THE VICTORIAN CENTENNIAL REGATTDA. THE AKARANA AT MELBOURNE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 4

THE VICTORIAN CENTENNIAL REGATTDA. THE AKARANA AT MELBOURNE.

The Centennial Intercolonial Regatta that was.held at Melbourne in oonnecfcion with thte Exhibition opened on Friday, November 23rd.,. * "A more unfortunate duy for the purpose of\ practical sailing could not have been selected. The sweltering heat was the most unpleasant feature so far as spectators were concerned, but the total absence of wind throughout nearly the whole day completely spoilt the various sailing contests, which were in consequence robbed of vitality and interest. In several cases the competing boats were unable even to get steering-' way on, and it wa-> dreary work alike for lookers on and competitors, as the yachte crept away from the starting line at a pace so blow as to make their movement almost imperceotiblc. - This unfortunate state of affairs existed until 6 o'clock, at. which time a he.sh breeze sprang up which would have beon heartily welcomed earlier m too day. The race in which public interest was centred, the first yacht contest, had to be curtailed, as it took the fastest of the boats something like six hours: to negotiate the first round of 16 miles, on the completion of which the skippers were hailed and informed that the course would be bailed only twice round instead of three times. As we have already recorded in our cable news, there was some difficulty over this race. The Era. Sydney's representative, came in first, but on time allowance the Iduna was given first place. Then there was a dispute as to the course sailed over, and as to which side of the flagship the finish should have been on. The result of it all was that the Committee ordered the race to be sailed again. The pri/.e was £400 and a gold anchor valued 100 guineas presented, by Sir \v. J. Clarke second prize £100, third £50. The .starters -were :— Era (N.S. W.), cutter, 40 rating, A. G. Milson and Wander ir (S.A.), cut/er, 40k, H. P. Fergie, scratch : Jar.efc (V.), cutter, 35r, Hon. Sir W. J. Clarke, 3min 443ec; Taniwha (V.), cutter, 34k. P. Turnbull, 4min 34sec ; Volunteer (X.S. W.), cutter, 3vjr, YV. P. Smairl, 7min 13sec : Iduna (V.), cutter, 23r, J. A. Gurner. 16min 6sec. The race during the early part proved most interesting, the wind being light, but as soon as it increased the Era singled out and sailing in great style was never after within " cooey," ultimately winning by 13min 50sec over the trial allowance from the Volunteer, which uasSmin 7sec ahead of "the South Australian representative. The -Janet and the Taniwha gave up t hr'ough the rudder heads showing signs of going, but they were then miles behind. The Iduna finished, but was so far behind that her time was not taken. The interest of Aucklanders centres in the fortune of their representative, the Akaraua, which according to our cable news to-day, has been de f eated in a champion race by the representatives of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. The iirat race the Akarana started in was that for Keel or Ckn'irk Platk Yacht?, exceeding 5 tons and not exceeding 10 tons. First prize, £150; second, £b0 ; thhd, £10 Distance 24 miles. Time allowance for sail area rating.

This event, the second in importance on the programme, attracted considerable attention. The As3egai, from Sydney, was expected to make a good race with the Xew Zealander, but was unfortunately delayed on her passage, and did not arrive in time to compete. A tairlv good start was made, the order being jNlys fiery, Galatea, Akarana, Cooeeana, Madce. Viking, Viola and Pert. The last named was four minutes behind, and pave up the contest on account of the lack of wind. The Akarana quickly found her vvay to the lead, and some good sailing- took place between her and the Viola in the tirst round. The race, however, could not be seen to advantage on account of the haze. The times of the first round were : —

Three boats only passed under the eye o* the judge at the tinish, the rest having all disappeared from the view of the in the flagship before the secopd round was hair completed. The .Akarana steadily maintained her advantage, and her fine sailing qualities, under all conditions of wind and weather were apparent. Duriug the lasb hour of the race the wind blew freshly from the south and sooth-west, and the spectacle of the New Zealander in the last part of her course was the subject of general admiration. The times of passing the flag boat were : —

On the 24fch November, the second day oi the Regatta, the Akarana sailed in the race for

Keel ok Centre Px,atje Yachts exceeding 26 feet, but not exceeding 55 feet. First prize. £100; second, £40; third, £10. Distance. 16 miles. Crew limited to eight hands.

Says a Melbourne paper :— The Cooeeana and Mysfceryciid nofc compete. TheGalatea gob rather,the best of the start,' keeping- to windward, of the. Akarana,- of whom erreat things " were ' expected. The Galatea appears never; tp ,have beeen .passed. OS Green j , Poiht, , Brighjbou, the . Akarana waej^ second, \ytien the visitor - lost her- ' throat halyards. Some ' three minute^ .would^ probably , be .occupied,, in righting thies-mi^hap^ an,d she -fell, back' fourth in'the jrace.; -,Her aqcident alone is

■V • " ' " • -- I nob enough to account for Ibis position, however," the only conelusion'being fchafcshe is nob a rough-water sailer, bub that her qualities are calculated rather to tell in smooth water, such as prevailed on Friday. The times* of passing were :—

Sir W. J. Clarke, who is an enthusiastic yachtsman, and owner of bhe large crack Janet, generously offered to get. a handsome prize for a race between the Assegai and I Akarana,, and a yacht from Tasmania and Victoria in the same class. The l esult of this \v ill bo found in other column but the Akarana I was last, and as the weather was very rough, the conclusion of the Melbourne pressman in rejrnrd to her fair-weather capacity is probably correct. The entries for this race were : — A.«se<:ai (New South Wales), cuttor, 11 tons; Akarann (New Zealand), cutter, 7 tons ; (Jalatea (Victoria), cutter, 5.1 tons ; jMidyn (Tasmania), cutter, 8.1 tons.

Name. Rig. Owner. , "^ In !m.s. C H. Tnckett! - iGeo. Fry . . i 2 54 H. Press ..1318 J. McAlister.. 4 34 VV. Hailcy 5 23 R. Logan . . 5 23 |J\ L. Parker.. 7 8 |J. vv r . Alec ..1148 PcrtfV.).. Madge (V.) Cooeana ( v.) . . Mysterr (V.) .. Viola (V.) Akurana (N.Z.).. Viking (V.) . Galatea (V.) .. Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter 9.3 8.1 7.8 7.3 7.0 7.0 6.3 5.1 Starting time, 1 h.3! Imin. 4sec.

Akarana ' Viola . Viking . iladge Cooeea'na Mystery h. m. s. 3 45 29 3 45 44 3 46 23 3 50 20J 3 54 23', 3 57 59^

ikarana h. in. s. 6 34 29J 6 44 33 . Madge

ikarana Jooeana . . h. m. s\ 6 29 6j 6 44 15 6 50 19

Reckoning time allowance, the positions were : —

,Aame. n\g. Owner. 1 1 ft.i. 34 6 34 4 33 0 298 29 6 37 0 36 6 L_ .. G'ooeana (V.) Pert(V.).. Formby (Tas.) . . Mystery (V ) Akarana (N.Z.).. Galatea (V.) .. Volley (V.) Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter H. Press C. H. Tuekett ; Taylor Bros. . . J. McAlister.. ! R. Logan .. ; J. W. Allee .. ■. C. O. Sievers.. • tm s 1 27 4 38 5 13 3 22 3 3

The entries for this race were : —

Galatea . . Perb Volley .. Akarana i h. m. &. 6 14 57} 6 20 4.{ 6 29 41 ' 6 33 18

Cialakea Pert .. Volley Akarana h. in. s. 6 6 35£ 6 20 4J 6 20 38 6 26 5 1 2 3 0

Calculating fcivne allowancos, which did noL aitect this order, the result was : —