boat from Sydney had to be abandoned. The Philippine squadron is ready to send a boat to Sydney and Auckland, when invited, and it is hoped to have an international event arranged for the next Auckland regatta day.

A full muster of the Devonport Yacht Club Committee last evening allotted the cups for the regatta on Saturday. This club has a happy idea of allowing the cups to “go round” by drawing for the classes that will compete for the cups each year. This time the draw is: Duder Cup, A and B classes; Jellicoe Cup, B and M classes; Herald Cup, M class; Edwin Cup, 7-footers; Maude Shield, T, X and Y classes. Two others cups, the Coldicutt and Hislop, are held in reserve for a cruising race later in the season. Big entries are anticipated for this year’s races.

Devonport Club has decided to add the finishing touch to its pavilion by* adding a flagstaff; two fine spars have been given and are now being dressed and prepared for erecting. Cleaning up of the grounds is now possible, as only two craft remain on the hard. This year the hauling out committee is to enforce stringent regulations regarding the placing of boats, so as to make everything shipshape and tidy in an effort to keep pace with the beautifying work that has been carried out by the Borough Council in the vicinity of the club’s property. * 4« *

It is to regretted that weather conditions were so unfavourable for the Horton Bequest race on Saturday afternoon. With 18 keelers facing the starter out of 19 entries, and prize money totalling £3l an.' ring four prizes, one would liked, o- have seen a hard-fought and close contest. Of necessity the event became a drifting match for the most part, and with nightfall approaching apace and the finish nowhere near in sight, the 15 boats that abandoned the attempt are not to be blamed. All credit to the three stoics which carried on to the bitter end.

Even the most hardened of old “shell-backs” were moved to expressions of admiration at the magnificent sight provided by the start of the Horton Bequest race for keelers on Saturday afternoon. Of the 18 starters 16 were well on the mark, and there was just sufficient breeze to fill the canvas. The craft made a spectacle that gladdened the hearts of all boating men as, well-bunched and with imposing mien, they bore down on the starting line with slow dignity.

At a meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Sailing Committee last evening, a protest was received from the owner of Moana against Ida for fouling the mark at the starting line, and as the facts were admitted by Ida’s skipper it was decided to disqualify her. The amended result of the race placed Heartsease first, Prize second and Moana third. In the race for class N Ngawa was placed first, Ngaro second and Matariki third. It was explained that although Ngawa’s time had been recorded it had been credited to another boat.

This journal would again exhort yachtsmen to familiarise themselves thoroughly with rules and observe the same rigidly. Although it is not often that the failure to conform with a ruling has the effect of debarring a boat from being placed in a race, the contingency exists and has a nasty habit, of turning up at most inopportune moments. A' classic instance is provided by Nga-Toa’s disqualification in the Horton Bequest race staged by the Squadron on Saturday afternoon. After having led the pack (and later what remained of it) from the time she rounded the Bastion on the first leg from the starting line, and having actually won the event easily, this craft was disqualified from honours in a tedious race she had stuck out doggedly on the score of an infringement she could well have avoided. Officials were right in debarring her from a place for towing after the five minutes warning gun had been fired. It is to be deplored that she rendered herself ineligible in this manner right at the start of an event in which she had acquitted herself so well—Nga-Toa lost nothing from start to finish. Yachtsmen would do well to remember that, in effect, a race starts when the warning gun is fired or signal given, and it is up t.o them to manoeuvre for the starting line from that moment unassisted. (Wairiki and Kotuku were also disqualified on the same score as Nga-Toa.)

ON THE MANUKAU Poor entries in the launch races on the Manukau last Saturday were due to the fact that, with the late hour for low water, and trouble in getting back on to moorings, the launchowners would not race their boats. There is many a slip twixt the race and the cup, as every yachtsman knows. Rarely, however, is the slip so unexpected as in the Manukau Yacht Club harbour race on Saturday. An almost dead calm meant that the boats had to resort to paddling and towing to reach the starter’s line, and 15 or 16 boats belonging to the two Manukau clubs drifted down to the mark off VVaikowhai, the yacht club being represented by Janet, Sea Toiler, Nyria, Betty, Daphne, and Drone. At Waikowhai some of the craft anchored, while others driften down harbour, and Sea Toiler managed to round the buoy and get to the shallower water, out of the tide, and by watching for every puff of wind, gradually worked back up-harbour, and was coming down gaily with the tide for the second lap, before most of the boats, had weathered Waikowhai buoy for the first time. Drone and Nyria had worked upharbour by this time. Sea Toiler had an easy 20 minutes’ lead, however, and even with a “flat out” in the faint breeze would have had the flood tide to bring her back. Within 10 minutes of the home mark, on the last leg, the wind failed utterlv, but farther back Drone and Nyria and some of the cruising £lub boats were favoured w r ith a south-easterly breeze and began to "buzz” home. A faint easterly blew Sea Toiler to the lee side of the channel and on to the bank, and, try as he might, her skipper could not get to the weather side in time to pick up the breeze, nor could he lay thp leeward finishing mark. Drone and Kyria waltzed past. As the boats went off their handicaps, the prize goes to Drone, the scratch boat. . Tbe Manukau Cruising Club is holdlng Its big day on Saturday, when the club championships will take place, and also the open championships of the Manukau for 20ft and 16ft, classes and model yacht races. Entries for the open events, accompanied by a fee of ss, close at 9 p.m. tomorrow (’Wednesday). The launch race on Saturday will be for women members who alone are to take the tiller. Most of the boats are up on the hardy drying out and getting polished up for the day. 'Wild Wave’s crew is working hard. Aoma, last year’s winner of the champion cup, has been hauled out and should be hard to beat. Sylvia is getting ready, and if it blows will be very close. A. blow will also suit Sea Horse, which is hauling up this evening. The boat that may surprise the others is Champagne, who ran consistently into second places throughout last season. Commodore Auger and Sea Gnome will be a hard proposition, light or heavy weather. Drone has been sailing very well lately, and should be among the leaders, especially if it is a run home. With a full-sa.il breeze Daphne should be with the leaders. A boat that is expected to do well is the 14ft. Nyria, especially if the wind is north-east. This boat wits sent across to the Waitemata on regatta day, and though handicapped by the loss of her spinnaker right at the start, and carrying a small sail, showed the rest of the T class the way to the Rona buoy. On the beat up the harbour and on the long run down she gave the leaders some anxious moments, being eighth boat round Sandspit and fourth boat to finish, gaining third place. Commodore Auger is to be congratulated on his handling of Nyria. Miss Mac may be the dark horse on Championship Day if it is a run out and a lead back. WITH THE OUTBOARDS The outboard division of the New Zealand Power-Boat Association has another handicap meeting on the Panmure Basin on Saturday. In addition to four handicap events, there will be an Auckland championship for B class engined boats, tho awards being gold medals given by the club captain, Mr. E. R. Mouat.

The committee in charge of the sport is paying careful attention to devising means for giving the public plenty of excitement, with sustained interest. The programme is as follows:—First race, to begin about 2.30, B class handicap, distance, three miles; second race, C class handicap; third race, I' class handicap; fourth race, B class championship; fifth race, C and D classes combined handicap.’ It is expected that about 28 boats will be taking part. In event of there being eight entries or more in any race, the race will be run in heats. A large number of fast outboard runabouts are making their appearance on the harbour at the moment. A large part of the field which entertained a crowd at Kohimarama was made up of outboard “flivvers.” MODEL YACHT NOTES The long-looked-for model yacht races on January 29 were very successful. The boys’ race, carrying prize money to tho value of £2, was won by lona (Siebert), 455, 1; Rugby, 3m, ?’ Ver »us (Siebert), lim, 3. There were 14 starters. The chief event, open handicap, £3 was run off in heats. Resultshirst heat: Silver Bell, ser 1Xl d t nC -’r- scr ’ Won l:, y 355. Second bea i;_ N'&S-er. scr, 1: Silver Wing, 2|m, ' F, on by 22s - Final; First and second boats only, resulted: Nigger (G Jackson), 1; Silver Bell (L. Better) •> Xpdncy was disqualified, and Silver Wmg gave up the race. Thanks are dae *5! Messrs. E. Bedford. Mackie, E. MaeKinley, R. siebert and C. Murdoch, who rendered valuable assist“CeH°" th ® day - A special boys’ race resulted: Silver Mist (Grace). 1; Xpdncy (Kay), 2; Bonzo (C. Jackson)’, Answers to correspondents: If you write to Mr. H. Jackson, 17 Vincent Avenue, RemufJY- >OI L WIU , be able to obtain full about the Orakei Basin a Ch ,‘ C . lub ’ Mr. Jackson is s ready to help newcomers in making a start with model boating. The Tauranga Yacht and Powersoft,'"'l^ 1 ’ h S ld lts second race for the >-muh Cup for seven-footers on Saturday. Five boats competed. The results were:—K. Andrewe’s Pal, 1- K eb ’“ Retrel ' 2: R * Pemberton’s vestal, o. The aggregate points for the two races for the cup are:—Pal. 10Vestal, 5; Petrel, 4; Dottrell, 3; Ixl, 2. Hal therefore wins the cup.