YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 141, 10 March 1919, Page 5

YACHTING

SATURDAY'S RACES. Races for first, second, and third-class yachts were decided by the Port Nicholson Yacht Club on Saturday afternoon. There was a moderate to light nor -wester blowing, and all boats carried full canvas, spinnakers, leading jibs, and even a top sail was carried in the case ot "rhe^Mark"Foy system of starting was used-tho first boat home in ta.ch case being the winner. There were ten entries for the first-class event, whicli was cop tested by nine starters During this race the Atalanta met with some mishap to her guff and had to retiro from tho contest. , First-class lacnts. Tho Viola maintained the lead, her handicap of twonty-two minutes allowed, nml with the favourable wind finished lirst one minute ahead of the lvotin XI. The scratch yacht Waitangi was unable to overhaul any of her rivals, and finished, roughly, twenty-four minutes after tho Viola. The following aro the finishi„.r times:—Viola (22miu.), shr. 2min., 1; Kotiri II (lOmin.), shr. 3min. lOsec., 2; Wairero 11. (15min.), shr. -Hum. o> Maraugi (Bmin.), shr. smm., Rona (14min.), flhr. 7min. ssec.; Ailsa O; 1 ™" 1 -). Mir 7min. 30sec.; White Heather (15min.), shr. 21min.; Waitangi(scr. , nhr. 20inin. 3053 c.; Atalanta (17mm.), d.n.f.; and Wanderer (18mm.)» d.n.s. Second-Class Yachts. This event resulted in an easy victory for the Wairero I, which negotiated tho course in very smart time. She overtook: the four boats she was giving time to, and tho scratch yacht Galatea was unabb to catch her or any of the other competitors. The following aro tho finishing times:—Wairero I (tain.), -ihr. fiSniin. 55sec, 1; H'weno (lOimn.jnhr. (imin. 55sec„ 2; lolantho (iruin.), ohr. Ilinin. -lOsec., 3; Windward (mini.), slu\ lljmin. 30sec.; Galatea (scr.), shr. 19min.; and Venus (7mbi.), d.n.s. Third-class Yachts. The limit vacht Muratai won this event comfortably. The only othor competitor was the Miro, which vas only all!" to ninko up live of the nine minutes she was giving the Muratai. Tho winner. which had a handicap of lSmin., finished at Ihr. limiii., and the Miro Mmin.) finished nt Dir. 21min. 55scc. The Amai (scr.) did not start.

At last there is being produced, in England. a small aeroplane with wings extending only 15ft., or less than the wing extension of a large albatross. Cases have been known of these birds measuring 17ft. or even 18ft. from tip to up. 'j'hero is evident advance toward the day vhon anybody who can afford the prico will bo able to own an aeroplane without the aid of a special landing tfaa) for it. Tho one referred to can, it is claimed, como down in tho street without blocking traffio any more than ivouhl a hay, wagon.