YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 9

YACHTING.

\ [Bi Mainsiieet.]

FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. ' / Saturday, January Races for' . second, third, and fourth-class Yachts. ■ ■■; Jannary 22,-Annivorsary Regatta. Saturday, January 20.—Mills's Moniorial Trophy (Handicap); lor first-class Yachts only. Saturday, Fobruary s.—Ocoan Bace, Handicap t] aC< cf°h a " lead " kcel Yl f ,lts Mongini;; to Satnrday, February 19,-Ladies' Race, General Handicap. Each Yacht to. be eailedi the whole-way by a lady. ■ ■■ ■

the racing provided last Saturday was full compensation for two windless week-ends yachtsmen have had to suffer.. ■'. The eight competitors in the second-class handicap made a brave showing on tho starting-line, and an excellent raco proved my original estimato of White Heather. " Messrs.. Hoggard and Co.'s boat won easily on time aUpwance, and her actual time for the courso was only one minute and a half longer than Wairert'E. The Heather could have done with a lot more wind, and she will-probably be eocn at'herbest in a "Tjlow." On the bent to Korokoro it was seen that the Wairero was slowly overhauling the White Heather, which was still in the lead.. The Atalanta came next, followed by the Janet and Mahina, who were having a battle .by themselves. After rounding Halswell, Janet made a short board,- but did no good by it, not being able to weather tho Mahina. When at Korokoro the White Heather met with sonie bad. luck when still in the lead, getting headed oft just as she was about to round the buoy for the run home. Wairere camo along from a short way behind, and rounded the buoy as the White Heather was putting in a short board. Atalanta rounded after Wairere, with' Janet and Marina following. Janet and Mahina were the only boats that hoisted spinnakers. Wairere, upon, getting the lead buoy, held it all the way home, but she had to be content with third place after allowing her opponents ;time.: The Atalanta, which was making her first appearance in the racing arena, put up, an excellent performance by finishing a couple of minutes in-front of Janet and'four minutes before Mahina. Viking, Nancy Stair, and -Patronus brought up the rear, the big straightstemmed Evans Bay boat running last as the Result of a. board in towards land, which left her almost becalmed for a time. ' The /outstanding features of the third-class handicap were the. fine sailing of the Nanoya and the meeting of Lizzie and Taipare._ Tho Nnnoya led tho field practically- the whole way round the course, and finished first about 8 minutes ahead of the Lizzie, which only, had 3 seconds to spare.from Raweno. .Mn Ward's boat was not'seen at her best, as she only had her cruising sail on. - The fact that sho defeated the ex-champipn, Taipare, by G minutes is made tho more remarkable, the two boats having got away together. ..-.-.' Tho queer-looking Mahaanui showed a clear stern to tho Warehou and Tuna,in the fourthclass race, and won by a minute on actual sailing without taking her time allowance of Bis minutes into account. The winner got away .with a good lead, and simply flew along when running before tho wind. She was not at her best on'the beat, but her pace-on-the run and lead more than made up for ; this. Tuna sailed a fine race, and was a good match ! for tho winner on the day. ■"..■■, I : Rambler, and Redwing wero the only two Te Aro Sailing Clnb boats to complete tho course, tho former winning by a minute. Soon after the , fleet had passed the Oriental Bay buoy-trouble began, and ouo after, another boat lowered away and ■ headed . back for the -boat harbour,.until six of the eight Starters had given up. A rn'dder gudgeon, a bobstay, a mast step, or carrying away was the stylo of mishap which caused the defections. . i ' Several reasons have been .' given, amongst yachtsmen 'during tho week for the puttingback to tho boat harbour of the Lizzie before Saturday's. The cause of the return to the anchorage was, Mr.-Ward tells me, the carrying-away of the jaws of■: the gaff.. Tho necessitated changing , tho racing /sans for the cruising rig,, and it. must be .admitted that the crow of the smart little third-class crack wasted no time-in changing ;over.'. ,i.-.- ;■..,.': It is stated that-the Janet fhas-Jiteveiv' but out tho second-class course In' faster time than sho put up on Saturday. If this is correct, the Wairero, • White Heather, .tand Atalanta, which all finished ahead of the". -Janet, • must have: established figures Ijetter;';th;an":,the old record. '-■'■,'. •■ .'".''.;■;''"';'~f'"' ■''.;:' > 'H', I,r . Rumour has it that a local syndicate is making inquiries as. tothe price of the'fine Auck-' land yacht Bawfne.. Let them all come! Tho more*, the'merrier... . . . v '■:';. .' . It was noticed .'.on- Saturday that'two of tho yachts were"carryuig..two;br .throe men over the limit .for second-class .boats..- ; :'•■■■'..'*■.> ■"..' Mr. Cooper's launch-met with'an. accident last Sunday afternoon., ■ She was'• going< into one of the small v bays in the",'boat': harbour when the man at the ; wheel ordered 'Tiill "nstern."- The engineer mistook the order for "Full ahead," and the launch shot forward nnd struck the brick wall with considerable force, damaging her bow. ' ,"■•■'"'.■'•■-. ; Mr. Palmer's launch. Vida,' and the Ngairu, will leave for-the Sounds on Christmas Eve. weather permuting. ... ■. - Mr. H. Elliot's new third-class. yacht will probably be launched this i