NELSON REGATTA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 308, 27 December 1872, Page 2

NELSON REGATTA.

The weather, which of late has been so threatening, has been graciously pleased to look with a favorable eye. upon our Christmas holidays, and the clonds that have gathered so thickly each evening have, on the sun rising, been dissipated, or at least rendered harmless so far as holiday makers were concerned. Yesterday was a delightful clay up to about 4 o'clock, when the sun became overpoweriDgly hot, and the consequence was that the townspeople flocked to the great centre of attraction, the Port, but not, as it appeared to us, in such large numbers as at previous regattas. However, the cabs seemed to have a lively time of it, not to mention Mr Crewdson's railway busse3 both, of which wore called into action and were running all the afternoon with, full freights. Some boats from Wellington had come over to take part in the proceedings as well as an amateur crew for the whaleboat race, and this added considerably to the interest of the regatta .although our neighbors proved too strong for their Nelson opponents, but that they were, nevertheless, welcome visitors must have been clearly shown to them by the hearty cheer that greeted them on achieving their wellearned victory. The principal event of the day was the Yacht Race which proved as pretty a contest as any we have yet seen in the waters of Blind Bay. There was considerable interest taken in this race as it was known that the Minnohabaand the Red Jacket were to meet and try their sailing powers once again. Five of the little mosquito craft were drawn up in line at the starting post and got away well together, the Minne taking a slight lead, and it soon became clear that she and her old rival -were to bid good-bye to their companions who eDjoyed all the excitement that is said to belong to a stern chase. On getting outside the harbor the little Jacket showed symptoms of a determination not to be satisfied with second place, and she soon began to follow her leader at a pace that was disngreeably fast for the latter, which at last was compelled lo resign in favor of her swifter opponent. On comiog down the Bay oa their return, the distance betweeu them was considerably increased, and the Red Jacket ■ entered the harbor with a strong lead which however, was greatly diminished ; in beating up to the wharl^ Mr Cross who. was sailing his own boat showing that he possessed a dangerously intimate acquaintance with the exact force and direction of the current, together with all 'the intricacies, of the harbor which he has made; his study for tbe last quarter of a century. Towards the finish the race became most; excising, and it began to be somewhat, doubtful which of the two boats .was to be the winner until Mr. Richardson settled. the question by running in between thewharf and the last buoy, instead of keeping , the latter on his starboard side, he ; baying misunderstood; tb,e directions given to him ; by the sailing committee. -Although there was naturally , a feeling of satisfaction at the Nelson, champion securing the. prize, ell must have felt that they were under a

certain obligation to Mr., Richardson for getting the Rqd.',' Jacket over here, and making so fine a race, -as, in the _ absence of such a competitor, the. Minnebaha would have had it. too much her own way for such of the public as wished to see good sport. The result of the various events will be found below. Two-oared Race (open to all comers), 3 miles, l6t prize, £5; 2nd, do,. £i ; entry, 7s 6d. Mr Logan's Firefly ... ... 1 Mr O Wakefield's Napinapi ... 2 The two Wellington boats only entered for this rnce, in which some pretty pulling was displayed. Handicap Coasteks Race, IS miles — Ist prize' £7; 2nd do, £3; entry, 10s. Mr M'Nab's Mermaid • ... __ ..." 1 Mr Thome's Planet ... ..." 2 Mr Westrup's Three Brothers ... 3 A capital race between the Mermaid aud the Planet, tho latter of which was the first to reach the winning buoy by two minutee, but having been handicapped to give the Mermaid five minutes,' she only took second -place. Yachts (open to a-1 comers) — Ist ; 2nd do, £5; entry, 2 Is. Mr Cross's Minniehaha (Cross) ... 1 Mr Richardson's Red Jacket(Richrdsn) 2 Mr Brown's Clanmore (Brown) ... 3 Mr D Burn's Lightning (Bamford) o Mr G W Coventry's;Alert( Blackburn) 0 We have referred to this race in our preliminary remarks. The time occupied was 3 hours and 20 minutes. Some protesting and counter-protesting with regard to an alleged foul took place between the Lightning and tfye Red Jacket. Whaxeboat Race (open to all coiners), 5 miles — Ist prize, £12; 2nd do, £s; '.entry, 2ls. : Mr Cross's Clio ... ... • ... 1 Mr Lofran's Titokowaru ... ... 2 Mr T Freeman's Phantom „.. o This was easily won by the Clio in 36 minutes. The Tito though a Wellington boat was manned by a crew from the Wallace. EIEST-CLASS Oi'EN SAILING BOATS, i miles— lst prize, £7; 2nd do, £3; entry, 10s Mr Thomson's Rose ... ... 1 Mr Jones's Eclipse ... ... 2 Mr Calder's Tommy Dodd .. 3

There was very neat handling of tho boats in this race which occupied 1 hour 24 minutes, and resulted as above. Ships Boats, four oars— lst prize, £5 ; 2nd do, £3; 3rdpriz?, £1; entry, ss. * Charles Edward (Deacon, cox.) 1 Wallace ... '(the Bte ward cox.) 2 Murray "... (Coaway, cox.) 3 An easy victory for tho Chnrlie. Sicoxd-ciabs Open Sailing Boats, 2 miles— lst prize, £5; 2nd do £2; catry, 7s 6d. Mr Westrup's Spray (Westrup) 1 Mr W. Garrard's Wacgapeka (H. Freeman) 2 Mr Eickett's Rosella (Ricketts) 3 A protest, the result of which we have not been able to learn, was brought by the Sea Bird, on the ground that the race commenced before the advertised time, thus shutting her out of it. ' Amateur Wttaltboat Pack, 5 oars, 0 mile 3— l&t prize, £8; 2nd do, £3; entry 15s Mr Logan's Tito Kowaru ... ... 7 Mr Scott's Clio ... ... ... 2 Mr F. Freeman's rhantom ... 0 Unfortunately the Phantom broke an oar immediately after starting, thus leaving the race to the other two boats, the crew of the Wellington boat very soon showing that that of the Clio was completely overmatched. £■ cullers Race, with or without outrfcgers (open to ail comers), 1-1 miles— lst prize, £4; 2nd do, £2 For continuation of news see fourth piye.

I . ' ■ ' For this two brothers, Fred and Harry Freeman, started, but the former broke an oar, and Harry had no need for further exertion. ,VOLTTNTEEK WHALEBOAT SACS, 3 im'les — Ist prize, £5; 2nd do, .£2; entry, 7s 6d Mr Thomson's Phantom (H. Witnsett) 1 Mr Mirfin's Tito Kowafu (Guy) . 2 Mr Sinclair's. Clio (Wigzell) "... 3 The Phantom was manned by members of the Fire Brigade and tbe other two boats by the City Rifles/ The Clio took the lead and kept it for some time, but eventually had to resign it to the Phantom, which won by 45 seconds. Amateus Sculiebs' Race, with or without outriggers, 1§ miles — Ist prize, £3; second do, £1; entry, 2s 6d. Mr 0. Wakeifieid's Nameless ... 1 Mr Freeman'B Nemo ... ... 2 Mr Morrison's — - — ... ... 3 An accident occurring to Morrison's boat, the Nemo remained by her, thus enabling Mr Wakefield to win without a contest. Amateur Two-Oaked Bace, 2 miles — Ist prize, £4 2nd do, £2; entry, 5s - Napinapi and Firefly started but the latter gave in. During the day there was plenty of fun on shore, racing and games of all descriptions, including the horizontal greasy pole, affording great amusement to those,, who were not interested in the regatta. In the evening there were balls at the Provincial, Volunteer, and Kent Halls, the two former being very, well attended.