MANUKAU CRUISING CLUB

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 320, 3 April 1928, Page 16

MANUKAU CRUISING CLUB

YACHT AND LAUNCH RACING The Manukau Cruising Club held races for yachts and launches on Saturday. The 18ft and under yachts raced for the Pearon Cufc>, in conjunction with the handicap race, and tho 14ft Sea Gnome won both. The boats were sent away at 3 p.m. sharp to a flying start. Sea Gnome was nearest the line, but struck a rock with her plate, and Champagne crossed first, followed by Sea Gnome, Sylvia, Valdora, Aoma and Waiapu. The light breeze from the north enabled all the boats to carry spinnakers out to the mark. Sea Gnome soon took the lead and held it till off Sailors’ Well, when "Waiapu, which had every available stretch of canvas set, including a water sail, passed her, but Waiapu took in her spinnaker too soon and Sea Gnome rounded the mark ahead of her. Sylvia had come up into third position. On the lead back Sea Gnome opened up a big lead, and the order rounding th Q top mark was Sea Gnome, Sylvia, Waiapu, Valdora, Aoma, Champagne. On the run out to the mark Sea Gnome was still widening the gap, and she rounded the mark 11m 35s ahead of Sylvia. Coming up to the line she was still gaining, and she eventually crossed 16m 59s ahead of Sylvia, Champagne rounding the bottom mark as Sea Gnome finished. Champagne went into Waikowhai, but the wind veered right round to the south-west and she was becalmed under the lee of the land. The finishing times were: Sea Gnome (8m), 5.15.36; Sylvia (scr.), 5.32,35; Waiapu (lm), 5.47.30; Valdora (scr.), 5.55.30; Aoma (scr.), 5.59. Results: Sea Gnome 1 Sylvia 2 Waiapu 3 The launches were sent away off their handicaps, and the day was particularly favourable for the smaller powered boats. The positions were practically unchanged until the last time up, when Success took the lead just after rounding the bottom mark. Regal passed Hinemoa, while Lynx and Cremorne headed Tawera. The two small boats had a good lead, and Pal-o’-Mine. coming at a great speed, failed to reach them. The finish was timed as follows: Success (35m), 4.13.15; Grace (37m), 4.13.25; Pal-o’-Mine (7m), 4.14.30; Regal (19m), 4.15.20; Hinemoa (20m), 4.16.20; Cremorne (28m), 4.15.30; Lynx (28m), 4.19.40; Tawera (30m), 4.20.30. Grace broke her time and was disqualified. Result: Success 1 Pal-o’-Mine 2 Regal 3