WIN FOR THELMA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 7

WIN FOR THELMA

BIG YACHTS RACE IN HARD BLOW

NGA-TOA SECOND; ARIKI THIRD j Thelma won the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s race to Kawau cn Saturday. The big boat was also first to finish. Ariki was second in and Nga-Toa third. On corrected times. however, the placings of the two last named were interchanged. \ .PIPING westerly wind was blowing for the start # at 2.30. Most of the boats had one or two reefs in, but as the wind lightened near the finish the tuck was shaken out. The handicaps were: Ariki. scr; Thelma, lm 30s; Nga-toa, 11m; Rawene, 18m; Ladye Wilma,. 31m; Kotiri. 32m: Rangi, 36m: Windward. 38m 30s: lona. 45m; Alexa, 4Sm. Prize, Wairiki and Kotutu did not start. The order of the start, which was very straggling, was:—Nga-toa, followed by Kotiri, Rangi, 30s late, Windward, 44s late, Ariki, lm 32s late, Thelma, lm 40s late. Ladye Wilma, 2m 10s late, lona, 6m 25s late, Alexa, Cm 20s late and Rawene 8m 33s late. Continuing in the lead Nga-toa set a small spinnaker for the run downharbour to the Sandspit. The boats made a picturesque sight as they slid down before the heavy wind. At the Sandspit the order was Nga-toa. Kotiri. Thelma, Rangi, Ariki, Windward, Ladye Wilma and the rest strung out. Courses were then set for the long lead to Kawau. Thelma passed Ariki on the run down the harbour. At the Sandspit the order was Nga-Toa. Ivotiri, Thelma, Rangi, Ariki, Ladye Wilma, Rawene, lona and Alexa. After clearing the Sandspit' beacon Thelma overhauled Kotiri, which was also replaced by Ariki. Rounding North I-Lead NgaToe was leading Thelma by 55 seconds and Ariki by lm 15s. Kotiri was another 35s and Rangi 2m 44s further astern. Then followed Ladye Wilma, Rawene, lona and Alexa. Nga-Toa continued her lead until just before reaching Duder Spit buoy, where she was passed by Thelma and Ariki. The two last-named were within a few lengths of each other all the way to Whangaparaoa. Ariki kept further in the middle of the channel, while Thelma worked further inshore and did better than her rival. The wind having lightened, the smaller boats shook out to full sail, botli Ariki and Thelma having started without reefing. After Whangaparaoa had been cleared the wind drew ahead and fell so light that many of the back markers lordly moved at times. Thelma finished Sgm ahead of Ariki and Nga-Toe followed 17m later. On time allowance Thelma was first, NgaToa second and Ariki third. Tli© officials for the day were: Messrs. A. G. Ensoll. J. H. Frater, C. V. Connolly, T. Maxwell, M. K. Draffin, and G. E. Laycock.

STIFF BLOW FOR PATIKIS

MAWHITI SCORES EASY WIN

By 2m 25s Mawhiti won the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s harbour race on Saturday for its M class patikis. The winning boat sailed a great race in hard conditions. The stiff westerly gave the five entrants a lively time and all the crews were in oilskins. At the start at 3 o’clock the order of crossing the line was Manene, Maratea, Mawhiti, Maroro, with Manu 75 yards astern. Maratea was very smart with her spinnaker and Manene was not long afterward. The rest followed suit and planed along in fine style, their objective being the Bastion mark between Orakei and Kohi. At the eastern tide deflector Maratea was in the middle of Manene and Mawhiti, and Maroro was well to leeward and astern. Manu was last, but picking up. The three leaders were making a great race of it. The boats rounded the Bastion in this order: —Maratea, Manene, Maroro, Mawhiti, and Manu. The next leg was a slog to the sandspit. Here the competitors changed fortunes. The formation at the mark-boat was Mawhiti. Maroro, Manene, Maratea and Manu. The three first-named were closely grouped. The last leg home was made in good time, with a favouring tide.

Finishing times and placings were; Mawhiti, 3.53.23. 1: Manene, 3.55.45, 2; Maratea, 3.55.57, 3. Also finished Maroro, 3.56.50; Manu, 3.59,12.

ONLY ONE EVENT

TAMAKI RACES ABANDONED

Only one race was held by the Tarnaki Yacht Club on Saturday afternoon, the officials of the club abandoning all others on account of the strong nor-wester, which, blowing direct into Kohimararna, off where the courses were laid, decided nearly all entrants not to turn up. Late in the afternoon three Z Class boats arrived and they were sent twice round a short course in the more sheltered water between the IColiimarama and St. Heliers wharves. Result;—Delphine, 1; Tio, 2; Gi, 3.

OMATERE COMES BACK

MULLET BOATS IN ACTION

The big mullet boat Omatere, which used to race well and which has not been competing for some time, marked her re-entry to the sport of yacht racing on Saturday by winning the Takapuna .Boating Club’s long cruising race to Matiatia. The course was from the start off Stanley Point round Rangitoto and Motutapu. thence round Motuihi and finishing at Matiatia. At the start at 2.30 Starloch crossed the line first, followed by Starlight, Glady, Rakoa and Omatere in that ordej-. All were reefed. At North Head Starloch retained her lead, but at the Saltworks Beacon the order was Omatere, Starloch. Starlight, Rakoa, Glady. Shortly before reaching Billy Goat Point. Omatere broke one of the jaws of her spinnaker boom and was passed by Starloch. A great race was then seen between Omatere, Starloch and Starlight, only two seconds separating the three boats as they rounded Billy Goat Point in that order. Rakoa was 8m further astern, while Glady withdrew at this stage and proceeded direct to Matiatia. All shook ouC to full sail after clearing the point. At the lower end of Motuihi, Omatere took a wide course and Starloch again took the lead. A little later, however, Omatere regained her position through Starloch trying to carry a leader. There was no further change in the positions of the boats. The finish was timed as follows: Omatere (3m). 5.58: Starloch (scr.), 5.56.39; Starlight (2m). 5.57.11; Rakoa (10m). 6.6.5". Result;— Imatere, 1; Starlight, 2: Starloch, 3.