THE BIG PARADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 208, 22 November 1927, Page 16

THE BIG PARADE

OPENING DAY SNAPSHOTS \

Celox has always been recognised as a good bo.«t on the wind, but her performance on Saturday against the freesheet champion, Waitere, was on top of that particularly creditable.

Valeria has received a lot of careful attention lately at the hands "of her owner. Mr. J. McWhirter, and the advice of Mr. Arch. Logan will, in addition, make its effect apparent as the season advances.

Drone’s Performance A great set-to between Ola, Drone, Surprise and Wild Wave was a feature of the V and Star classes on Saturday. At the deflector the four were racing in a bunch, with Ola to leeward trying hard for a position. In the pinch to Resolution, Wild Wave lost control of the spinnaker, and dropped back. Ola’s skipper showed good judgment by standing well in on starboard, obtaining a beautiful lift which permitted him to complete the first lap alongside the leaders. Near the eastern wall, second time round, a mix-up put Surprise out of the race, and on the last leg the wind proved too much for Ola, Drone getting home by 21 seconds. It was easily the best contest of the day, and the crews of the leading craft handled their boats in seamanlike fashion. Drone scored six first prizes, and deserved them. • • • Procession of Accidents In the race for big keelers, lorangi •lost her most formidable rivals in the series of disasters near North Head. Ngatoa, preceded by lorangi, packed on all her extras, with unfortunate results. Thelma was crippled by a broken gaff, and Rangi split her mainsail and sailed on to her destination. Sheets flattened for the long beat showed on Saturday that such flatties as Alerte, Marie and Resolute are still able to pick, up on the round-bilge boats.

In the C and E classes the old-timer Mahoe sailed well, and won the handicap, on time allowance,' by the narrow margin of IS seconds.