YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Bt Mainshket,]

THE YACHTING REGATTA. To-dtvy—Seoond Race of Second Series, First, secondhand Third Classes. February B—Third Race of Seoond Series, First and Second Classes. Tho Gathering of the Fleet at Petone. The regatta held at Petono on Wednesday last was- a day of days for" tho "white .wings." They turned up from Wellington in full force, and their arrival was witnessed by large numbers of Petono folk. Probably there has never been such a large fleet of yachts down at that end of the harbour before. It' was a light southerly air, and the yaohts had clapped on every stitch of canvas, and running before tho breeze they made a very pretty picturo. Balloon jibs, spinnakers, and topsails were out on practically every yacht, from tho small foiirteen-feet "flatties" to the largest croft there—Waitangi. All tho yachts and launches tied up at the northern side of the Petone Wharf, and when tho southerly freshened up matters wero somowhat lively for a time. Tho small "flatties" wero sailing about in all directions, and often they got into difficulties, and—mOro often still—they' seemed to avoid what appeared certain collis ; on. Being so closo together, tho large yachts, when manoeuvring for a start, wero also nearly in trouble at times, but tho skill of tho man at tho tiller always saved the position. Tho Camera Man. Tho man with tho camera can sometimes make hiinfolf very obtrusive, and ho certainly did hot "hide h's light under a?bushel" at Petono Wharf on Wednesday. Thoso who tako photographs purely for tho lovo of the thing aro generally a littlo moro modest than tho man who does it to make monoy. As most people know, tho lot of the starter is no easy one, and when a photographer is politely asked to mako room for this officer, and refuses to do so, tho starter naturally is apt to lmve "a littlo more to sav." In Wednesday's "argument," the starter proved tho winner. Dusky Maid and Walone.' "Boy" Whito ought to bo fooling vory proud just now, for ho has the honour of boing in tho position of possessing tho fastest motor-boat in Wellington. Local motor-boat enthusiasts havo been very undecided on tho question ns to which launch was tho faster—Waiono orDusky Moid. Tho majority thought ithat Mr. Palmer's Wniono was tho faster, but "Boy" has never had much to say on tho point. However, tho question was definitely settled on Wednesdoy last, when Mr. Palmer's boat was easily beaten. Tho courso was a triangular one, and the launches went, three times round it, and at tho finish they had covered about 1") miles. Dusky M,-iid must havo dono the courso at tho rato of about 15 or 16 miles an hour or a littlo more. Waiono finished about two minutes after Dusky Maid. Now that- launch racing has become so interesting, it is possible that some enthusiast may bring down a speedier oraft. Let us liopo 60, anyhow. The Yacht Races. Possibly Forbes imagined that ho was sailing .Tnnofc . when he sailed tho Wairero 1 homo first in tho first-class yncht race on Wednesday. Wairero I and Janet aro very similar in appearance, and aro both very' fast vessels in a medium breeze. Forbes won many races in tho Janet when sho was hero, and ho won both races in which lie sailed Wairero I on Wednesday. "Sid" Fordham was no doubt feeling on very good terms with himself when he sailed his yacht homo first in tho second-class ovent, and no doubt he was still moro pleased when ho camo second in tho general handicap event. _ His yacht has dono practically nothing in tho Port Nicholson events so far this year, and her performances on Wednesday were somewhat of a surpriso. It is said (if "Sid" that you never ■ lcnoir what ho is (loins; until he has dono it. Tho fact that the Tai beat tho I.isw.io in two races will bo the talk of tho Boat Harbour for quite a whilo. ' ' , Races To-Day. Tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club will conduct three races this afternoon, boing tho second races of tho second series. Tho events aro for first, second, and third-class yachts, and it behoves all yacht owners to eompele for these events. Tho yacht races in the anniversary regatta wero well rontiwlcd, and there appears to bn no reason why tho Port Niohohon Yacht Club's races sbculd not bo woll contested.