LYTTELTON REGATTA.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 794, 8 January 1877, Page 3

LYTTELTON REGATTA.

It will be remembered that on New Year’s Day the boats of the Rangitikei and Brskine ran a dead heat for the ships’ boat sailing race, and it was decided that it should be sailed over again on Saturday at 2 p.m. A protest too that had been laid by the coxswains of the Rangitikei’s and Langstone’a boat against the Hawea’s boat taking first prize in the ships’ boat sailing race was allowed, on the ground that the two losing boats had been wrongly informed regarding the course. Captain Wheeler, in reply to a telegram, stating that he did not intend to row the race over again, it was further resolved that the two losing boats should pull the match over again on Saturday afternoon, and in addition to this Capt Clarke of the XXX, winner of the Champion Race, having challenged the vessels running against him on New Year’s Day to a friendly contest for a £25 sweepstake on Saturday, there was quite a miniature regatta on that day, as the three Auckland vessels Minnehaha, Transit, and Belle Brandon accepted Captain Clark’s challenge, so that the big race was for no less than £IOO, A great deal of interest was shown about the races in Lyttelton, but Christchurch did not respond and the steamers advertised to take visitors to see them never started, hardly any inducement offering. The Transit was the favorite ashore, but owing to the calm on Saturday morning, the. XXIX advanced in the betting, as it was known she would have the advantage of the bigger vessels in light winds. The schooner race was started at 11 a.m. by the Vice-Commo-dore and Pilot Beid. It was admirably managed, and could not possibly have given greater satisfaction. The Minnehaha was virst away, but she w< at to leeward, the XXX keeping well to windward, the Transit dose after her, and the Belle a good third, The first tack was made off Diamond Harbor, the XXX being first round, Belle second, and Minnehaha third. The Transit was the last to round, but was well to windward, and increased her lead going across, the XXX being still a good second, and the Minno haho, weathering on the| Belle Brandon, taking third place. They were off Buckley’s when they tacked next time, the Transit ■retting still further to windward of the XXX, and the Minnehaha third, the Belle losing ‘ground as the breeze freshened. On the next tauk|at the. Quarantine ground the Minnehaha was the first to go about, but the Transit still kept far to windward. The XXX was third, and the Belle lust, but Capt Ohlsou’s boat did well going across, and at the next tack off Gollan’s Bay weathered the Minnehaha. At this period of the race the Transit was a quarter of a mile to windward of the second boat. Off Camp Bay the Minnehaha was first round, the XXX and ’’raneit tacking together, and the Belle last. The Transit being still far to windward, XXX second, and the Bella—which here

again weathered on the Minnehaha—third, The last two, however, and the Minnehaha were so close together at this point that it is difficult to decide which had the advantage. The Belle’s foretopmast had been very shaky during a portion of the race, but was now set up properly, and she seemed to be holding her own well, getting a good slant to windward, and all three vessels now began to gain on the Transit as the wind fell light. Off the pilot station the XXX had materially shortened the distance between herself and the leader, the Minnehaha being third, and the Belle last. The Transit and XXX made a short tack here, and stood in for Port Levy, but the Minnehaha and Belle stood right across towards the lighthouse, and there being little or no wind under that shore, lost a great deal of ground, and were almost out of the race. The wind was now very light, with a long easterly roll, and as they neared the buoy, which was more than a mile outside the Heads, there was a splendid race between the Transit and the Lyttelton boat, but the latter was too good for her opponent in the light wind, and gradually crawled up to her and passed her, rounding the buoy first at Ih 12m Os ; Transit second, at lb 14m 30s ; Minnehaha third, at Ih 25m Os ; Belle fourth, at Ih 28m oa. In running for the reef the XXX held her own till near the Quarantine station, when the breeze again freshening the Transit was soon up with her and passed her, getting round the reef at 2h 36m ; XXX second, at 2h 42m ; Minnehaha third, at 2h 48m ; and Belle fourth, at 2h 57m. The breeze continued fresh, and the Transit increased her lead, beating up to the buoy off Eipa Island, passing it at 3h 19m; XXX at 3h 33m; Minnehaha at 3h 38m; and Belle last a long way behind, and out of the race. Running for the reef the Transit still gained, rounding it the second time 3h 40m, the XXX at 3h 57m, and the Minnehaha at 3h 59m, The winning post was passed by the Transit at 3h 55m 30s, and by the XXX at 4h 12m, the Minnehaha being a good third, only a few moments behind the XXX, and the Belle last by nine or ten minutes. The Transit therefore took the £IOO, having passed the post 16m 30s ahead of the XXX, to whom she had to give time allowance of 11m 10s. The race was accordingly won by 6m 20s. So ended one of the best sailing races that ever took place in Lyttelton Harbour. Had the XXX not made a mistake in making a short tack off Baker’s Bay, it is probable that she would have either won or made it a question of a few seconds.

The ships’ boats pulling; race between the Langstone and Rangitikei’s boats was started from the buoy off the Gladstone pier, the course being round the Lady Don schooner lying outside the Breakwater and back twice round. There was a good start, both boats keeping close together till close to the Lady Don, when the Langstone gradually drew away, increasing her lead second time round, and winning easily by three or four lengths. The Rangitikei’s boat was much the best of the two, but her crew pulled very badly: the Langstone’s went in like men, and reallysurprised us with their admirable stroke. This race was started by Mr J. C. Boddington, vice-commodore of regatta. The ships’ boat sailing race was started by Mr Packard, the Rangitikei’s and Brskine’s boats being the competitors. The Rangitikei drew away at the start, and rounded the buoy off Ripa Island first, increasing her lead whilst running for the reef. Beating up from the reef to the winning post, however, the Siskine picked up. and just at the breakwater managed to crawl in ahead of her opponent, winning a splendid race by a few seconds. Messrs Gibson and Boddington acted as judges. The scene in the harbor throughout the day was a most beautiful one; besides the competing vessels, the yachts Secret, Annie Ogle, Fleetwing, and Winona were all under weigh, the three former having pleasure parties aboard, whilst the Winona, ou reaching the heads, stood away to the southward, bound for Dunedin. The Secret showed her sailing qualities to splendid advantage in the fine N.B. breeze, and your reporter has to thank Messrs Niccol and Hulme, who gave him a lift in their beautiful craft, for being able to give such a full description of the races.