Ocean Race For The Centennial Tennis Overseas New Use For Ping-Pong Balls

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 22, 24 November 1939, Page 38

Ocean Race For The Centennial Tennis Overseas New Use For Ping-Pong Balls

Over Open Water OST adventurous of all the Centennial sporting events will be the yachtsmen’s ocean race, from Lyttelton to Wellington, starting on January 13 from Lyttelton. Uninterrupted on their way round the stormy southern latitudes, save by New Zealand, the world’s prevailing westerly winds needs must force a passage through Cock Strait, making it one of the trickiest passages known to navigators. Confused ocean currents, warm and cold, share with the wind the same doorway between two great oceans, and the narrow channels are broken by abnormal sea-bed formations to send the surging tides into a turmoil often dangerous for small craft. Through these waters the yachts will race in January. Engines in any of them carrying auxiliary motors will be sealed down before they leave Lyttelton, and they will be disqualified if the seal is broken at the journey’s end. The only other restriction excludes all yachts of less than 20 feet at the waterline. All will be expected to be sea-worthy, but yachtsmen are believed to take sufficient pride in their craft to do without rules and regulations enforcing sea-worthiness. Neither are they forced by any law to carry certificated navigators. Most small boat men get enough practice at dead reckoning to see their way through coastal navigation. Wet or fine, warm or cold, gale or breeze, they will leave Lyttelton on time from the starting line between Adderley Head signal station and Godiey Head lighthouse, to make non-stop (save for the military inspection at The Heads) for the finish between Queen’s Wharf and Clyde Quay in Wellington Harbour. No comparable competition has previously been held for New Zealand yachts. From Auckland to Tauranga yachts race every Christmas, but in comparatively sheltered waters, and with never more than a few hours’ sailing between storm and shelter. From Lyttelton to Wellington they will have no sheltered coves in which to break the passage. After Godley Head they will: be lucky if they even see a light, for-a deck two or three feet above open water is rio viewpoint for the low light at Kaikoura, and their first landfall after the long leg across Pegasus Bay, Point Gibson, carries no light.

Time taken will depend entirely on the winds, They hope, at that time of the year, for steady sou’-easters, when they can run along nicely with spinnakers ("bags o’ wind") set and making no trouble. But no one needs reminding that nor’-westers are-more common and that even the perverse nor’ easter might come up and set them fighting for every inch of the way. Although entries do not close until next week, they are fairly sure of 14 boats-six from Canterbury, four from Wellington, two from Nelson, and two from Invercargill-and seven or eight more are probable. First prize will be £40, second £15, third £5. Emergency Regulations will make the provision of wireless communication a problem, Some yachts would probably carry shortwave sets to keep in touch with shore, if they could. It has been suggested that the radio services could arrange a novel re-broadcast for their listeners. New Zealanders have heard programmes from many odd places, but never before from the cabin of a small boat racing in open water. Neil Edwards on. Tennis EIL EDWARDS, New Zealand tennis champion, has been talking to the NBS about the Davis Cup team’s performances in England last season, and his own experiences of touring overseas. He says he has learned a good deal, but does not intend to rebuild his style in any way. Observation of all the varying styles used by the first class international players convinced him that a good style might be important, but could not be the main thing if all these different methods were used with such success. He and the other members of the team met many of the top-ranking players in the Davis Cup Round, at. Wimbledon, and in other tournaments. He mentioned the many successes won by Malfroy-so many that it seems New Zealanders have not fully appreciated the class of tennis Malfroy has been playing in England. Edwards is to broadcast shortly. Ping-Pong Balls for Ballast IFTY-FIVE thousand ping pong balls ballasted F Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird II. when she drove at 141.74 miles per hour over Coniston ‘Water to break the water speed record in August. The information comes from English magazines lately to hand.* "We have learned what we wanted to learn," said Sir Malcolm, when he had shaken himself clear of exhaust fumes after one trial. " There is a devil of a lot more speed in her yet. We are only on the fringe of it. We have not tried the large engine. Incidentally, the one we used was a 12-year-old Rolls Royce engine. One must remember that the boat was carrying 160 Ib. of ballast in the shape of 55,000 ping pong balls. But for this extra weight I might have reached 150 m.p.h."

number of Associations have decided to close down for the present season. * Py %* Bob Fitzsimmons never liked being snapped by photographers. He had very thin legs, and usually had them padded before posing for a photo, A great fighter, Fitz. perfected the "solar plexus" punch, and it was with this blow that he won the title from Jim Corbett. : %* * From Canada comes the news that Johnny Foster is "back home again," and is seeking a contest with the welterweight champion. He paid a tribute to young Jack Davis, who had to "take it" in their match earlier this year. ae * * "Honest" Tom Heeney had intended visiting the Dominion during the Centennial Exhibition, but it is said that there is now little likelihood of his making the trip. He is well settled in business in Miami. * * Ps Boxing broadcasts are always popular, and most of the commentators know their job. George Aldrige, Secretary of the Boxing Council, and Gordon Hutter, of Auckland, have the happy knack of " putting it over." many boxers have entered camp, a ~~