Victoria Regatta Held in Hard Blow

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 231, 19 December 1927, Page 11

Victoria Regatta Held in Hard Blow

RACING IN WHITE WATER CAPSIZE OF TWO YACHTS A hard south-west blow with frequent cold squalls swept the harbour on Saturday afternoon, when the Victoria Cruising Club held its annual regatta. The races were all conducted over harbour courses, starting from the flagships mored off the St. Mary’s Bay boat harbour. Although large entries were received in most classes the actual number of boats to face the starter was disappointing. Out of 86 published nominations only 62 boats put in an appearance, and only 40 completed their race. Doubtless the unfavourable sailing conditions which developed early in the afternoon had much to do with the large percentage of defaulters. In the race for keelers only five out of nine yachts put in an appearance, and the event was robbed of a great deal of its interest. The M and V. S. and T, X and Y events brought out respectively 13, 10 and 12 contestants, and some good racing was seen, particularly in the combined M and V class event. In this race the new M boat Maratea achieved a runaway victory, thereby registering her second win since she commenced her racing career this season. She was handled in masterly style, her skipper showing good judgment specially on rounding the marks. The stiff breeze was responsible for the capsize of the 14-footer Marie and the 12-footer Hapuka in the combined T, X and Y race, and the 20-footer Norma was dismasted. The race for Z class boats was not held as only one boat put in an appearance. The officials were.—Starter: Mr. O. Johnson; judge, Mr. W. J. Matthews; timekeepers. Messrs. Johnson and H. Crowl. kiO.g mbmp wkwpykw mbmp wp pp EVENTS IN DETAIL C and E Classes.—Only five keelers ansvvei'ed gunfire and al got away in fairly close formation. Ngahau showed the way across and Eulalie, Loloma, Wairiki and Queenie followed in that order. Ngahau maintained her advance position on the lead down harbour, but when the field hauled on the wind Wairiki went into the lead and finished first. Queenie spent her staysail in the early stages, and retired on the close haul. Result:— Ngahau (7m), 4hr. 41m 32s ...... 1 Wairiki (£m), 4hr 38m, 27s ..6 .. .. 2 Loloma (ISm), 4hr, 56m, 2s 3 Also finished.—Eulalie (9m), 4hr 51m 50s. H Class.—Six big mullet boats contested this event. Celox had the advantage of the start, to be followed bv Starlight, Waitere 11., Why Not and Awatere. Mona came along 6Jm later. Waihere and Starlight made a keen race throughout the course. On the close-haul when the flagship was reached Starlight was ahead of Waihere by 3m ss, but the latter gained on the log heme. Result:— Why Not (17m). shr lm 46s .. .. i Starlight (scr), 4hr 49m 14s .. .. 2 Celox (3m), 4hr. 54m 57s .. 3

Also finished.—Waitere 11. (scr), 4hr finish ZS Rlona and Aawahere did not

L Class.—A poor start was seen in this event, three of the five competitors c-ross-mg the line late. Mowai responded first }° the signal to cross and Kokiri fol--40l ™ h , arid - Valeria came along 4m 6 put ln an appearance the g ; un 7 and Venun arrived 13m ~os after scheduled time. Kokiri pracUciby hlr ai \ d r had thin B* 12m Ct 3‘ s Ca^er TST thi^'er^^th Re e S ult;- lthOUt the" "race Kokiri (sm), shr 3m 15s i Mowai (14m), shr 15m 17s 2 P° or field of four turned Ul> to sail this event. ’Wnirere got the best of the start and Isobel crossed the line close behind. Lorna joined in lmin Josec in arrears, and Winifred put in an appearance I2min 30sec after the fall of the last flag.

Van ere had a fairly easy win from isobel and the others did not finish. Result:— Wairere <6lmin), shr ISmin 15sec 1 Isobel (9min), shr 25min 13sec .. 2 S. Class.—Mistral led the way over the line with Fleetwing in close attendance. Namu came next with Atangatai Mura. Ben Bolt, Swiftsure and Sea Sleigh nearby. Aratu was 4min late and Almira 13 min latt. Mistral immediately went into the lead and was never challenged On completion of the first round Mistral had a lead of 7min from Namu. In the second lap Ben Bolt took Namu's position. Aratu ,Muru, and Almira retired. Result:— Swiftsure (15m). 41ir 49min. 55sec 1 Mistral (scr), 4hr 35min 19sec .. 2

Ben Bolt (Bmin), 4hr 44min 37sec 3 finished: Namu (scr), 4hr 45min

T. X and Y Classes (general handicaps).—This combined race for the 14footers provided a good start. Sea Elf led the flotilla away, to be followed closely by Sea King. Then came Marie, Alerte. Sea Bird. Joan. Kismet, Linnet, Sheila, Resolute, all crossing within a few seconds of each other in that order. Eleanor set off 9min late and Meteor brought up the rear well behind the others and retired soon after crossing the line. On reaching the first markboat Marie and Hapuka were capsized by a squall. Joan and Alerte went well into the lead and a close race was witnessed between them.

Results:— T. X and Y General Handicaps

Alerte (scr). Vhr 52min 54sec. .. 1 Linnet (2£min), 41ir 57min 35sec: .. 2 Sheila (Smin). shr 9min 49sec .. 3 T and X Classes

Joan (2Jmin), 4hr, 49min 51sec .. 1 Linnet (2Jmin), 4hr 47min 35sec .. 2 Sheila (Smin), Shr 9min 49sec .... 3 Y Class Alerte (scr), 4hr 52min 54sec .... 1

Sea Elf (6min), shr lOmin 44sec . . 3 M. and V. Classes.—This event for the combined classes gave the most spectacular start of the day. All the fleet of 13 yachts, except the last, timed gunfire with good judgment and erossd the line in bunched formation. The M boat Matarere was in the vanguard with Mnnene. Drone, Mawhiti, Maroro, Surprise. Wild Wave. Rita, Maratea. Mischief. Tui and Magic all hard at each other's heels in the order named. Doris entered the race lmin 15sec late. At the end of the first lap the new t AT boat Maratea was puting up a fine performance. Results:— M Class Maratea (scr), 4hr 46min 57sec .. 1 Manene (scr). 4hr 49min 53sec . . 2 Mawhiti (scr). 4hr 50min lOsec .. 3 Also finished: Maroro (scr). 4hr 50min Slsec: Matarere (scr), 4hr 51min Ssec; Mischief (scr), 4hr 55min 3sec. V Class Drone Gmin), 4hr olmin 13sec .. 1 Magic (6min). shr lmin 53sec .. 2 Rita (20min), shr ISmin 21sec . . 3 Also finished: Surprise (scr). shr Drain 31sec: Wild Wave rsmin). shr smin 7sec: Tui (ISmin). Shr lOmin 57sec. Launches.—The starters were Tama. Tmanota, Lolita. Manurere, Young Zelandia. Irene and Phyllis. Results:— Phyllis (26min), 3hr 17min 13sec .. 1 Lolita (24£min), Shr ISmin 45sec 2 Tarua (2£min), 2hr 59min lOsec .. 3 Also finished: Imanota (9nmin), Shr 9 min Osec; Manurere (24£min), 3hr 28min 7sec; Young Zelandia «'34min), Shr 32min lsec; Irene (16?>min), 3hr 15min 35sec. CORNWELL CUP TRIALS SELECTING AUCKLAND’S CREW The first trial race for the purpose of selecting the crew to represent Auckland in the Cornwell Cup contests to be sailed on the Waitemata on January 14 was held on Saturday afternoon by the Takapuna Boating Club. The strong south-westerly breeze prevailing raised a roughish sea, and the skippers of the four competitors

were called upon to exercise good seamanship to prevent capsizing. However. all the boats completed the course without mishap. Tuatea crossed the line first, followed closely by Kitty and Comet. Trevic came along 75s late. Comet drew ahead and was first to round the Northcote mark and Kitty was not far astern. Tuatea was next and Trevic brought Lip the rear. Comet swung round the Shoal Bay mark at 2h 53m 50s and Kitty at 2h 55m Os and Tuatea at 2h 58m Os. Squally winds compelled Kitty and Comet to put a board over between Shoal Bay and the finishing line. Result: Comet, 3h 2m 555, 1. Also finished: Kitty. 3h 4m 20 s; Tuatea. 3h 9m 325; Trevic, 3h 16m 40s. Another trial race will be held this evening. OTAGO TRIALS CONCLUDE Press Association DUNEDIN. Sunday. B3’ winning the final trial race on Saturday afternoon for the selection of the crew to represent Otago in the Cornwell Cup contests at Auckland. Riddell and Churchill have won three out of four trials. They sailed the crack boat Betty, which defeated the fast yacht Colleen as the result of skilful handling. SANDERS CUP TRIALS ON OTAGO HARBOUR (Special to THE SUN.) &UNEDIN, Sunday. The new 14-footer Eileen won the third trial race on Saturday for the selection of Otago’s boat in the Sanders Cup contests. This boat has now won the three trials with a large margin in each race and her performances have greatly pleased the critics. Eileen established a big lead soon after the start by skilful handling and increased her advantage as the race went on. She led the next boat, Heather, by over half a mile in the • last round of a windward and leeward course. Eileen finished 3min 38 j sec ahead of Heather, and 3min 51 sec in the lead of Kia Ora. Winifred, the other competitor, performed well, with a new crew.