REGATTA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 252, 17 December 1878, Page 2

REGATTA.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16.1878. Commodore, His Worship the Mayor; Hon. Treasurer and Secretaiy, H. B. Bridge, Esq.; Assisting Secretary on Regatta Day, Mr Walter Watkins; Judge and starter," H. H. Fenton, Esq.; Committee —Messrs C. W. Bridge, J. Beecher, C. Alger, G. J:. Black, Lacoste, F. Barker, Gudberlet, T B Tosswell, T Adams, J J Kissel, J. Bruce, G- Wright, H S Bushell, J D Garwood* H Watkins, jun., C Brown. ......... This annual mejeting took place yesterday. The weather was all that could be desired for such a gathering, being fine and warm while a sufficient" breeze existed to prevent the heat beiug oppressive, and to furnish sufficient .motive power for the various sailing races. The attendance of spectators was not so numerous as it has been on former occasions, etill sufficient visitors from the neighborhood were about to give the town quite a lively, appearance. The first race was started with commendable promptitnde at the advertised time, viz., 11.30 a.m. At about half-past'twelve the Wanaka arrived from Lyttelton, bringing from a hundred to a hundred and twenty excursionists. The visitors reported having had a delightful passage down and did not seem by their. appearance to have suffered from that terrible foe to excursionists by sea-sickness. Mr and Mrs Montgomery were among the passengers. The excursionists soon dispersed in various directions, some remaining on the jetty and watching the regatta, some paying a visit to the Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition, an account of which appears elsewhere, others strolling along to some point from which a lovely view could be obtained, and not a few devoting their attention to obtaining necessary refreshi ments, which were, supplied in profusion by the different stallkeepers, who were catering for hungry and thirsty (especially thirsty) humanity. We give below a brief account of the various events, but have to regret that there was not more competition. In the yacht race it will be seen that the Scud sprang a leak arid was thereby disabled. For the four-oared pulling,and the cance race there were no entries, which was the case also with the tub race. The boys' model yacht race was postponed till torday, as by the time it should hare been started the wind had died away altogether. The following is a summary of the races:— , Sailing Race—ln open boats, 20ft. keel and under. Entrance, 10s. Ist prize, £6 ; 2nd, Cup, value £3 10s; Paul Pry, G Wright, red and white .... 1 Mermaid, H; Watkins, red and blue ... 2 Bruce, J Beecher, red and white cross... .3 Crusoe, Viotor-white with red cross;"'.,.„.. 0,. The Crusoe made a very bad start, and was out of the race from the first. The Paul Pry was well sailed and won easily. A good race ensued between the Mermaid and the Bruce for second place, resulting as above. -■ . Two-oak P-clling Race—For youths under IC. Entrance, os. Ist prize, £2; 2nd, 10s. Dart G L Jolly, yfellow with blue star... 1Mermaid, II Watkins, red and blue ... *,2 Molly, J Sunckell, reil white and blue... 0 This was a good race between the first two, Sunckell had the misfortune to break a paddle early in the raie and was out of the contest. . . . . Yacht Rack—Open to all comers. Entrance, £2. Ist prize (if four yachts start),: £40 ; 2nd,-£5. If three start, Ist prize, £30 ; 2nd, £5. Ventnre, G Black,, red with black ball 1 Scud, C W Bridge, red and black check 0 This promised to be an exciting race. Both vessels got away well together, and in beating down the the Scud gained considerably on her adversary. On rounding the first buoy, however, when it became a question of running before the wind Mr Black soon made good his lost ground and secured a strong lead. After rounding the Wainui buoy, the Scud appeared to be in distress, and it was thought at first that it would 1 be necessary to send the launchto her assistance. She was observed however to be making straight for the wharf, and this was not done. It appears that immediately after rounding the buoy she 'sprung a bad leak, and it became impossible to keep the water* ddwn even by incessant bailing. Mr Bridge was obliged to throwsoraestoneballast overboard and make a bee line for the wharf, leaning the course, olearto his antagonist. Of con rse, after this the Venture had nothing to do but to sail over the remainder of the course. The race was started at 1.30 and the Venture came in at 3.55". Considering that towards the latter part of the tim« there was hardly any v4pfi,"'we consider that this may be considered very good.time, as the distance traversed could not have been, less than thirty miles:: ■ Sailing Race—ln open boats, 30 feet over all and under. Entrance, £1. Ist prize; £15 ; 2nd, £3. Dauntless, Welch, ... ... 1 Edith Wynne, G. Wdght, red and white 2 The Dream, W., 8., Tosswill, white with blue cross ... ... ... ... ... & L This was decidedly the best race of the day. The Dauntless was. a Lyttelton boat which had arrived by the steamer. The Dream secured a good tead, and the Dauntless lost a good deal of ground between the reef buoy and the Island buoy by keeping too much to windward. However, she managed Jto overhaul her antagonist in running up to Tikao Bay, and from this point led, closely followed by the other two. On approaching the flagship the wind died away, and the Edith Wyfane, which (secured the last - puff, forged ahead and took second place. Four-oared Pulling Race, Inrigged—Open to all comers. Entrance, £1.. ■ let) prize. :£lO IGs, or cup ; 2nd, £2. This race did not come off, though a crew of Mr T. Brough had come down from the Head of : the Bay, hoping to meet a Lyttelton crew. As none, however put in an appearance, th#y could not enter'

Cabot- Back— Ist prize;For this race there were no; "entries. Scullinc* Race, One-oar—Entrance, Is, -Prize, £1. Dart, Stewart "V Georpe Robinson also ■ started, but Stewart"won us he liked. Tub Race —Entrance, Is. Prize, £1. There wore no entries for this affair. Boys' Model Yacht Race — Ist prize, 2Os ; 2nd, Mr Billens' prize, value 15s. • This race was postponed till to-day, there being no wind. # _ Duck Hunt—Entrance, 2s. Prize, £2. This was an utterly hollow affair. The "duck" either could not. or would not make any efforts to elude (hi" pursuer, and the thing was a gift. We think that the public have a right to complain of people making sham entries. The affair was either a complete " sell," or else one of the competitors was utterly hteapable of making the slightest attempt at winning-