Yachts in the Doldrums

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 265, 30 January 1928, Page 11

Yachts in the Doldrums

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA

Great Parade of Small Craft

LIGHT airs and a glassy sea spelt tantalising conditions for the yachtsmen engaged in to-day’s Anniversary Day Regatta. The year’s greatest harbour carnival opened in a paralysing calm, and remarkable scenes were witnessed off North Head, when all classes of heelers melted into a cloud of canvas as they reached the doldrums in the lee of the land.

TT was a day marked by the appearance ot an immense parade of small craft, dominated by the flagship Ronaki. whose gaudy pennons drooped listlessly as she lay at anchor off Calliope Dock. Such wind as there was, a whispering and elusive westerly, sufficed onflf to waft the early Starters at tortoise pace against the strong flood tide. The influence of the zephyr was lost altogether off North Head, where the successive classes drifted into a hunch upon dead flat water. They made an amazing picture as their overlappping pyramids of canvas closed the entrance to the harbour.

In this company were herded an assortment of craft, from stately keelers, impotent despite their size and majesty, to the smaller mulletboats. When the keelers started at ten o’clock the calm seemed at its worst. They could scarcely drift over the line. As the sun broke through the mild clouds, lighting with shafts of gold the pearl-grey expanse of water, a moderate breeze sprang out of the west, and sails . filled eagerly —there was hope of brighter things. But toward noon, when the pack off North Head was at its densest, the calm descended again, and there was quiet upon the waters. Entering port just at noon, the freighter Kamona threaded through a host of yachts, which, in quest of the elusive breeze, had every rag of canvas set. Some even had watersails out on either flank. The turn into Rangitoto Channel was a laborious process, and even by twelve o’clock, two hours after the start, the last of the keelers bad not accomplished it. Hex, at 32.15 p.m., was still becalmed between the Bean Rock and North Head.

Thus passed one of the most remarkable forenoons in the long and eventful history of the historic anniversary regatta. Meanwhile the busy launches, dodging about the flagship (and some cheerily bedecked with bunting) were contributing colour, and an animation the yachts could not possibly supply, to the harbour carnival of the year. Some practised speed trials, and on the calm water their wakes lay long and white.; and others just stayed dutifully by the flagship. An odd note was lent by the presence on the water of man-of-war whaleboats under sail. In these queerly - rigged craft, hopeless in anything but a howling wind, sturdy sailors sat and joined

their amateur brethren in silent prayer for a wind. It was a great morning to teach yachtsmen humility. For the rest, there were excellent entries in all classes, and the* requisite atmosphere for a cheerful gala day. Adequate organisation, and weather that was ideal from the point of view of everyone but the sailingman, provided other ingredients for success, and a programme fully diverse and entertaining, embodying launch and outboard races, besides the many sailing events, supplied warranty for the interest shown by knots of spectators, who clustered at every vantage-point along the waterfront. The yaching officials were:—Starter, Mr. George Mobberley; assistant fetarters, Messrs. E. Griffiths, J. McGehan and C. O. Johnson; judge, Mr. J. Longbottom; timekeepers, Messrs. E. S. Kohn and C. O. Johnson; official recorder, Mr. A.. Braund; result committee, Messrs. ST Compton, A. Braund, O. W. Carter and Geo. I^aycock. The motor-boat officials were:— Starters, Messrs. W. D. Ross and A. J. Collings; judge, Mr. A. G. Lunn; timekeepers, Messrs. S. Bell Booth and A. M. Gilmour.

COURSES FOR YACHTS A AND B CLASSES From starting line to Bastion Beacon on port hand, thence round Duder’s Spit, in Rangitoto Channel, round Bastion, thence round Rona buoy, off Birkenhead, thence, round Duder’s Spit, thence round Bastion and finish off flagship. Distance, 24 nautical miles. C, E, H AND L CLASSES From flagship to Duder’s Spit, thence round Bastion, thence round Rona Buoy, Birkenhead, and finish at flag-ship. Distance IS nautical miles. N, M, STAR AND V CLASSES From flagship to white light buoy, thence round Bastion light beacon, thence round Rona buoy oft Birkenhead, thence round white light buoy, thence round Bastion, thence to finish. About 16 nautical miles. S, Y, X AND T CLASSES From starting line, thence round Sandspit, thence round Resolution, thence round buoy off Watchman, thence round Resolution, thence to finish. Z CLASS From starting line, thence round Sandspit, thence round Resolution, round Sandspit, round Resolution and finish at flagship. THE YACHT EVENTS A CLASS This was the first race of the dav, and drew 11 competitors. lorangi Jed the field across the line. Nga-toa, Rawene. Ariki, Brine, Moana, Victory and Ida. Thelma arid Heartsease were smin late. All carried spinnakers, and some water sails. Very slow progress was made to the Bast: on. Moana, Ariki, Nga-toa, Prize and Heartsease selected the southern shore course and Rawene and Viotorv stood out in the stream. Ariki assumed the lead on the run down the harbour and was first round the Bastion. Next came lorangi and Rawene, and the rest strung out astern. Nga-Toa, sailing splendidly, -was first back past the flagship, followed by Raweae ,100yds back, and lorangi third, about five minutes, and Ariki fourth. B CLASS There were nine starters. Windward showed the way over the line, with Kotiri close in attendance. Gloriana was I next, followed by Waione. Daisy, Ngahou.

Mahaki was 4m late, Rangi 5m and Ladye Wilma. Dike the other starts, this event resolved itself Into a drifting match. C CLASS Speedwell led the way acros in this event. Delville followed, then came Wairiki, Queenie and the newcomer lona, all in close formation. All had every stitch of canvas set in an effort to catch whatever wind there was. Peri, Eulalie and Scout came along well to the rear. E CLASS Naiad drifted over the line first in this event. Maybelle followed suit a few feet behind. Rover and Moutere were close in attendance, with Mahoe hard at heel. Mirage joined in later, and Aurora and Doloma joined in well in arrears. Dolphin came along 15 minutes late, starting with H class. H CLASS Spray was first away, with Starlock nearby. Waitere 11., Celox, Esma, oMna, Why Not, Awatere all in fairly close order. Starlight got over the line too soon and had to go back and recross, but even then was among the vanguard in the drifting match against the tide. L CLASS Douisa was first across, then came Kokiri, Mowai, Valeria, Marie, Varuna, and the rest of a big field, all in close formation except Waima and Wairangi, who were over a minute late. This was so far the best start of the day. N CLASS By the time this race was started the wind had freshened slightly. Wairere heard gunfire first. Then came Winifred a few feet behind. Isobel was close by, to be followed immediately by Matariki, Lorna, Wyoming and Wayward in that order. • M AND STAR CLASSES Maratea was first over. Next came Maroro, the new boat Maia, Mischief, Manene, Matarere and Mawhiti in that order. Moa was the leader of the Stars. Ola IV. followed some distance astern and June was several minutes late. V CLASS These boats were dispatched promptly at 12 o’clock. Leveret responded first to gunfire. Secret, Drone, Wild Wave, Doris followed in that formation, and after an interval came Surprise, Scud, Magic, Tui, Miranui. There was a very strong tide running and the boats made little progress. S CLASS Aratu led the flotilla over the line. Waitui, Mistral, Cyclone, Atangatal, Nanru, Irene, Sea Sleigh, Rival, Aloha, Phyllis and Ben Bolt came along in that order. Y CLASS The boats in this class crossed the line in the following order: —Mighty Atom, Romp, Sea King, Opah, Sea Elf, Sea Breeze, Jupiter, Continuance, Sea Dawn. YACHTING AT TAURANGA (From Our Own Correspondent) TAURANGA, To-day. The re-sail race for the Henderson Cup for seven-footers was held on Saturday afternoon between Pal, Mistral and Bovril. The first to finish was Bovril. Next came Pal and Mistral in that order. On time allowance Pal was placed first and thus secured the cup.