OCEAN YACHT RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 324, 9 April 1928, Page 14

OCEAN YACHT RACE

WIN FOR WAIRIKI LIGHT WINDS; CALM SEAS Light jvinds and calm seas characterised tno ocean yacht race from Auckland to Mercury Bay, which started on Thursday evening, and finished between one.and two o’clock on Friday afternoon. There were three competitors. The race was won by YV airiki, with Queenie second. Heartsease was not placed. Q&ueenie and Wairaki crossed the line a little ahead of Heartsease. There was a light breeze from the south-east. Heartsease passed Motairehe smin . of Queenie, and Bmin ahead of W airiki. The wind through the night was light and patchy, and Queenie and Wairiki took the lead. Queenie and Wairiki crossed the a.m., Wairiki being lOmin behind her, and Heartsease 20min later. All boats now set their spinnakers, with a light breeze down the coast. At 8 a.m. the boats drew level in a calm. An hour later a fresh southwest ’ breeze allowed spinnakers to be carried, and Queenie gained a slight advantage inshore. The wind freshened. and Heartsease took the lead, passing the Hole in the Wall at 11.30 a.m., a little ahead of the others. The boats then beat to the finishing line at Middle Island. Finishing times were: Queenie, lhr I4min; Heartsease, llir 19min; Wairiki, lhr 27min. Handicaps were: Heartsease, scr.; Queenie, 20min; Wairiki, 40min. The race there fore resulted: Wairiki 1, Queenie 2. Heartsease also finished.

The race for boats from Tauranga was won by Vanitie, with. Janet second.