AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 16

AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

By

KEELSON

SOME OLD TIME RACES

EARLY WAITEMATA YACHTING “First Mate” writes to The Sun: Recent mention in your paper of some of the races of yester-years and references to keen rivalry between yacht builders brings back memories of the days when the Squadron, Ponsonby r and Xorth Shore Clubs controlled the boating on the harbour and the contests, if fewer, were more keenly contested; generally there was only one prize going, at the end of the season; but the great “desideratum” was to “get the gun.” Looking back now, when time has mellowed mental impressions, there is no doubt that zest was added to the racing by the fact that, to all intents and purposes, boat-owners had become divided into two schools —those who owned Bailey’-built boats, and those who boasted that Logan liad turned out their craft. Secrecy, almost as inpenetrable as that thrown round the building of a warship, was maintained concerning the design of new boats. When Logan put the old Gloriana in the water he revolutionised boat designs and probably no boat in the harbour could work to windward like this one. Then came the contests between Meteor and Kotiri. Xo outsider was permitted to see Meteor being built, and on the day of the challenge race with Kotiri there was an anxious concourse of “fans” tramping from Calliope Dock to Xorth Head and back as the boats moved down and up harbour. Kotiri had borrowed the smaller mainsail of Windward. In the fresh nor’-easterly' Meteor, with her bigger sail, was “buried.” Down harbour and out into the channel the boats see-sawed, with a couple of minutes separating them. On the second time round Kotiri overstood the mark at the lighthouse and this lost her the race. Then there was the Moana-Ida challenge, which went to Moana, decisively. One of the most exciting races was the Victory-Mahurangi struggle. The “Vic.” had been converted from a fishing-boat, and the “fishies” backed her while the yacht club men were equally optimistic about Mahurangi. The 28-mile course of the Squadron was the trial ground, and there were lamentations among the bunched fishermen on the old Queen’s Wharf when the “Vic.’s” spinnaker got into the water and the boom crumpled up when she had three lengths’ lead down harbour. Mahurangi overtook Victory at the black buoy, but close-hauled on the return, “Vic.” again had the lead at the Squadron buoy’. Up to the Watchman the boats fought alternately for the lead. Out to the Rangitoto Buoy they fought, and coming back Mahurangi essayed laying the marks, while Victory kept over toward Kohi. Mahurangi was progressing well when the cutters (in their race) came down and by’ the time Mahurangi had got clear of them Victory was almost on her; a back-breaking struggle gave the gun to Mahurangi by 15sec. I remember, too. the first race with the newer type mullet boats, when O. Kere and Emerald ran away from the rest of the boats and fought out a great finish. On the same day Wairere and Thistle had a neck and neck contest over the old Ponsonby course. Off Bayswater the mullet boats crossed th*-* race and Thistle was forced away, th ' trouble being aggravated by a mullet boat breaking her helm and becoming unmanageable. Wairere, catching Thistle on the wron& tack. pushed through, but Thistle, recovering, made a big effort to blanket Wairere and the race finished with Thistle’s bowsprit abeam Wairere’s mast. A big surprise, which eventually led to the present classifications, was the win by Windward, which came in long after the other boats had jubilate* i and cheered the “winner”; it was found

that Windward, with 37 minutes’ start, was winner by Tsec. There was a humorous incident one' when Mabel and Mahaki had got away from the others and were both struggling for position in rounding the old ring buoy that was off Calliope Dock. Mahaki’s crew was so intently watching its competitor that it forgo: the buoy and its sagging mainsail caught in the ring of the buoy ana “stalled” the boat. Feverish effort released the sail and, hoisting the spinnaker, Mahaki made a fierce effort tu catch Mabel, but the gun settled the attack. Cutter racing, now a tiling of the past, once had a big following. Manned by hardy crew's who spent much time during the year “chaffing” each othe. on the sailing capacities of the the approach of regatta day say th* j cutters “on the hard” at the Shore, being black-leaded and otherwise trimmed up for the racing. The cutters Henry and Gannet were the crackand it used to be alleged that the crew of the Gannet used to fit a false keu to their boat for the regatta race, se that the cutter could go to windward like a yacht. “Them were the days, recently remarked an old shellbac.: with tlio critical eye of the old schoo.. summing up the new’. HERE AND THERE Things yachting are about as quiet as they could be at the present tinj e and hardly a sound is disturbing the various hauling-out sites. The younger boating men are hard at fo°*" ball and the older hands are w’atchmg the game. It will be two months yet before anything much is done on tlie boats and, anyway, there is plenty ot time. * * * Two clubs have annual prize this week. This evening the Victoria Cruising Club has a dance and social in the Manchester Unity Hall, corner of Hobson and Victoria Streets, ana during the proceedings the prizes won during the late season will be P* € ' sented by the president, Mr. Eliot Davis. The club is anxious that the wdnners shall all be there, or send a representative to collect the awards. On Saturday’ evening the Point Chevalier Sailing Club will hold its prize night in the clubhouse, Joan Street, Point Chevalier. The evening will take the form of a social and dance. The club hopes to haveL*-‘ e honour of a visit from Mr. J. S. Fl e *" cher, M.P. for Grey’ Lynn, who, it is hoped, will distribute the prizes. * * » Tomorrow’ evening the Akarana Yacht Club is holding a special dance in its clubhouse, Campbell’s Point* to benefit the earthquake relief find. Tbieffort should commend itself to a large number of yachtsmen and thek friends. A free bus service leaves Endean’s Buildings before the dance, returning afterward. The Roy*al Xew Zealand Squadron has fixed its annual meeting for the evening of September 27 tn last Friday’ in that month.