YACHTING BY NIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 323, 7 April 1928, Page 26

YACHTING BY NIGHT

CRUISE TO WHITIANGA AND COROMANDEL START OF OCEAN RACES Three keel yachts left. Auckland on Thursday evening in a race to Mercury Bay. They tvere Wairiki, Queenie and Heartsease. The long race began from King’s Wharf at 7.15 p.m. Conditions were ideal for night yachting. A good breeze was blowing from the south and the boats had the benefit of a full moon and calm water. Peri did not start. At gunfire Wairiki crossed the line a little ahead of Queenie. Heartsease followed about a minute later than the other boats. On the lead down harbour Wairiki drew well away from the other boats and when they passed out of sight the order was Wairiki, Queenie and Heartsease. CENTREBOARD YACHT RACE Keen interest was shown in the race to Coromandel for centreboard yachts. Fifteen boats, representing seven classes,' lined up for the start at 8 o’clock. Some time before the scheduled time for getting away the majority of the competitors could be seen manoeuvring in the moonlight. They made a very pretty picture as they rolled in the silvery water. A very keen start was witnessed as the gun sounded. .Fourteen out of the fifteen starters crossed the line within a minute of one another. Mona 'lost four minutes through being carried on the outside of the line.

Marere was first over and next to her came Louisa. Mirage, Starlight, Wairere, Huia, Wild Wave, Maratea, Starlock and Mawhiti, with the others handy.