CHAMPION WHALEBOAT RACE. A Foul and Protest, which is Decided Against Waitemata.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 6

CH AMPION WHALEBOAT RACE. A Foul and Protest, which is Decided Against Waitemata.

Aucklvnd, April 19. Any casual visitor to this port on Saturday afternoon could not fail to havo been very much impressed with tho multitude of person?, both ashoro and afloat, that had assembled to witness the groat Btrugglo for tho whaleboat championship ; and ib is safe to say that no aquatic event here ha& over pre yiously caused anything approaching the intonso enthusiasm then displayod. The race was not announced to start until 3 p.m., but fully an hour before this time the wharves were thickly lined with people, all oagor to obtain a view of tho contest, and as tho hour drew noarer, overy point of vantage was crowded -the wharves from end to end, the vessels alongside and in tho stream, from deck to rigging, and the foreshoio from Queon-strcot up to Shelly Beach having great numbers of onlookers. On the waterd of the Waitemata, too, there was such a fleet as has never borore been seen, from the trail skill:' to the largo coastal and ferry steamera, all tilled with pooplo. There was the Thames steamer Kotoinahana, with many ardent admirers of the liauraki crew, the Britannia and Alexandra, tho steam tug Awhina, tho s.s. Maori, Mr (J. Bailoy's now launch, with His Excellency the Governor (8ir William Jervois), Major Jervois, Mr Mitchelson, M.H.R., and a Star representative, the ...stoam launch Huia, with Mr l.hn Waymouth, sen. (judge and starter), .ir Ernngton's steam launch Alert, with :>lr T. llondorson, jun. (umpire), and a host of other steamers, besides sailing crafts too numerous to mention. Tho late hour at which the race finished piccludcd the publication of more than a briof account of tho race in our last issue, so that it will now be woll to enter into fuller particulars.

The Start. A few minutes before 3 o'clock the Hauraki and Waitoinata crews rowed leisuroly up to the starting point, oil" the end of the Hallway Pier, amidst the cheeiing of the assembled multitude. Hauraki came out all ready for the struggle, their colours, "bluo and white," boing displayed on their caps, whilst their boat had a blue Hag, and Waitemata appeared with the crew temporally protected Irom the weather with coats?, winch, however, were speedily jdiecaided and tho "bluo and gold" displayed. Both crews looked in grand form, and it was plain that the contebt would be hardly fought out from start to finish. ThoMaia (YYaitoinata) took up the insido position, that is nearest to tho Railway Wharf, and the Hauraki (Thames) was about three boat longths to windward, the wind being light and from tho northward. No difficulty was experienced by the starter, who got the boats away very ovonly at 3hrs. 3inin. lOsecs., Hauraki if anything having thebest of it for a few stroked, showed that their boat was slightly in advance.

Tho Kaco. Waitemata put on a very sinarL paeo, pulling about 3S, whilst thoiv opponents lowed about ot). Abreast of Queen-street Wharf, 'Waitomata spurted brilliantly, and slowly picking up lost ground, caught llauraki, and assumod a lead of a few feet. [Both pullod "all they knew," without a doubt, and the pace was bo warm that neither crow was " saving anything." Tho boats kopt alongsido of each other until tho hulk anchored oil' Freeman's Bay was passed, when Hauraki, with a long stroke of 86, headed their hardy opponents and gradually drew about a quartor-length ahead. Waitemata, pulling about 40, spurted again, and again picked up the lost ground, and again fell back, but never &o far as a full length, and so the struggle continued past St. Mary's Point, past Shelly Beach, and up to tho turning points off the Watchman. Tho innor " mark " here was allotted to tho Maia and the outer ono to Hauraki. Hauraki was abreast of their mark fully half a length ahead of Waitemata, but the lattor made tho better turn, and tho result was that when the boats pointed wharfwards there was not a second between them. Here Moore was seen to bo keeping the Waitematas well up to windward. Gradually they improved their position until a full lengthahead, andthon crossed the Hauraki's bows and took their water (this, according to the A.H.C. rules, they did at their peril - that is, taking all risks), and so the contest proceeded. Waitomata continued to forge ahead. Off Northcoto they had a lead of over a length, off tho West End liowing Club shed it was increased to two lengths, and the victory was considered to have been already won. The people cheered and clapped, but thoy choored and clapped too soon. Hauraki was coming on, astern it is true, but pulling strongly with a long swinging stroke, and the result was soon apparent. Off Freeman's Bay Waitemata dropped back xmbil thoir steor oar almost touched tho bows of tho Hauraki boat. Moore kept edging towards tho southern shore, evidently under tho impression that it was tho duty of his opponent to give way, but Savago knew better and kept straight on his courae.

A Foul then appoarod inevitable, and although Hauraki slacked their pace for a f ow seconds as the boats closod a collision was barely evaded, and Moore's steer oar camo across the bows of the Hauraki boat. The result was that Waitemata was instantly turned out of her course, with the boat's head pointing for tho dock, whoroat Hauraki, again settling down to their work, took up the lead and went away stronglv, overy member of tho crow apparently capable of great exertions. When Waitomata got fairly under way thoy woro fully two lengths astern, and the result was never afterwards in doubt. The local crow spurted again and again up to tho finish, but never regained tho lost ground, and Hauraki passed tho winning-post soveral lengths ahead, C fficial time : — Hauraki, 3hr 24m in 27sec 1 Waitomata, 3hr 24min 48sec 2 The time oecupiod was therefore 21min 27sec. Tho cheering that burst forth in recognition of the victory was indescribable, thousands of voices being raised in unison with deafening cries of " Hauraki, Hauraki, Hurrah !" showing that the win of the visitors was a popular one. The Waitemata crew were also loudly choered as they finished, the great race which they pulled throughout being worthy, of all praise. Much speculation was indulged in as to how the event would havo been but for the foul, and there is no doubt that it preyonted what would have been an exceedingly close finish.

The Protest.

Waitomatas pulled alongside of the umpire's boat, and a protest was formally lodged against Hauraki on the ground that they had caused a foul. Mr Henderson without delay gave his decision l?r writin £ as follow s: "1 decide against Waiteinata, for the roaaon that they departed from their own water, and in accordance with rule 11 of the Auckland Regatta Club they did so at their own peril." Tho rule referred to is as follows : -" Each boat shall keep its own water throughout the race, and any boat doing otherwise shall do so at its own peril.'' Tho result was received with great cheering, and tho Haurakia were immediately taken in hand and treatod by numerous admirers.