THE REGATTA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5252, 23 January 1878, Page 3

THE REGATTA.

Patron, his Excellency the Governor ; president, his Worship the Mayor ; commodore, Georpe Hunter, Esq., M.H. I!.; vice-commodore, T. Buchanan, Esq.; treasurer, S. S. Downes, Esq.; secretary, Mr. 0, H. Bllaby ; judges, Captain Todd of the St. Leonards; Captain McKeivie of the Hurunul; Messrs. George Allen and J. E. Brown ; starters (for races commencing at the wharf), Captain Holliday ; for all other races, Captain Eose. The north-west wind which blew so strong on Monday appeared to have spent itself towards midnight, and as the sky cleared reasonable hopes were indulged that a favorable turn had taken place; but ou this occasion the hopes entertained were doomed to disappointment. The committee met at an early hour and discussed the question of postponement, it being generally agreed upon that while the prospects were not altogether pleasing, a putting off of the Begatta’would materially damage its success. After due consideration it was agreed to proceed with it, and accordingly the ships in harbor displayed their bunting to the full extent, from main to jibboora, and across . the wharf. A barricade was erected on the wharf for admission, inside of which a small fee was charged, and at ten o’clock the members of the committee and others left by the p.s. Napier for the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Hurunui, the flagship, which was moored a short distance from the wharf. At this time the weather was very unpromising, dull leaden clouds lowering in the sky, and the first race was started in a shower of rain and with afresh south-east wind. The time was not strictly adhered to; but this was attributable to the boats not coming to scratch at the programme time, otherwise everything was conducted in good order. The first event was the Open Boat Sailing Eace, for which six entered, all getting away well together. The Aida, a Nelson yacht, took the lead, closely followed by one of H.M.S. Nymphe’s boats; but the competitors were pretty well together until off Evans Bay, when the St, Leonards’, which was scudding along under a great press of canvas, met with a contretemps through some of her rigging giving way, and consequently Mr. Eraser, who was in charge, thought it advisable to bring to and return. The Pet, which carried an enormous mainsail, took the wind out of the Aida’s sails, and afterwards had it all her own way, being admirably managed by her crow. The Aida, which kept a good course, and was well handled, unfortunately came to grief off Mgahauranga through being swamped ; and in the same locality the Pearl, which had not earned a distinguished position during the race, also came to grief. The Coasters’ Pace was par excellence the event of the day (five starting). Tho Clematis kept the lead throughout, but there is little doubt but that the Herald—tho successful craft last year—would have made a close match if she had not lost time in rounding the flagship the first time. Generally, the rowing events were not so interesting as usual, ou account of tho courses being altered, and an utter disregard to colors being shown. Tho Dolly Yarden crew, who did not carry a coxswain, won the four-oared outrigger race ; the Torpedo, the junior fouroared outrigger race; tho Transit, the four-oared inrigged race, and the Huruuui’sboats theship’s gig race, all other rowing events ou the programme being postponed until a more favorable occasion. Several protests were entered, but

ns they were under seal to the secretary we cannot give them. Subjoined are the events contested; — Ofn Boat Sailing Race.—for all comers. Distance, ten miles; entrance, 10s (id ; Ist prize, enp and £7; 2nd, £3. 1h« Pearl St Leonards, Pet, HALS. Nympho No. 1, and H..M.S. Nympho No. 2, entered for this event. They all got away well together to gun-fire at half-pa-t ten, the ram pouring in torrents at the time. Off 1 unit Jeruingham the wind blew very stiff, and the St. Leonards lost some of her gear, which disabled her. The Aida maintained the lead until near Ngahauranga, when she also came to gruff by taking in water, and the Pet under heavy sail led the way, passing round the flagship the first time at ten minutes past twelve. The Pearl having also, dropped out, H.M.S. Nympho’s No 1 boat kept ou the course in the second place, her sister boat following far in the rear. The race was now considered a gift to the Pet, which, thauks to good management, steered a good course, and far out-distanced her rivals. She reached the winning-post at one o’clock, thus doing the ten miles in two hours and a half, H.M.S. Nymphs No. 1 coming iu half-an-hour afterwards, and No. 2 nearly two hours after. Junior Four-oared Inrigged Race.—Distance, two miles; entiles, 10s. 6(1; Ist prize, £5; 2nd, £3. This was a very tame contest, the Transit and Maud being the only comp titors. The former won by over tweuty lengths. Four-oared Outrigger Race —Distance, three miles ; entrance, £2 2s. ; Ist prize, cup and £25 ; 2nd, £lO. The Stella was scratched, leaving in the Wellington, Dolly Vardcu, and Torpedo. Captain Rose succeeded iu getting them away on even terms, and the Dolly Vardeu took the lead, winning a tough race, with the Torpedo in a respectable position iu the rear. Time, 20min. First Class Yacht Race. Distance, tweuty miles; entrance, £2 2s. First prize, New Zealand Shipping Company’s cup and £25; second prize, £lO. Six vessels entered for this race, viz., the Garibaldi, I? lift, ReJ Jacket, Oceola, Florence, and Minnehaha. The southerly wind which blew was favorable to all the craft that ran, and the Florence, although not expected to do much except in a heavy breeze, proved the winner, with plenty of time to spare. All the boats left their moorings to a very good start at 12.14 p.m., the Minnehaha taking the lead.and the Garibaldi second, the Florence being rather sluggish in getting under way. When crossing Evans Bay, a luffing match going on at the time between a few of the yachts, the Flirt carried her mast away, which of course threw her out of the race. When the flagship was reached the first time the Florence and the Red Jacket were racing almost side by side. The Red Jacket passed the flagship at 1.12 p.m., and the Floreuee three seconds afterwards ; the Garibaldi and the Minnehaha, which appeared to be out of trim altogether, were the next to louud the flagship, some distance behind the leading boats, the Oceola bringing up the rear. As they stood away again for Ward Island, the centre-board boats began to drop astern. The weather proved too much for the Minnehaha, whi eh had to gi vein. At 2.52 o’ cl ook, the Florence, the winner, passed the flagship, and at 17 minutes past 3 o'clock the Red Jacket did likewise. The Garibaldi was third, and the Oceola a good fourth. The result of the race was iu some degree anticipated, for it was expected that the Florence, although she only carried about half the quantity of canvas necessary for racing, would prove by her excellent weatherly qualities a winner. Junior Four-oared Outrigger Race.— Distance, two miles ; entrance, 10s. 6d, ; Ist prize, £lO ; 2nd, £3. A close race in quick time, the Torpedo, Wellingtou, Dolly Varden, and Stella coming in as named. Coasters’ Race.— Distance, twenty miles ; entrance, £2 2s ; Ist prize, Shaw, Saville, and Co.’s cup and £25 ; 2nd, £lO. The following vessels started:—Saucy Lass, Cynthia, Herald, Clematis, and Reliance. This was the prettiest race of the day. The Clematis had the leeward berth, and the Herald and Reliance the windward. All slipped their anchors at noon, the moment the gun went off, the Clematis first, closely followed by the Saucy Lass, the Herald being upon their heels, the Cynthia and the Reliance coming next. At 2 p.m. they passed the flagship the first time, the Clematis Ist, Saucy Lass 2nd, and Herald 3rd ; followed by the Reliance and Cynthia. The latter vessel fouled with the sunken hulk Eli Whitney, and lost considerable time. After the coasters had cleared the flagship the wind increased considerably, with heavy rain, shutting out any further view of the vessels, and it was not till about 3.30 p.m. that the leading boat hove in’ sight, which proved to be the Clematis, followed by the Saucy Lass. The Clematis won at 4.18 p.m., the Saucy Lass a few minutes later. The Herald lost her jibboom in the second round, and did not finish the race. The Cynthia was third. Second-class Yacht Race.— Distance, ten miles ; entrance, £1 Is. ; Ist prize, cup and £lO ; 2nd, £5. The following vessels started: —Old Scrubber and St. Leonards. The Pet, which was competing for the open sailing boat race, had entered for this race, but did not arrive in time to start with the other boats, and it was not till some six minutes after they left that she arrived at the starting-point, However, despite her heavy handicap, she gave chase, and speedily got up with her oppouents, passed them, and came in an easy winner. The St. Leonards’ boat was second. Ship’s Gig Race.— Distance, two mips ; entrance, 10s. fld.; Ist prize, cup and £5 ; 2 ], £3. For this event gigs from the Mataura, St. Leonards, and Hurunui started, but a discussion took place about the course being changed. This being amicably settled, the boats were sent off, the Hurunui winning by about twelve lengths, and the St. Leonards being second. The Mataura, it may bo men- I tioned, had such a bad start that her chance iu the race was materially affected by it. In conclusion we may state that the weather became so bad that many crews were wary about venturing out, and it was therefore resolved, shortly after four o’clock, to postpone the other events until some future day, to be fixed upon by the committee. It is agreeable to report that no grave circumstance marred the day’s proceedings in the way of accidents. One canoe with a young fellow iu it capsized through fouling, the anchor chain of the Hurunui, but he was quickly rescued by Gapt. Holliday, who was in a boat close by. The committee are to be complimented upon the manner in whicli they carried out their arrangements, and on tho flagship everything was done to facilitate them in doing so. Tho Hinemoa, with his Excellency the Governor and guests, as well as the U.S.S. Co.’s Wellington, with excursionists, cruised round the harbor during the day.