THE INTERCOLONIAL REGATTA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2162, 29 January 1881, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL REGATTA.

The above regatta, which took place in Hobson’s Bay on January 15th, was witnessed by an immense concourse of spectators. Additional interest was lent to the proceedings from the fact that the two New Zealand yachts were engaged, the Taniwha in the first-class race and the Zephyr in the thirdclass. The former vessel was specially built at Auckland to compete, while the Zephyr, a little yacht of seven tons, will be remembered as having come from Dunedin to take part in the Champion Race at Lyttelton on New Year's Day, in which event she came in second. The weather at the Melbourne regatta appears to have been too light to suit the Taniwha, as it was noticeable that when the breeze freshened she gained perceptibly on the Hon. W. J. Clarke’s yacht, the Janet, which was regarded as her only dangerous opponent, and which eventually won. The Taniwha came in second, but had to yield the honors on time allowance to the Secret, another Auckland built yacht. In the thirdclass race the Dunedin boat showed herself to be very fast, and completely distanced her rivals, coming in twenty-eight minutes ahead of the rest. The “ Age ” gives the following account of the events

Challenge Race, for yachts not less than 15 tons, with time allowance. First prize, .£200; second, .£SO; third, .£lO. Three times round a course from the flagship to a buoy off Point Cook, thence to a buoy off Brighton and round the flagship. Distance, 45 miles. Janet, cutter, 38 tons, Mr W. J. Clarke, V.Y.C 1 Taniwha, cutter, 36 tons, Mr Nicol, Auckland Y.C 2 Secret, cutter, 28 tons, Mr C. G. Miller, V.Y.C. 3 Edith, cutter, 43 tons, Sir T. Elder, Glenelg Y.C 0 Zephyr, cutter, 23 tons, E. Honey, S.A.Y.C 0 May Queen, schooner, 35 tons, E. White, V.Y.C 0 The Enchantress was detained at Portland through stress of weather. A moderate S.B. breeze prevailed as the yachts took up their position, and on the signal [being given at 10b llmin 71-sec, the Janet was the first to feel the wind, and led off with the Edith and May Queen on her weather quarter, the Taniwha, which seemed to get away badly, Zephyr and Secret to leeward. Each carried mainsail, topsail, jib, and staysail, and approaching the lightship Edith ranged up and passed the beacon exactly level with Janet ; Secret and Taniwha following at intervals of about half a minute j Zephyr to leeward being just in advance of May Queen. On the port tack to Point Oook Janet increased her lead. Secret, Edith, Taniwha close together. The buoy was rounded as follows : Janet ... ... ... 10b 53m 4s Secret ... ... ... 10h 57m 49a Edith ... 10h 58m 24s Totiitulia lOh d

May Queen ... ... Hh Om 34s Zephyr ... ... ... llh 2m 4s Standing towards Brighton beach, on the starboard tack, Janet continued to improve her position, and Secret, which seemed to bo at homo in the light breeze, was drawing steadly away from Edith and Taniwha, which were considerably ahead of Zephyr and May Queen, the schooner appearing to be unable to travel under the scant wind pressure. Once round the buoy oil Brighton, a fair wind was carried to the flagship, and Janet with spinnaker and balloon jib, came down at a great pace. Secret close behind her; Taniwha, lost ground in the run, owing apparently to her heavy sails being unsuited to the light air. The time at rounding the flagship was as follows: — Janet ... ... ... 12h 40m 463 s Secret ... ... ... 12h 40m Sis Edith ... ... ... 12h 45m 16s Taniwha ... ... 32h 46m 45s Zephyr ... ... ... 12h 49m 9fs May Queen ... ... 12h 51m 56s In standing on the port tack for Point Cook for the second time the wind slightly freshened ns the lightship was passed by the leading boats, and almost immediately the clip hooks of the topmast backstay of the Taniwha broke, and as a consequence the topsail had to be sent down. N o time was lost and a jib-headed tepsail was set, but this accident had given the three first-named considerable advantage, and the buoy at Point Cook was rounded in the following order :

Janet ih 10m 44s Secret ... .., ... Ih 27m 24s Edith Ih 27m 44s Taniwha ... ... ... Ih 28m 9s Zephyr ... ... ... Ih 35m 54s May Queen ... ... Ih 3om 19s After rounding the buoy the breeze freshened considerably, and Taniwha carrying it on, passed Edith on the weather side, and gained on the Secret, the Janet being still about the same distance ahead of the Taniwha. The Zephyr and May Queen were, if anything, in a worse position than in the first round. Passing the Brighton buoy, Taniwha, coming with a wet sail, was overhauling Secret. The buoy was rounded as follows : Janet ... ... ... 2h 14m 34s Secret ... ... ... 2h 23m 34s Taniwha ... ... ... 2h 23m 35s Edith 2h 26m 34s Zephyr ... ... ... 2h 35m 51s May Qufcn 2h 36m 37s In running up to the flagship Secret was passed by the Taniwha, but when halt the distance had been covered the wind fell light, and Secret and Edith bringing up a good breeze with them, the former again headed Taniwha, Edith, also ranged up on the weather beam of the Maori boat. Janet rounded the flagship in advance of Secret, with Taniwha and Edith well up. The two latter cleared the Nelson, and Holland, by the exercise of capital judgment, out Edith out at the turn, and went on after Secret, the respective times being for the completion of the second round : Janet ... ... ... 2h 53m 52s Secret ... ... ... 3h 1m 4£s Taniwha ... ... ... 3h 2m 52. s Edith 3h 2m 52£a Zephyr ... ... ... 3h 13m 4s May Queen ... ... 3h 27m 7is I Janet, in laying up for the lightship bad to make a shortboard to weather it, and the

others standing on, decreased her lead slightly. After passing the ship the breeze increased in force, and Taniwha passed Secret before reaching Point Oook. The New Zealand vessel at this point seemed to gain on the Janet, but after weathering the buoy the Commodore’s yacht carried a fine breeze with her to about half the distance to the Brighton buoy, Taniwha second, Edith, Zephyr, and May Queen being at long intervals 'in the rear. Heading for the mark boat at Brighton, the breeze with the Janet fell very light, and the Taniwha, which was shaping nicely to windward, appeared to gain on her rapidly. When closely reaching the buoy the wind also fell light with her, and veered off shore, necessitating a short tack; but Janet, which was again favored by a capful, passed the buoy about seven minutes in advance of her formidable rival, which was about four minutes in front of Secret, Edith a similar time behind her, with Zephyr and May Queen virtually out of the race. On the run up for the last time to the flagship the wind again slackened, and came in irregular blows. Janet was most lucky i» catching the bretze, and'she led to the flagship. Secret was close behind Taniwha, and had the misfortune to carry away her spinnaker halliards, thereby losing the valuable assistance of the sail and several minutes. Edith was close behind Secret, but Zephyr and May Queen, which seemed out of place in the light breeze, were beaten off. The time for the finish was as follows :

Janet 5h 11m 44s Taniwha 5h 17m 17fa Secret Sb 21m 8s Edith 5h 26m 24 ; Ja Zephyr and May Queen did not pass the flagship. According to time allowance the Secret, which had the advantage of 8m 24> from Janet and Taniwha, was placed second, being only one minute later than the first boat. The winning yacht was sailed by It. Banner, the Secret by Dick Hellings, coxswain of the Magic, of Fort Jackson, and the Taniwha by Holland, of Sandridge. Third Hace, for yachts not exceeding 7 tons. Distance, 20 miles. Twice round a coarse from the flagship to bnoye off Brighton and St. Hilda. First prize, .£100; 2nd, .£10; 3rd, .£lO. A. J. S. Gibbs’ cutter Zephyr, 7 tons, Dunedin Y. C 1 E Morey’s entter Grand Flaneur, 5 tons, Ballarat Y.C 2 W. Bussell’s cutter Vivid, 4 tons, South Australian Y.C. ... 3 W. Baily’s cutter Viola, Ballarat T.C. ... 0 Murray’s entter Vandnara, 5 tons, Albert Park Y.C 0 Fawcett and Temple’s entter Albion, Albert Park Y.C 0 E. Edward’s entter Gircfla, 5 tons, Albert Park Y.C 0 Albion was not on the line when the signal was given to start, so she had to be content with the leeward position. Zephyr, who carried a sliding gunter sail, was quickest away, closely followed by Grand Flaneur, who made a sharp board to windward, Vivid and Viola. Coming in from St. Hilda Zephyr had increased her lead, and Albion, who had worked splendidly to windward, held a good position, having passed Grand Flaneur. Passing the flagship first time, the boats were as follows: Zephyr 2h 40m 10s Albion 2h 44m 14s Grand Flaneur 2h 46m 11s Vivid 2h 48m 31s Viola 2h 56m 30s Vandnara ... ... ... 2h 57m 30a Girofla ... ... ... 3h 4m 10a After passing the flagship Albion retired, owing to the supposition that she would be disqualified for not being on the line at proper starting time, and Zephyr went on with a good lead of Grand Flaneur, next to whom was Vivid. In the work back to Brighton there was no alteration, but in the run to St. Hilda, and from thence home, the three leaders got so far away that the others gave up or passed the ship at long intervals. The three first boats passed the winning mark thus Zephyr ... ... ... 5h 0m 15*3 Grand Flaneur 5h 28m 2i fa Vivid 5h 28m 29fs According to time allowance the Yirid takes second place.