THE LATE YACHT RACE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 33, 7 February 1877, Page 2

THE LATE YACHT RACE.

To the Editor op the 'Evening Mail.' Sir—l think it only fair to myself and the late Interprovincial Regatta Committee to reply to the letter which appeared iv the Auckland Evening Star, and was republished by you in the Mail on Monday.. As to the statement that the Secret was aground, 35 minutes, it can be conclusively proved by several gentlemen who witnessed the race from the shore and took the time, that the delay caused by the unfortunate accident was barely 25 mins. Again, the assertion that, at the time she rounded the buoy before going aground, she was leading by 13 mins is quite incorrect, as can be attested by those who carefully watched the race throughout, and who all agree in saying that she was onlyßmins 32secs in front of the Gannet, having lost lmin 22secs in the run down from the upper flag boat, which was rounded by her 9mins 54secs in advance of my boat. In conclusion I may remark that the Secret never overtook the winning boat, being five minutes behind her at the time she passed the Arrow Rock, and even then she had not rounded the winning buoy. lam unable, therefore, to understand how the Star's correspondent can justify his statement that " when within five miles of the winning post we came up alongside of her" (the Gannet.) To the insinuation thrown out that partiality was shown to the local boat I would reply by saying that, I protested against the course as I was allowed by the larger boat only time allowance for 22 miles, whereas in point of fact the distance to be run was nearly double that distance. This should at once dispose -;of any charge of favoritism. Whilst regretting extremely that such an unsatisfactory occurrence took place, I think it but right that the facts should be made known and lnisstatements corrected. —l am, &c, R. RICHAKDSON. kelson, Feb. 6,1877.