Yachts’ Dead-Heat

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 330, 16 April 1928, Page 12

Yachts’ Dead-Heat

RACE FOR LIPTON CUP

Varuna and Valeria

RUNNING up the harbour with spinnakers set, ploughing through white-capped seas, Varuna and Valeria, on Saturday afternoon crossed the finishing line together in the most spectacular Uipton Cup race for the 22ft mullet boats yet witnessed.

THERE was a hard nor*-easterly ■*" blow with a heavy sea. making conditions ideal for exhiliarating sailing. Ten clubs were to have been represented in this annual contest, but nine started and only five completed the race. The course was from the flagship Linda, off St. Mary’s Bay, to the Bastion, thence to the white light in the Rangitoto Channel, and back to the flagship, a distance of about 12 sea miles. KOKIRI FIRST AWAY Getting away at 3.15 p.m., Kokiri (Victoria Cruising Club) was first to cross the line, but was recalled for starting before the gun. Valeria (Akarana Yacht Club), was next, but was also recalled, and then came Varuna (Manukau Cruising Club), Rahiri (Manukau Yacht and MotorBoat Club), Lucille (Point Chevalier Sailing Club), Mowai (Richmond Cruising Club), Louisa (Tamaki Yacht Club), Marie (Devonport Yacht Club), and Venus (Takapuna Boating Club). Huia (Ponsonby Cruising Club), did not start. Varyna soon drew out from Rahiri and Lucille and beat down harbour, keeping well inshore. At the western tide deflector Rahiri, Marie, Valeria and Kohiri broke tacks, and took a board .in to windward. Lucille followed suit just before the Prince’s Wharf and Varuna opposite the wharf. All boats were well in the running, Venus, which was last to get away having come right up. Varuna was first ‘to round the Bastion at 4 p.m., with Valeria 45s behind, Lucille lm, Kokiri 2m, and Venus 2m 455. The remaining boats were out of the race. RACE FOR THE MARK

Beating down Rangitoto Channel in high seas, Valeria drew up on Varuna. Both broke tacks off the white light and a stirring race for the turn ensued. Both crews showed cleverness in handling their boats, and the two came round the light at 4.20 p.m., Varuna a bare bowsprit to the good. Once on the home leg, Varuna set her spinaker, Valeria’s crew having some trouble. The former drew away, but once the wind caught Valerians extra canvas she began to move. Lucille beat Kokiri round the light by lm and Venus was 25s behind. These three boats set spinakers and came bowling merrily along in the wake of Varuna and Valeria-, which were now level. In a thrilling finish Varuna and Valeria crossed the line together at 5 p.m., the judges being unable to separate them. Lucille was next in at 5.2 p.m., and Venus 35s later. Kokiri crossed the line a few minutes later. Venus made a great attempt and raced consistently throughout. W. Clare, of Valeria, made his first appearance after an absence from sailing of 15 years. He sailed the Mowai when she was class champion of Auckland. Saturday’s race was marked by clever seamanship, and although all the crews to finish battled gamely, thero was no doubt that it was a day to the liking of Varuna and Valeria. It is understood that there will be no further contest for the cup this year, but that the names of both boats will adorn the trophy. The finishing times were;—Varuna, 4.56.37; Valeria, 4.56.37; _ Lucille, 4.57.58; Venus, 4.58.24; Kokiri, 5.0. Mowai finished some time later, but her time was not recorded. Marie (Devonport) retired from the race through fouling Louisa (Tamaki), which was on the starboard tack. Marie was then on port. Louisa was also forced to retire, having split her mast in the collision. RACING IN WHITE WATER PONSONBY’S CUP DAY For the first time this season racing yachtsmen had on Saturday to encounter a real blow on the harbour, and as a result some unexpected happenings were recorded. The occasion was the Ponsonby Cruising Club’s annual cup day, the principal event of which was the contest for th€i Lipton Cup for L class 22-foot mullet boats. In addition the programme included races for all classes of yachts from C to X. There was nothing outstanding about these minor events, which for the most part drew small fields of competitors. All races were started and finished off the motor-yacht Linda, kindly placed at the service of the club by Mr. E. J. Kelly. The racing officials were: Starter and recorder, Mr. H. R. Arthur; timekeeper, Mr. E. J. Kelly; judge, Mr. W. Joynt. Details of the racing: KEEL YACHTS Four keel yachts started in the race for the Palmer Cup. Wairiki led the way over the line, closely followed by Delville and Queenie. Maybelle was several seconds late. Soon after the start Delville overhauled the leader, but Wairiki regained her position and won without embarrassment. . v Finishing times were: Wairiki (6m), 4.28.47; Delville (—), 4.29.25; Queenie (scr), 4.32.3; Maybelle (18m), 4.31.34. Result: — Wairiki t Maybelle H CLASS There were five competitors iri the race for H class mullet boats. Celox was in the best position at gunfire and led the field over the line. Spray followed next, with Starlight. Starloch and Why Not all nearby. Starlight soon went into the lead and was never headed. The finishing times were: Starlight (scr), 4.34.1; Starloch (15m), 4.37.3; Why Not (13m), 4.41.34; Celox (lm), 4.44.48; Spray (6m), 4.59.25. Result; — Why 1 Starlight • • • 2 M CLASS The race for M class patikis was disappointing. Four boats started, but only two finished. Maratea got the best of the start. Maroro followed close at hand, but capsized a few seconds later when setting her spinnaker. Matarere came along iater and Maia followed too late to have a chance of competing. Finishing times were; Mai'atea, 4.9.17; Matarere, 4.18.7. Result;— Maratea 1 V CLASS Only four V boats faced the stormy condition's. Drone, which had started later than the others, soon went ahead and finished comfortably without opposition. Finishing times were: Drone (scr), 4.16.15; Leveret (7m), 4.28.27; Rita (16m), 4.38.40. Wild Wave did not finish. Result: — Drone 1 Leveret 2 S CLASS The race for S class brought out only three competitors, but only two completed the course. Finishing times were: Atangatai (scr), 4.40.25; Phoebe (7m), 4.42.43. Sea Sleigh did not finish. Result: — Phoebe 1 T AND Y CLASSES Another small field of starters competed in this race. Marie blew out her sail before the start and drily Alerte, Sheila and Speedwell completed the j course. Finishing times were: Alerte (scr).

4.45.13; Sheila (6£m), 4.59.35; Speedwell (Sim), 5.4.6. Result:— Alerte 1 Sheila 2 X CLASS Four competitors contested the annual race for the Hewson Memorial Cup for X class boats (crews under 21 years of age). Nyria got the best of a good start, followed by Joan and Rona. Queen March came along in the rear with her spinnaker pulling her along like an express train. She overhauled the second and third boats, but not long afterward capsized through taking unwarrantable risks with the extra sail. Joan led for most of the course and was in a good position when making for the last turn for the home run. A gybe would have made her safe to win, but she would not risk the manoeuvre. Rona, following hard at her rival’s heels, made a splendid gybe and exchanged places with the leader, and won by 10s. Finishing times were: Rona, 4.52.17; Joan, 4.52.27; Nyria, 5.0.37. Result:— Rona 1 Joan 2