Seconds Count

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 271, 6 February 1928, Page 7

Seconds Count

NC-A-TOA WINS HORTON CUP

Good Race in Light Air

Every second was important in Saturday’s Squadron race for the Horton Cup, won narrowly by NgaToa, a craft which again showed her capacity in light weather. Matarere ran a way from her consorts in a smartly-sai led race for patikis. A T all stages of their race, which j took them twice over the channel circuit and back to the King’s Wharf ! via the Bastion, the keelers made a great picture. In the light northerly they at times cracked on a lot of sail and covered the course in creditable time. lorangi was across the line when the gun went, but lost little time on the recall. Meanwhile Nga-Toa and Ida had led the imposing fleet into action, and in quick time Nga-Toa was nipping round the tide deflector on the run to the Bastion. Before she reached it Ariki had begun to demonstrate her quality, and the order into the channel was: Ariki, lorangi, Thelma, Nga-Toa. Prize, Itawene. Here the clippers ran into a making tide. Ariki moved further away from the trailing craft, but lost ground further out. and the order and times on the second turn at the Bastion were: lorangi, 4hr 3m 17s; Ariki, 4hr 3m 265: Nga-Toa. 4hr 6m 31s; Rawene, 4hr 8m 9s; Thelma, 4hr 8m 14s; Prize, 4h 9m Is; Victory, 4h 9m 265: Moana, 4h 11m 3s; Kotiri, 4h 12m 17s; Waione. 4h 12m 375. TURNING TOGETHER Although the leaders were well away, the remaining boats were bunched, and made a pretty picture as they turned in quick succession, Rawene and Thelma getting round practically together. At this stage Gloriana retired. On the first round, when positions in the race were reshuffled considerably, Prize touched Ariki at the Saltworks’ buoy. She continued to sail

with the racers, but hauled down her colours, and withdrew before finishing. She was distinctly unfortunate, the mishap undoubtedly costing her the race. A further reshuffle occurred on the second round, Ariki again taking her place in the front. She was ahead after breaking tacks off Rangitoto, and from that stage stepped out and increased her lead. Had she sailed over the early stages as she was sailing at the finish she would have overcome her handicap and collected the honours of the day. LONG HANDICAPS TELL Ariki appeared first round North Head on the run back to the Bastion, and was followed by lorangi, Nga-Toa (at a more respectful distance), Thelma and Prize. With a freshening breeze the procession covered this section very rapidly. Thelma was well behind Nga-Toa but improved her position “in the straight.” Following her came Prize, which retired off the moorings, to the mystification of onlokers, who realised that she had the race in hand. lorangi came in under a reaching jib, Rawene under a leader. Nga-Toa’s canvas was drawing well as she approached the line. She is proving a great lightweather boat, and her crew appears to be acquiring familiarity with her whims. With Prize out there was a royal chance for the long-handicap boats, and Kotiri, again well handled, came in under a great pack of canvas, returned a creditable nett time, only for the effort to be beaten by Windward by the narrow margin of four seconds. The corrected results reflected sagacious handicapping. Finishing times: Ariki, shr 23m 41s: lorangi, shr 25m 48s; Nga-Toa, 51i 31m Is; Thelma, 5h 31m 225: Rawene, 5h 33m 355; Victory, 5h 37m 455; Moana, 5h 39m 58s; Kotiri, 5h 43m 525; Waione, 5h 45m 575: Windward, 5h 47m 50s: Scout, 5h 55m 475; Delville, 5h 56m 58s. Placings (corrected times): Nga-Toa (9im), shr 21m 31 s . . 1 Windward (26m), shr 21m 50s . . 2 Kotiri (22m), shr 21m 54s .... 3

OUT IN FRONT MATARERE LEADS PATIKIS The duels among the leaders in the squadron’s patiki race were over in the second round of the Bastion-Rough Rock loop. By that time Matarere had gone to the front, and she stayed there. THE trim little fliers of the M class were started off the new compass dolphin, and their course was a double lap between Rough Rock and the Bastion, followed by a return into the wind, to King’s Wharf. Maratea and Manene made smart starts, and the order on the second turn at Bastion was: Matarere, Mawhiti, Manene, Maratea, Maroro. Matarere consolidated her position during the remainder of the race, and won comfortably, followed by Manene, Mawhiti and Maratea, in that order. The officials in charge of a thoroughly enjoyable day’s racing were Messrs. J. IT. Frater, G. Deery and R. P. Mayes.