WAIONE WINS RACE TO RUSSELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 545, 24 December 1928, Page 9

WAIONE WINS RACE TO RUSSELL

ARIKI FINISHES FIRST HEAD WINDS ALL WAY Despite a Head wind practically the whole way, the annual ocean race to Russell was sailed in good time on Saturday and Sunday. Ariki, the first boat to finish, completed the long trip at 9.53 yesterday morning. The actual winner was Waione, whose handicap placed her ahead of Ariki. WEATHER conditions at the start n at 3 p.m. on Saturday were good, and the breeze steady from the nor’east. Once out in the ocean, the yachts had a slog all the way to the finish, the trip up the coast being made on a “long and a short leg.” Jockeying for the start, the big stately keelers and mullet-boats presented an animated spectacle as they hung head to wind or manoeuvred under skilled hands on the line. Many carried top-sails ready to make the most of the breeze. Punctually at three o’clock the last flag came down, and the gun crashed out the signal. Four boats were too eager and crossed the line a little before the Stin, and had to go about and recroas. They were: Kotiri, Windward, Starlight and Waione. The actual of starting was: Ariki, Thelma, Rangi, Speedwell, Ida, Windjjrd and Kotiri, of the keel yachts. mullet-boats, which got away at he same time, were Wairere, Waima, and Doreen, in that order, f. boats set off on a close-haul to •''Orth Head, where they went about ? th « direction of St. Hellers for the *t out of the harbour. « the Ftangitoto beacon Ariki as•imed the lead, with Thelma, SpeedAt Prize following in that order. -VWhangaparau the breeze was jutn-east. There was close haul to TV* 11, increasing her lead. passed Rodney at nightfall l s T***ghtly eased sheets. Thelma was Pri? u, 5 teß behi nd Ariki, followed by and Waione. andnx to windward of the Hen sida /'tokens, the rest taking the in- \\ in * ,as ® a ?e to reach this point at 7 be lea<iin S boats found the nor’ easterly and tW y ; These conditions continued Awi the ni&ht2erth5 ay r eak Ariki. was off Wide The a lead on the fleet. Canl e ? e Was still light and patchy. Ariki 7-« ett was reached as follow: -eshin. 03 am -' Thelma, 8.15, with tossed south-east breeze; Waione S^w^i 9 ; B n°; Kotiri * 9 - 37 : Prize, 9.42; The Windward, 11.30. ! scr ) aso !l in& times were: Ariki one \'ib k : x Thel ma (15m), 10.59; Wai-H-35; Kotiri <4hJ, 11.41: 12.47. " '* Speedwell (4h 45m), w ß*aul t: Waione, 1; Kotiri. 2; Speed-