THE AKARANA'S VICTORY. ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

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

THE AKAR ANA'S VICTORY. ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

AJk K. Lduax, owner of the yacht Akarana, writing under date of November 2bth, from Melbourne, with reference to the Centennial Regatta says : — "Our event was the fourth race on the programme, and there was very little wind. We all got away with a very good start, but on account of the wind changing atter we had worked ourselves into a good windward position (all the other boats getting a great fluke on us) we still held second position, and would have rounded the buoy first only for the wind changing again, put- ! ting us out cf the good place we had wo iked ourselves into. However, we rounded the buoy third, the first boat t being eight minutes ahead of us and the wind stil? light. With every stitch of sail set we hauled up on the first boat again and rounded the next buoy just before her. The wind freshening up we soon hauled away from them all having the race entirely in our own hands, and when about half way around the course we saw a strong breeze behind, causing us all to take in spinnakers and topsails, so with housed topmast we carried full mainsail, scudding along at a rapid pace, and winning easily. The Coeeana, which took second place, is a batton-Carvel yacht built specially for the regatta, and expected to win everything. She went for three races, bus only took second place in two races. She is owned and sailed by Captain Press. She is 33ft on the waterline, lift beam, with a centreboard 11 feet long, go you can see for yourself what we had to contend against. I forgot to time her as she came in ; butI think she was about ten minutes behind ua, the others being a long way astern. We entered for two races, but were rather unfortunate in the second. It was blowing hard, with a naaty choppy sea, and we started with too much sail, having whole mainsail, large jib, and staysail. To make matters worse the throat bolt, which was welded on to the steel cross tree, gave way, letting the mainsail down and making us lose about fifteen minutes. We would have changed the large jib only the wire seasoning on the sheet blocks gave way a little before the race started, so there was nothing for it bub just to lash it through the thimble on the sail. We were afraid it would take Loo much time to attempt to change jibs on account of this ln&hing. The yacht was buried all the time with having too much bead sail on, and only managed to get fourth place. The crew of the winning boat are very jubilant over the affair, and J have not the least doubt they may give us an opportunity of retrieving our lose laurels.