YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 101, 23 January 1920, Page 3

YACHTING

REGATTA DAY EVENTS DETAILS OF THE RACING Seventy-nine years ago yesterday Wellington neld its first Anniversary Day regatta, and each year, with tne exception of lsfrl, tho function has taken place. As tho years rolled 011 nnd the enthusiasm i'or tlie sport of boating and yachting developed, it was considcovil uetirablo to form some institution to give permanency to the regatta, and in 1683 the present Port Nicholson Yacht Club lvas created. The club achieved success, but in later years the regatta has not awakened tho enthusiasm worthy of such a function. Much depended on the weather, and Wellington lias not always been blessed with the best for Anniversary Day—tho occasion being (00 frequently marked by a howling nor'wester. It is worthy of nole that many of tho members of tlie Motur-Boat Patrol, who served with much distinction during tho late war, were recruited from tho ranl>s of local yachtsmen. It has been stated by authorities that the finest body of men who passed through Greenwich during the war were the -Yew Zealand ers. Weather conditions were certainly not of the best for the regatta that was held yesterday. A moderate to fresh northerly prevailed in lhe morning, but liy the afternoon the wind li'ad developed considerably, with the result that many minor accidents occurred. Altogether six races were dccided, all of which wero interesting. In the morning, races for first, second, and thirdclass and centreboard hoats were decided, nnd in the afternoon thcro was a general handicap event, and a launch race. RESULTS AND DETAILS OF RACING. I'irst-class yachts. Pirst prize, 4:7; second prize, ill; third prize, .£2— PtOiia (llmin.), 12hrs. 28min. 20sec., 1; Ailsa OJmin.), 12hrs. 2,' tain. 10=ec., 2; Viola (lDiuin.), 12hrs. 30inin. SOsec., 3. Also started: Atalanta (17min.), 12hrs. 27min. 33sec.; ICotiri II (lOmin.), 12hrs. 3!!min. lOsec.; Wanderer (lSinin.), 12hrs, 33rnin. 30sec.; Wnitangi (scr.), 12hrs. 3l>min.; Marangi (Siuiu.), 12hrs. 38min.; White Heather (llmin.), 12hrs. 12niin. All.boats got away well to timo with the exception of the Waitangi, which was six minutes late, and the White Heather, the Wanderer, and the Marangi, which wero a few minutes' behind their respective flags. The Atalanta made good use of her handicap, nnd soon overhauled tho limit boat Viola. Tho Waitangi found conditions admirable and lost no timo in getting in the pack. On tho run from Koro Koro the Atalanta was well in the lead, with the liona second nnd the Ailsa third. The trio' rounded the marked boat off the Clyde Quay wharf in that order, followed by the ■Wanderer, the ICotiri, the Waitangi, the Marangi and the White Henther last. At Jcrninglnun the Atalanta, had the'misfortune to foul the buoy and this lost her the race. She put up a good performance and finished easily first. The Waitangi put up a good contest, but the Marangi and the White Heather wei'Q disappointing. •Second-class yachts. Pirst prize, <£i; second prize, ,C 2; third. .£l.—Galatea (scr.), llhrs. 17min. 'JOsec., 1; , lolantho (3min.), 12hrs. Bmin. SOscc. Also started: Lizzie (Bmin.), 12hrs. lGrnin'.; IJomp (Srnin.), Venus (_smin.), Komud (Gmin.), Windward (Bmtn.), and Wairere 11. (2niin.), did not finish. This raco proved an easy victory for the Galatea, which was very creditably handled. A succession of accidents spoilt an interesting contest. The Lizzie was disqualified for hitting the buoy at Koro Koro. Tho Galatea led to the marked boat off the boat harbour, followed by tho Windward, who suffered damage to her gear nnd subsequently withdWw. At Point Jeiniugham the Wairere II and the Komad collided, the former losing her bowsprit and the latter damaging her foro rigging. Both withdrew. The 3?«mp (formerly the Mahina) blew out her jib, and the Venus damaged her mainsail and they in consequence retired from the contest. This left the race to the Galatea and the lolanthe with tho result shown above.

Third-class. First prize, .£2; second, <61; third, 10s.—Muritai (Bmin.), llhrs. 4imin. 30sec„ 1; Mini (scr.), 12hrs. Gmin., 2; Niknu (l'linih.), 12hrs. 20min. 30see., 3. Also started: Petrel (17min.), did not finish.

The Muritai was handled with great skill and captured the event easily front tht Mini, which under difficulties put up a, great %ht. As 'she approached the finishing line it was noticed that something in tho nature of a pennant, was flying from the M.iru's gaff. The 1 real cause of this became apparent when the boom parted from tho mainsail, and presently more than one streamer was Eying aloft. Despite this her skipper gathered the fragments of tho sail in his hands, manoeuvred his frail craft across the line, and won second place. Subsequently she got into difficulties near tho brick wall, but her skipper hoisted a trysail and brought his craft to the boat harbour. Centre-board class. First prize, £2) second, £1; third, 10s.—Illinois (lmin.), 12hr. llmin.. 1; Irex (scr.), 12hr. i3miu., 2. Also started: Warehou (lmin.) did not finish Onlv three boats contested tho event. Oil the run back to Point Jermngham the Warehou lost her mast, and was towed ' back bv tho launch Marie. The wind was altogether too severe for theso craft, and tho three entrants are to be congratulated upon the manner in which tliev handled their boats. General handicap for first, second, and third-class vachts. First prize, ,£5; second. ,£3: third, £2; fourth, ,El.—Marangi flOmin.). 4hr. lllmin. 30sec., 1; Wairere II (28min.), 'thr. 17min. 10;ec., 2; Whito Heather (17min.), dlir lSmin. flflsec.. 3; Muritai (annuii.), 'thr. ISmin. Msec.. 4. Also started: Viola (22miii.), -llir. 20ntin. ssec.; ]?ona (lOmin.), 4hr. 2-tmin. lOscc ; lolanthe (2Smin.), -llir. 2tmin. 14sec.; Galatea (2lmin.), •llir. Sfimin. SOsee.; Lizzie (32min.), -llir. IMinin.; Waitangi (scr.); Windward (27min.), Wanderer (1-tmin.), Miru (30iuin.), Kohiri II (lflmin.), and Ailsa (13min.) did not, finish. The Marongi's victory in this race was a snmrise after her morning performance. She was well handled, and captured tho event easily. The AVnitangi started late. Her skipper apparently mistook the flag, and (lid not cross the lino till about Sniin. after his flag to start had been lowered. Tho Hon,a was also very late in starting. The small _ packet .Mini found that she was carrying too much rail, and withdrew early in the race. Bolli the Kotiri II and the Ailsa had mishaps to their mainsails, ant! withdrew from the contest under jibs. The Wairere II entered the race minus a bowsprit, and did surnrisingly well. She chased tho Maramxi all the way. The Muritai was well handled, and deserved a better fate Approaching the marked boat off tho boat iarbour, the Whito Heather went jhout. and bv doing so lost a lot of time and earn the Viola the chance to jibe the mark in third position. However, the yawl passed the commodore's vessel in Oriental Bav. and after rounding .lerninglinm buoy passed the Muritai, which was then holding third position. Tho Waitangi retired from the contest after completing the run from Koro Koro biiov. Launch race—Naomi i (smin.), 4hr. 4flmin. 17«ec„ t; Mario (Sniin.), -thr. 42min. Usee., 2; Veronica (scr.), ihr. 42min. fiscc., 3.