YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2631, 29 November 1915, Page 9

YACHTING

. 4 HARD NOR'WESTER FOR OPENING DAY. The yachting season was opened on Saturday afternoon with general handicap racos for keel yachts and centreboard boats, under the auspices of tho now amalgamated Port Nicholson Yacht Club. A hard' nor'-wester made tho races very exciting to tho, numerous spectators on tho wharf, as well as to Miose afloat. In spito of tho fact that almost every yacht has part of its crew with tho colours, all managed somehow to find temporary help, arid ladies wore conspicuous on several yachts—in fact, ono yacht- depended solely ou them..

The courso 'was a short ono, with a rounding mark close tb the Clyde Quay Wharf. .It was particularly fine to sec some of tho . bigger yachts gybing round this mark in a smother of spray. The following yaclits entered for the keel class,(with handicaps aud finishing times'

Wairere (E. Bucholz), scr., D.N.S.; Viola (W. Duncan), Bmiu., D.N.F.; Windward (A. Benton), 4 mill., 4.18.30; Muritai (M'Lean and Webb), 4inin., 4.17.25; Wylo ( — Birnio), smin. 4.14., .third; White Wings ( — Olsen), smin., D.N.S.; Rawene ■ (F. Kiernan), smin., 4.17.0; Lizzie (-— Neil). 6min., 4.22: Nancy Stair, 7min. 4.28.30; Isca (J. Holgersou),. llmin., 4.19.0, first; Miru (G. 15mm., 4.28; Ruihi (Commodore Hardham), 17min., 4.25.50, second. • \ •

•Mr. Bothamley'mustrb'e complimented on the way he handled tho Wylo, wliich sailed homo an easy first. One old hand told tho writer that this oruiser would surprise them' all in the blow, but no ono else thought so. The Isoa, too, is faster than a good many think, _ and when her new sails arrive she will make a good showing. The skipper of the Galatea (the- favourite for the day) seemed very nervous at the dreaded mark-boat, and did not risk a gybe. Given another opportunity, he could bo reckoned an easy, winner. This is tho Galatea's first race hero.

The Rawene, with one exception the smallest yacht in the race, crossed the lino third. Veteran. Fred. Kieman knows his boat well. The Nancy Stair executed some startling manoeuvres at the mark-boat, while the spectators held their breath. Ralph Millman framed the handicap. .

. The weather was most unsuitable for those small boats, and the course rather long for a rough day, yet the following six boats came out :—Warehou (A. Reton), sor.; Dauntless (G. and H. Hill), scr.; Nan (L. M'Gregor), smin.: Lotus (Irvine and Fiebig), 7min.; Petrel (R. Wilson), .lOmin.; Spray (G. Mace), 13min.

The first four boats, with competent skippers, stuck to it, and completed the course. The Dauntless finished first, but after deducting haudicap slio tied with Lotus for first place, with'tlio Nan thirty seconds later, third. The Petrel and little Spray started late, and wisely retired after finishing one round of the course. Fred. Cooke handicapped. Mr. T. Hannan acted as st'artor and' judge.