YACHTING SMOKE CONCERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 389, 25 June 1928, Page 7

YACHTING SMOKE CONCERT

UPTON CUP “RESAILED” AKARANA ENTERTAINS A smoke concert in honour of the skipper and crew of the 22-foot yacht Valeria, which dead-heated with Varuna in the late race for the Lipton Cup, was given on Saturday evening by the Akarana Yacht Club in the new clubhouse at Mechanics Bay. Mr. T. McWhirter, owner of Valeria, and Air. W. Clare, skipper, and members of the crew, were the guests of honour. Proposing the toast of the skipper and owner, the commodore, Mr. A. Braund, who presided, referred to the splendid race sailed by Mr. Clare, who made his first appearance at the tiller after a spell of 15 years. Through no fault of her own, Valeria crossed the starting-line three seconds too soon, with the result that she had to return and recross. This lost a fair amount of time, and the boat was last away, instead of first, but by good handling Mr. Clare gradually overhauled his opponents, and a most exciting finish was fought out between Valeria and Varuna, resulting in a dead-heat being recorded. Air. Braund also recalled some earlier races sailed by Air. Clare, including the stirring contest between Okero and Emerald. This resulted in a win for the former, handled by Mr. Clare, who had the satisfaction of beating his brother, Air. A. Clare. On behalf of the committee, Air. Braund presented Air. McWhirter with an enlarged photograph of the Valeria. In reply, Mr. Clare said that while his watch showed he had 10 seconds to wait for the last flag to fall, someone on the flagship, whom he took \.o be an official, waved both Valeria and Kokiri over the line. Unfortunately, however, both boats then realised that the race had not started, and they returned and recrossed. He mentioned this incident because lie considered that too many persons were usually on board the starter’s boat, and this often led to confusion among the competitors. He congratulated Akarana Club upon possession such a splendid clubhouse. Air. G. S. Aliller, who was one of the crew of Earl Jellicoe’s Iron Duke when she raced Heather in Auckland some years ago, presented the club with an enlarged photograph of Iron Duke and Heather trying conclusions on the Waitemata. This particular photograph bears the signatures of both Earl Jellicoe and Air. W. McCulloch, owner of Heather. A very enjoyable programme of vocal items was contributed.