YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 150, 21 December 1929, Page 24

YACHTING

■» "Mainsail"

THE CLYDE AGAIN

FOR THE SANDERS CUE

SELECTOES' EASY TASK

After the Clyde's convincing per* formances in the trials, all four of which she won easily, there was no other course for. the three selectors to follow but to select her to represent Wellington at Auckland in the Sanders Cup contest, commencing on 28th January. The announcement was.made at the ff-eeting o* the We'Vington Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association on Thursday evening, and was received with consideraWe enthusiasm by; *c delegates.

In view of the Clyde's showing at tho last contest at Akaroa and her remarkable displays in the recent trials, it may fairly be said that Wellington's chances of winning the cup are exceedingly bright. The Avalon beat, her by a very narrow margin at Akaroa, and,' although the Aucisfcmd skipper and crew will have a. decided advantage, by reason of the fact that they will be sailing courses with which they are probably familiar, the Clyde and those in her can be depended upon to make a good showing. N. Eowntrec, who has been selected skipper, has well justified the honour which has been conferred upon him." In the trials, he proved that he is cool and capable, and has a wide knowledge of sailing tactics which may be the deciding factor in the Saaders Cup series. At Akaroa, ho did very well— that was conceded by all who witnessed the races—and since then ho has mi-p---roved considerably." Auckland's Choice. At a meeting of Yacht ana Motor Boat Association held last week, Mr. Frank Oloke's Avalon was unanimously named to defend the Sanders Cop on. behalf of Auckland. Tho Avalon was built four years ago by C. Bailey, junr., for Mr. Cloke. She represented Napier in the content held at Lyttelton in 1927, her owner having been transferred to that province. The next yeat-she represented Auckland in the cOntestheld at Stewart Island, being runner-up to the Betty, which won on the fifth race. Last year she was successful at Akaroa and brought the cup back to its home town after an absence of four years. The Otago Representative. For the third year in succession the Eileen has been selected to represent Otago in the Sanders Cup contest. At Stewart Island in 1928, and again at Akaroa last February, the Eileen proved a worthy challenger. She. pnt up a fine performance during the past month by winning the four trial races in a most convincing manner. Tho boat is sailing even better this year than last season, and George Kellett has the real "feel" of her, says "Rudder" in tho "Otago Daily . Times." On her sailing performances tho Eileen has proved that she can sail as_ fast as any boat, both on and oft the wind, that will cpmpete in the Auckland contest. With Kellett at the helm, and an experienced crew, the Eileen has a good chance of winning the cup. She proved equally as good as the Avalon and the Clyde at Akaroa, and it will be interesting;to see how she will compare against the Betty at Auckland. If the Eileen.was equipped with a new suit of sails her" chances, of success at Auckland would be even brighter. It is to be hoped that a move will be made to secure new sails forOtago''s challenger. Kellett will bo up against strong opposition this year,bburt r as he has sailed on the Waitemata on several occasions, Auckland JEtarbour waters are not new to him. .-.■•- Worser Bay Club. ■ .. Last Saturday afternoon was theday picked for the start of the Corhweil Cup trials. This cup is presented by the Takapuna Yachting Club for the best crew in New Zealand in the Takapuna class. This year conclusions .will be tried at Dunedin. . The Wellington, trials were held a#Petone in: a light southerly wind. Practically all the clubs round about Wellington were represented. There was: time for two races only, from the wharf at" Petone to Somes Island and back, and representatives from Worser Bay won both, these races. The Takapuna Spitfire made the journey across from Worser Bay to Petone flying a spinnaker. She was lucky to get a tow home by the launch Toroa, which also came to Petone. Mr. A. G. Harvey, the sole selector, is to be congratulated on the way in which he made the visiting crews welcome at his residence. Sunday dawned with a flat calm, and about 10 o'clock a light southerly came up, allowing three of. the Worser Bay Takapunas to sail "to the other side of tho harbour, where, if anything, it was too hot. The whole harbour was dotted over with white sails, and it seemed like a day in the Tropics. Unfortunately, the wind dropped completely away in the afternoon, and several yachts were becalmed at the entrance. A light northerly came up, however, enabling the yachts to make the return journey, although it must have been a little annoying to beat up in a southerly and then to have to beat back again in a northerly. ■ Suggestion Favoured. A letter from the Otago Yacht and Motor-boat Association favouring Wellington's proposal for the formation of a Dominion association to control yachting, motor-boating, and outboard racing was read at Thursday night's meeting of the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association. The Otago delegates, it was stated, had been empowered to support the proposal, provided that it was found workable. One of the remits -which the Otago delegates would put forward at the Dominion conference was .to the effect that the Sanders Cup contests be held in the different centres in rotation, irrespective of which province won the cup. ':.'..■■■. The chairman (Mr. J. Moffat) remarked that he thought it was time something was done in the direction, of forming an association as suggested. At present Auckland seemed to inaugurate all the cup and championship races, and the rest of New Zealand had no say in the matter at all. The. secretary (Mr. E. J. Wilson) said that no replies had been received from the other associations. Mr. F. C. Holmes considered that the Dominion conference would probably decide what was to be done; The likelihood was that there would be a conference, perhaps in Wellington, when steps would be taken to form an association. Mr. D. Jameson was appointed to represent tho outboard owners at the conference in the event of the proposal being discussed.