POPULARISE THE REGATTA!

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 867, 10 January 1930, Page 8

POPULARISE THE REGATTA!

THOSE who cherish pleasant memories of festive occasions on * Waitemata Harbour in years gone by will find food for reflection in the preliminary programme issued for the Auckland Anniversary Regatta on January 29. Once again the events have been kept within the limits of strictly modern racing and utility craft, and although the final selection has yet to be made, there is nothing to indicate that the committee proposes to make any important alterations or additions. As far as it goes the programme is a good one, yet there are grounds for the contention that this annual regatta in its present-day guise has lost some of the picturesque colouring and romantic atmosphere of the past; and, with it, some of the interest of a generation which dislikes stereotyped entertainment. Half a century ago, Regatta Hay as it was then known—an Auckland aquatic festival that lent novel distinction to a growing city and did much to spread afield the fame of its lovely harbour—was regarded by the community as one of the outstanding events of the year. Big crowds made a point of journeying early to vantage points and onlookers were to be found as far away as Kohimarama and the North Head. On those departed occasions one of the most popular events of the day was the series embracing the traders’ sailing races. Displaying every shred of canvas it was possible to bend on straining masts, sturdy schooners and scows, ketches and cutters, made brave display as they stood out toward the Gulf, bearing with them the interest and arousing the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators. From 1882 on, such names as Transit, Torea, Cygnet and Mazeppa were as familiarly known as those of leading racehorses today. Unfortunately, it has to be admitted that, in recent years, public interest in Auckland’s Anniversary Regatta has dwindled to sectional dimensions. The most blindly-enthusiastic yachtsman cannot but realise that his summer joys are shared, in the main, only by his fellow yachtsmen. Obviously the time has come for serious consideration of ways and means to popularise the Anniversary Day fixture before it becomes of still less public consequence.

Admittedly the numbers of small commerical sailing craft have dwindled sadly and it may no longer be possible to reestablish a complete series of schooner and scow “traders’ races.” Nevertheless, the old-time classes are still represented on the Waitemata and there is no reason why a composite class should not be included. There is still time, in fact, to make the move this year. Such an addition to the present programme would be a move in the direction of attracting wider attention to a fixture that should be more truly representative of Auckland rather than of Auckland yachting.