Wind and Weather

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 313, 26 March 1928, Page 6

Wind and Weather

PRIZE WINS IN WESTERLY Change From Light Air A WESTERLY that raised white crests on the surface ot the harbour, and blew the channel into a regular fury, made Saturday, with its squadron races patronised by thy Governor-General, a day of welcome change from the light airs that have prevailed throughout the major part of the season. It was no day for parlour yachtsmen, and the GovernorGeneral, who sailed the course aboard the consistent Ariki, saw Auckland yachtsmen displaying skill and enterprise under conditions that were a true test of their mettle.

(CAPITAL handicapping was a feature that itself to the attention of all who stayed until the comparatively early finish. The big keelers tramped in with almost methodical precision, one after the other, and in the corrected result, with Prize just one minute ahead of Ariki, the six runners wound up within two minues 18 seconds of each other. The same excellent judgment was shown in the B class handicapping, Delville scoring only a narrow victory over the scratch craft, Kotiri, which again demonstrated her class as an all-weather boat, 'sailed by the keenest of crews.

In a race for patikis, two craft went under to the stress of the hard blow, Mawhiti capsizing near Resolution on the first round, and Maratea off Calliope Dock after setting her spinnaker in the course of a brisk duel with Maroro on the s'econd lead down harbour. Details of the racing: A CLASS For Governor-General’s Silver CupI Prize (12), 4.39.59 1 1 Ariki (scr), 4.40.59 2 lorangi (4£), 4.41.9 3 Finishing times: Ariki. 4.40.59; lorangi, 4.45.3; Thelma, 4.48.22; Nga-Toa, 4.52.47; Prize, 4.51.59; Victory, 4.54.31. The combination of a hard breeze and ebb tide kept the flotilla well clear of the starting line, and the last gun found them at sixes and sevens, far from the mark, which they crossed in straggling order in the poorest start of the season. Embarking on a direct lead to the Bastion, all the craft, led by Victory, Prize and Ariki, were ready with spinnakers, and Victory was first to get the extra flying. Ariki quickly ran into the lead, followed round the Bastion by Prize, Victory and lorangi, the last moving up into third place as the slog into the channel began. It was a hard “muzzle” to the Duder’s Spit buoy, rounded in the following sequence:—Ariki, 3.21.10; lorangi, 3.24.10; Thelma, 3.25.50; Prize, 3.26.10; Victory, 3.26.12; Nga-Toa, 3.26.50. The next stages, round the red light buoy to the new beacon off Rangitoto Wharf, were covered quickly in a brisk run off the breeze, which was strong enough to command respect, and made moderate canvas sufficient in the open water. Victory-, which dallied with a spinnaker, abandoned it in favour of a .leading jib, which the others found 'ample. Close-hauled on starboard, Ariki continued to set the pace, and the others could not foot it with her as she beat back toward the city, leaning well over, a graceful picture as she clove sea after Prize and lorangi made short boards in mid-stream, rather than follow Ariki deep to leeward, and got the best of the tide, now making strongly. Right on the mark Ariki carried away her main sheet. Luck was with her, as the accident would have crippled her had it happened earlier. Nga-Toa was disappointing. She has y*et to show that she can hold her own in the harder sailing. B CLASS For £lO prize donated by Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield. Delville (12), 5.11.13 1 Kotiri (scr), 5.14.1 2 Waione (2J). 5.17.19 3 Finishing times: Kotiri, 5.14.1: Waione, 5.19.49; Windward, 5.25.1; Rangi, 5.25.2; Scout, 5.30.41; Delville, 5.23.13. The B class craft made a distinctly better start than the larger keelers had done, Waione, Gloriana and Kotiri showing nice judgment in moving to the mark in that order. Waione set the pace off the wind, and was first round the Bastion. Kotiri showed her sailing qualities in the thrash, however, and in the channel assumed a lead, which she continued to improve, particularly on the homeward beat, when she at times appeared to waltz away from the next attendants. Otherwise the participants finished in fairly close order, except that Scout, for some mysterious reason, putting in very deep boards, was a rather remote tail-ender, while Gloriana was not in sight at the finish. The placings were close enough to allow Delville to snatch victory- from Kotiri, her handicap giving her a margin of nearly three minutes. M CLASS For Drysdale Cup Result: — Manene, 4.19.2 S 1 Maroro, 4.22.5 S 2 Matarere, 4.26.57 3 Maia, 4.27.27 4 This race was full of incident, Mawhiti and Maratea capsizing. Both craft were towed into shelter, where they were righted by friendly launches, but their crews, particularly that of Maratea, were in the water or the wind (which was worse) a very long time, and were almost frozen stiff. Matarere was leading when Maratea overturned at the end of the first round, and she improved her position. The smart little craft at times simply flew, and Matarere’s beat from Sandspit to the line, on the last leg, was accomplished ih particularly slick time. She skimmed along in great style as she crossed with a lot to spare. Maia, which was well handled in the open, picked up splendidly on the second round, but misunderstood instructions from the tower, and failed to cross the line for an earned third place. Officers of the day: Messrs. B. W. Beaumont, G. Deery and A. M. Gilmour.

STARLOCH STRIKES DOUBLE CRUISING RACE TO SURFDALE A very successful combined cruising race to Surfdale was held on Saturday by the Ponsonby, Victoria and Richmond Cruising Clubs. There were altogether 21 starters, the largest field to assemble on the harbour this season. Harbour events were also conducted, but owing to the low state of the tide during the afternoon many boats were unable to get off the mud and could not compete.

A strong westerly wind gave contestants of the cruising race a splendid run down harbour, but the smaller craft had a lively time, and a few acci-

dents of a minor order were witnessed. Awatea turned over shortly after the start of the race for V and S classes, and Sea Sleigh and Leveret had their sails blown out CRUISING RACE An imposing spectacle was seen when the score of yachts from second-class keelers down to N class mullet-boats swept down toward dredge No. 121, moored off St. Mary’s Bay for the start of the cruising race. Star loch was in best position when the gun sounded, and led the flotilla away. Lady Wilma and Kokiri were next and the rest of the bunch came along all fairly closely as follows:—Starlight, Wairiki, Lovelight, Matariki, Rahiri, Awatere, Otira, Celox, Mahoe, Winifred. Waima, Marere, Wairere, Lucille and Queenie. Valeria was 2m late, and Why Not 5m late. Waitere LL did not actually cross the line, but took part in the race. Off Devonport Starloch had a comfortable lead. Ladye Wilma, Marie, Lovelight and Starlight were within easy call. Wairiki, Awatere, Celox and Kokiri held positions a little further astern. At the Sandspit Starloch maintained her advantage, with Lady Wilma close in attendance. Wairiki then held third place at this stage. Losing the shelter of North Head the boats ran into heavy going and Marie carried away her mainsail at the peak, but continued to race. At the lighthouse the leaders held their earlier places. There was little between Awatere, Wairiki, Lovelight, Starlight and Marie, which were running almost abreast of one another. Finishing times were:— Starloch, 4.25.58; Wairiki, 4.28.4; Awatere, 4.28.5; Lady Wilma, 4.25.6; Waitere, 4.30.1; Starlight, 4.31.46; Lovelight, 4.32.37; Winifred, 4.32.49; Queenie, 4.33.33; Kokiri, 4.34.45; Rahiri, 4.37.9; Lucille, 4.37.11; Waima, 4.37.38; Valeria, 4.37.56; Otira, 4.41.26; "Wairere, 4.41.47Otira, 4.41. 26; Wairere, 4.41.47; Why Not, 4.42.20; Matariki, 4.42.30; Mahoe, 4.44.4; Marere, 4.46.14; Dolphin, 5 7.39. Launches.—My Girl, 3.20.21; Irene 3.58.42; Phyllis, 4.9.18. HARBOUR RACES T, X and Y Classes.—There were only eight competitors in the race for 14-foot-ers. The boats crossed the line in this order:—Meteor, Jean, Eleanor, Romp, Ngaio, Continuance, Marie and Sheila. Joan soon took charge of the race and finished a long way ahead of the rest. V and S Classes.—Of the eight entrants Wild Wave got the best of the start, followed by Surprise, Drone, Atangatai, Sea Sleigh, Magic, Sun and Rita. STAR CLASS CUP FINAL OLA IV. FIRST WINNER The competition for the International Star Class Cup ended in a victory for Ola IV., Mr. Edgar Swinnerton’s boat At the end of the second series Moa had the lead, five points to Ola IV. four points; on Saturday afternoon, with a stiff westerly blowing and a siz'eable jobble on the harbour, Ola IV., Moa and June tried out the third

series. Ola IV. and Moa carried one reef; June had two reductions in sail area. The run down, over the Devonport course, saw Old IV. in the lead by about 10s; then —une, when in a g-ood position for second place, touched the mud off Orakei, and Moa, halffull of water, maintained second place. At the Bastion Ola IV. had increased her lead by about ss. The finishing times were: Ola IV., 4.15; Moa, 4.23; June was about 6s away. This left Ola and Moa with seven points each. A sail-oft on Sunday morning, in calm water and a soft breeze, saw the handsome cup go to Ola IV., which led a’l the way round, finishing *sm ahead of Moa. Both boats were well handled, and with a little more luck Moa might have succeeded in getting the lead. This is the first occasion on which the cup, presented by the parent body in America, has been raced for. PALMERSTON-WELLINGTON ROAD RACE Xearly all the cyclists taking part in this strenuous event used Q-Tol as a massage to keep their muscles supple. Mr. O’Sullivan, secretary A.A.A. had ocular proof of this.—3.