Yacht Race.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4467, 30 April 1883, Page 3

Yacht Race.

The sailing race between the large yachts Rita (owned by Mr T. Henderson) and the Arawa (owned by Mr Bloorafield) took place on Saturday in the Auckland harbour. The course was from the end of Queen street wharf round Tiritiri, and back... Captain McKenzie was starter, and Mr John Waymouth umpire. At 11.25, the Teasels were sent off with a beantifnl flying start. The Rita then had the position to windward. She was sailed by Ted Moore, while Jack Bell presided at the Arawa's helm. The latter was . the favourite at starting, although many thought the. strong southerly breeze which was blowing, with the prospect of lumpy water outside, would prove a. great' obstacle to the progress of the smaller vessel. The Rita, too, appeared to stand up to the wind much better than the other, both carrying the same sail. Soon after starting the Rita began to show out ahead of her opponent, and slowly in(creased her lead until the North Shore wharf was passed. At this point the Arawa seemed to be very close astern of the Rita.„ Bell made an attempt to get to ""^windward, but did not succeed. Thence to the Reef the distance between them increased to about a hundred yards, and half-way down to Tiritiri it was estimated the, Rita was quite a quarter-mile ahead. Both, at the time carried spinnakers, and were; making such good headway that it .was expected Tiritiri would be reached a little after 1 o'clock. The Arawa won by 16 minutes. The Rita came home by the eastern passage. She carried away her peak halyards', and the mainsail was on deck for ten minutes.