KAIAPOI REGATTA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1259, 1 April 1878, Page 3

KAIAPOI REGATTA.

The supplementary programme of this regatta was carried out under auspicious circumstances on Saturday. As on the previous occasion the committee’s head-quarters were on Monk and Co.’s wharf. Dr. Dudley acted as judge, and Mr J. Lowthian Wilson as starter, in the various events. The river was in capital order, and the wind sullicient for the sailing boats to be fairly and evenly tried. Few entered in this race, the Lotus being the favourite, but the Ariel proved equal to any of her previous performances. The single sculling race, in double sculling boats, for a cup given by Mr Schmidt, resulted in a very close contest, G. Wright winning in the Ma’komako. The race in double sculling boats also excited a deal of interest, and was well won by Winterhouso and Matthews, A boys’ swimming race, for lads under 15, was gamely won by F. Weston, and the men’s race by G. Wright, who beat T. Preece by a short two feet. A duck hunt at the close of the day afforded considerable amusement. There were not any entries made in the fouroared race or the junior pair-oared race, and the amount of the prize money offered will be carried forward. A fair number of persons assembled to witness the afternoon’s proceedings. Tiro following are the events : Sailing race, open to all comers; three miles. First prize, <£s ; second will receive entrance money. Entrance, 6s. Ariel, senooner, length 25ft 4in, beam sft 4in, 3 tons; red, white and blue flag (C. E. Dudley) 1 Lotus, cutter, length 18ft, beam sft Gin, lj tons; white star flag... (W. H. Ovenden) 2 Alarm, cutter, length 18ft, beam sft Gin, 2 tons ; blue cross flag ... (C. B. Reeves) 0 Vivid, yawl, length 23ft, beam Gft, 21 tons ; crimson and yellow flag (F. W. JBernnys) 0 This r.je a was started at Lock's Point, the boats to soil round flag off the fisherman’s hut and win off Monk and. Co.’s wharf. At 1 20 Mr Wilson effected a fair start, the Alarm having somewhat the advantage. The wind was light, and the boats hung to a bit before they were able to leave the mooting 9 * The

Lotus was the first to spring away on the port tack, followed by Ariel to starboard. In the first few boards against the mild nor’easter, the Lotus seemed able to hold her own, and was carefully managed by J. Petersen, while the Ariel, under Dudley’s management, made the best of it oil' the wind. The fates seemed to be against the Alarm, under A. J. Wood’s captaincy, and the Vivid, of which R. H. Mathews was skipper, and they paired off for a race on their own account, while the Ariel and Lotus were making tack and tack against each other, the Lotus having the best of it till Whitefoord’s was reached, when the Ariel, off the wind, made excellent running to the end of Harris’s Island, and then fell away, the Lotus keeping good time and making a speedy voyage to the turning flag, over the best mile of the course in wide water. In this stretch the wind freshened, which rendered the race all the more enjoyable to the sailors in charge. The Lotus turned the flag a minute, or a little more, before the Ariel, and after the latter passed about eight minutes elapsed before the Alarm and Vivid came up. The race was an exceedingly pretty one while the boats were tacking from bank to bank, but the interest to the spectators who were watching with glasses was heightened when the clouds of canvass went up on the run home. The Ariel crowded on and was soon up to her rival, the Lotus, going away at a spanking rate. The boats raced home in the order given, Ariel 5 minutes ahead of Lotus, Alarm received fifteen minutes from the Lotus, and Vivid three minutes further astern. Single Scullers’ race, without coxswains, in double sculling boats ; one and a half miles. prize, Mr J. H. Schmidt’s cup ; second, entrance money. Entrance, ss. G. Wright’s Makomako 1 J. Perrin’s Weka 0 The scullers were dispatched over a straight course from a level start. In the first half mile Wright took half a length from Perrin, and in spite of several spurts on his part, which were answered by the leading boat, was never headed to the winning post, Wright coming in amid loud cheers winner by about a third of a boat. Double Sculling race. Distance, 1 mile. Prize, jBI. Makomako, G. Wright, stroke; E. H, Mathews, bow 1 Weka, J. Perrin, stroke; G. H. Wearing, bow 0 The boats were sent away to a fair start, the Weka having slightly the advantage for the first quarter mile, till the Mako crew piled it on and ran home, causing an exciting race home, which was only lost by a short length. Swimming race, for men, 440 yards. First prize, <£2; second prize, 10s. Entrance, 2s 6d. G. Wright 1 T. Preece 2 J. Haggitfc 0 Mr Wilson sent the trio away from above the Suspension Bridge from a boat into deep smooth water. Rising from the “header,” Preece was slightly in front, and improved his lead over half the distance, Wright a fair second, and Haggitt an indifferent third. Nearing the Swing Bridge Wright put it on and lessened the distance. After shooting the arch he took the side paddle and went in a good winner, Preece having exerted himself too much at start, Haggitt beaten off. Youths’ Swimming race (under eighteen), 220 yards. First prize, <£i ; second, 10s. Entrance, Is. C. Wright) 1 C. Smith J 1 The swimmers took the race very easily till the finish, when they came in so even that the judge declared “a dead heat,” and as it was not called on again, the competitors divided the prize. Boys’ Swimming race (under fifteen), 100 yards. First prize, 15s ; second, ss. F. Weston 1 R. Ross 2 G. Venables 0 The boys went off with a dash in the order named, and never altered their positions, although the race was keenly competed for. Weston swam in excellent style. Duck Hunt. Prize,, £1; entrance, 2s 6d. Time—ls minutes. G. Day Drake C. Smith Duck After a few futile efforts on the part of the drake to secure the duck, a swim for it took place, and a rough tussel in the water, till finally the duck was captured. This concluded the regatta.