YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 6

YACHTING

RACE FOR THE MILLS CUP

SEVERAL MISHAPS

Considerable interest was evidenced in the Mills Cup contest which took place on Saturday afternoon, under the auspices of tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club. . Fortunately a good fresh nor'-wester pre. vailed, and with the ten entrants, everything pointed to a strenuous contest. The favoured boats were the AVaitangi and (lie White- Heather, although the chances of the Marangi winning the eyent were not considered unlikely. The ferry steamer Collar was chartered to follow the raco, and fully -100 people made the trip, and many more witnessed the start from the Boat Harbour. The race started at 3 p.m., and those present witnessed a perfect, and most picturesque start. To the enthusiast the start was most thrilling—the nine yachts crossing tho lino almost together, and lying abreast of each other from the King's Wharf to the Clyde Quay Wharf. Right from the jump every particular of yachting skill had to be employed and all attention wag centred on getting all the s]iced possible out of tho craft. For an event of this length (20 miles) the flying start is undoubtedly the bcr.t, and certainly tho more interesting from a public point of view. Every yacht had at least one reef down, but sp:imahrs and elading jibs were carried for the run to the Pinnacle Buoy off S»itoun. The following yachts crossed tho line:— Waitangi, Marangi, Kotiri 11, Dona, Ailsa. Wairere I, Atalanta, White Heather, and Viola. The llvans Bay craft Wanderer left her mnonngs to compete in the event, but her main sail blew out whilst she was b'atir.g up ihe bay. The White Heather and tho Viola collided off Pinnacle Jinny, the former vessel losing her bowsnrit. The Rona had a mishaii to her mainsail off Somes Island and had to retire from the contest. At Point Halswell the Marangi had. the lead, followed by tho Waitangi, Kotiri, White Heather, Ailsa, Atahnta, Viola, Wairere, and tho Kona last. Spinnakers and leading jibs were soon hoisted on most of the craft, and tho instance to the Pinnacle Buoy 1 off Seatoun was quickly traversed. The Marangi maintained her lead .and rounded the buoy just tl.rccquarters of an hour after lie start cf the race, and commenced bf>r long bent to Koro Koro Buoy, off Petone. Two and a half minutes later the Waitangi had rounded, followed by the Kotiri 11., thirty seconds behind. The Ailsa, White Heather, and Atalanta were together, and v. ere approaching the buoy at. a. great speed, nhen tho Viola, flying a spinnaker, joined the trio. Tho situation called for tho skilful handling of the boats, for there was a heavy sea" running and the wind was particularly squally. All four yachts were practically on the. buoy together at about i p.m. The Ailsa. rounded first, followed closely bv the Atalanta, then the Viola | shot 'in front of the White Heather, which' was on the point of rounding. As the White Heather rounded she fcund the Viola practically in stays, end the former yacht was pointed into the wind ; in order to avoid the Viola, but a squall I carried her to leeward and soon the Heather's bowsprit was entangled in the main sheet of' the Viola. In a second the White Heather's bowsprit si.-apped off, for it could not stand the strain of being held by the Viola, in such a heavy sea. The breaking of the bowsprit cleared the Heather and she fell away to leeward. The Viola, which sustained no damage, was then making a stern beard on to the buoy. However, she soon answered her helm and eairried on the race. The crew of the White Heather soon had matters ship-shape aeain, nut rot before everyone was wet through. The ] mizzen was lowered, and under staysail and mainsail the vessel'set a course for the Boat Harbour, where she mrrived at about 5.30 p.m. The Wairere II rounded the buoy nf-xt, followed at some distance by the Rona, which appeared .to be making a. very slow passage. The Waitangi improved her position on the beat to Koro Koro and rounded the buoy some minutes before the Marangi, which was followed closely by the Kotiri IT. The Wairere TI did very well on the beat and obtained fou'th position, the Ailsa being next, followed bv the Viola and the Atalanta last. When off Somes Island the Rons had eome mishap to her mainsail and retired from the contest. Tho Waitangi (scr.) finished first at Oh 3min. 45sec. followed by the Kotiri II(2-imin.) at 6h. lGmin. Msec., and the Marangi (20min.) lOsec. later. The WaiTeire II (26min.) finished next at 6h. "mill 3j>sec. the Ailsa (2Gmin.) (!h. 21min. 0 5sec , the Viola (lOmiiO at fill. 35mm. !ssec, and thr- Atalanta (31min.) fib. 32min. 15« c. The White Heather, which had every chance of winning the race, had a handicap of 2Smin., and the Bona and Wanderer had handicaps of 26miri. and SOniin. respectively. The owners nf the 'White Heather have

protested against the owners of the Viola, alleging that the accident was duo to the negligent'sailing of tho Viola. Pending the consideration of the protest no places have been allotted 'to the ".'aft. although on her large handicap the Viola take? first nlace. with tho Wairere II second' and the- Kotiri II third.