THAMES REGATTA

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4740, 17 March 1884, Page 2

THAMES REGATTA

President: The Mayor, Col. Fraser; Vice-President, Captain Wildman; Judge, C. Kirkpatrick, Esq.; Starter, Captain T. Bayldon ; Referee, Captain .Dalton. Stewards: E. T. Brassey, Geo. Lawlor, P. Nolan, J. McDonald, R. Schofield, J. C. Williams.

When it was mooted, about a month ago, that the Thames people should hare a regatta on the 17 th of March, the idea was at once taken up with spirit, but few, if any, theught it would be so successful a one as was witnessed in our harbor today. The Committee appointed worked hard, and were *cry successful in obtaining subscriptions, which amounted altogether to about £70. This enabled them to allot good prizes for the numerous events, and the entries too cannot be regarded as anything but eminently satisfactory, considering the short time competitors had to prepare, while they are also nearly all local boats. In mentioning those whose who have contributed to the success of the regatta, the name of the Secretary, Mr D. E. O'Sullivan must not be forgotten; he deserves hearty praise for his efforts.* The proposal to form a club and make the regatta of annual recurrence is a good one and worthy of public support. In the larger races it will stimulate boatbuilders not only to turn out vessels good for carrying, but also to have an eye to sailing qualities as well, while among the owners of smaller craft it will stir them up to practice seamanship, and the management of small boats in all sorts of weather, which cannot but have a good effect. We hope the proposal will be liberally supported, and that a strong club will be formed.

This morning broke fine, and with scarcely a breath of wind. About 7 o'clock, however, a light breeze sprang up from the southward, and by the time the first race was started, this had considerably increased, while the water remained calm. The day was very favorable, and the arrangements made by the Committee were very satisfactory. A slight dispute occurred on Saturday night relative to the cutter race. The owners of the four boats first entered objected to the Matakana, on the ground that she was too fast a sailer, and it was no use their competing with her, but this disagreement was settled, and all the boats entered started.

1. CUTTER RACE—Not exceeding 25 tons ; centreboards to be sealed either up or down. First Prize, Silver Cup, valued at fire guineas, and £10 of added money. Entries: P. Harold's George, 12 tons, (white flag) ; J. Jamieson's Lady Rath, 14 tons, red; M. Casey's Mar* garet Casey, 18 tona, green; P. Johnston's Trial, 14 tons, blue; Spencer's Mat ik^na, 21 tons, bine with white spot, and Myall's Sunderland, 24 tons, red with white spot. The course was about 14 miles in length.

About a quarter to nine, Capt. Bayldon got them away from the inside of the flagship. The Margaret Casey and the Sunderland were first to get under canras, and the former, passing to leeward of the flagship, took the lead. The Sunderland, which had the position nearest the flagship, tacked in shore, and though by so doing she got the windward position of the others, she lost ground. The Lady Eath passed close astern of the flagship, and speedily gathering way, she took second place, the order as .they glided away with every available stitch of canvas set to catch the light breeze being — Margaret Casey, Lady Bath, Matakana, Trial, George, and Sunderland. As they rounded the swashway*buoy the Margaret Casey still had the premier position, with the Lady Eath next. The Matakana had third place, a considerable distance behind the Lady Bath, and the Trial, George, and Sunderland followed in the order named. The wind was now fair astern, though very light, and (he fairway baoy«was soon reached. From here to the flagship was a fair run, the wind having shifted to the westward, and the order in which the flagship was passed on the first time round was as follows:—Margaret Casey, with several minutes' lead of the Lady Eath, and then the Matakana, 15 minutes behind the first boat. The Trial also started on the second round, but the Sunderland and George threw up the! sponge. There was now a fair breeze, and the Lady Eath began to close, up on the leader, but she had too much start, and finished two minutes ahead, thus winning by half a minute, the Lady Eath being entitled to a minute and a half time allowance. The much-dreaded Matakana was a bad third.

2. SAILING BACK—Open to half-decked vessels from 4 to 7 tons (local). First Prize, Silver Teapot, valued at three guineas, and £7. Entries—O. Bolton'a Whisper, 5 tons, red flig ; W. Bolton's Pen Wine, 4| tons, blue and white; 0. Bobinson's Ripple, 4-| tons, white flag

black spot. Course —Same aa cutters.

The Whisper got away with a big start, all her canvas drawing beautifully. The Pen Wing came next, and the Hippie, which had the outside position, followed the same course as the Sunderland had done, thereby gaining the windward position, which was, b'owever, of no use to her, as the flood tide was making. The Whisper rounded the buoy first, the others being in the -same order as at the start. but the Ripple was beginning to crawl upon the Pen Wing, though neither seemed to have any chance of catching the Whisper, which had a long distance to her credit. In the run to the flagship on the first round, the Ripple passed the Pen Wing (whioh now dropped out), but could not overhaul the Whisper, which finished an easy winner, getting in several minutes before the first of the cutters.

3. SAILING RACE—Open to half-decked resaela not exceeding 4 lods (local). Firat Prize, Bilver Cup, valued at two guineas, and £5, Starters : B. T. Targetfc'B Dido, 2 tons, bluefla?; W.Bettis' Louisa, 3 ton*, white; J. Cross' Seagull, 3| tona, red flag with white cross.

The Seagull had the best position, and got the advantage of this in the start, but the other two were close upon her, the Dido carrying a very large spread of canvas, which soon place her ahead of the Louisa, the buoy being rounded in this order. The Seagull kept her lead throughout and won by about 100 yds from the Dido, the Louisa being close behind. 4, DINGY SCULLING RACE. — For boys of 16 years and under; boats to be under 14ft, First Prize, £2; 2nd (con* ditional on there being 5 entries), £1. Leafcharfc, Sohofiold, and Farqubar i tar ted, the two latter palling in flat-bot-tomed dingies. The coarse was from the flagship, round a boat^buoy off the second beacon of the Shortland channel, and

round the outside of the flagship.. Leathart and Farquhar spurted away gamely, soon leaving tichofield in the lurch, and he, seeing no chance of winning, ceased pulling. Leathart, who is the heavier of the two, rounded the buoy first, and came in an easy winner.

5. SAILING EACB — For Open Boats, 16 to 24 feet over-til; centre-boards or fins not allowed. First Prize, Silver Stand, worth three guineaß, and £4. C. Kirby's Chance, blue flag ; W. Bherlock's, Seagull, red and blue; J. BftttwyVm Try, red ; T. Bennett's Wild Duck, green; 0. W. Gentry's Shooting Star, blue and white, and Ohristenaen's doubleboat Gemini started. - =

In this event the boats were very slow to get away, the wind being so light that it was almost a case of which drifted best. The Shooting Star took the lead, followed by the Gemini, the others being close in the rear. The Gemini rounded the buoy first, and would have had the race to herself had not the wind been so light. As it was she kept the lead for a considerable distance, but was overhauled by the Shooting Star, the order of finishiogfceing —Shooting Star, 1; Gemini, 2; Chance, 3; and the others in the rear.

6. OPEN BOAT RAOE---Not exceeding ' 16ft over-all, centre-boards or fins not allowed. Firflt Prize, trophy valued at one guinea, and £3 ; second prises, Silver^ Islißtand, valued at one guinea. 35," Braseey'e Kip, red and white flag; C. May's Victory> red; Judd's Ltyly Bird, white; and Shaw's Wigeon, blue) started.

Capt. Bayldon got them off well together, the Wigeon having a slight advantage, which she kept till /.i passing the buoy off Shprtland, the -Rip being second. Their positions were ,'ioon changed, however, as they headed outwards on the port tack; the Eip came rapidly to the front, followed in turn by the Lady Bird and the Victory, all three passing the Wigeon, which proved to be nowhere when laying in to the wind, which was now blowing very light from the westward. Tbia order was maintained to the, finish, Brassey's boat sailing exceedingly well, and the light breeze favoring, her greatly,' • while it deterred the heavier craft.-' • "

7. WHALE-BOAT RACE—Five (5) Oa«, to be steered by steer oar { open to all comers. First Prize, Silver Inkstand (Jumbo), valued at five guineas, and £5. J. MoPike'a Oddfellow, pink flag, (1 J. Bowden, 2 C. McPike, 3 Q. Beed, 48. Laurie,, stroke 3. Laurie, and steer oar J. McPike) j V. Bavage's Eliza «T»ne, blue and white (1 J. Thomas, 2 A. New* dick, 3 A. Thomas, 4 H. Gallagher, stroke T. Wilson, and steer oar;?. Savage); and T. Wilson's Poffie, red, started; the latter being rowed by a scratch crew, picked at the last moment so as to prevent the race falling through. The course was about four miles.

A good start was effected, bat it was soon evident the Eliza Jane was too much for the other two. She went at once to the front, followed closely by the Oddfellow, the Pollie being quickly left in the rear. On rounding the Shortland buoy, the Eliza Jane was a boat's length ahead of the Oddfellow, the third boat being nowhere, and in fact they gave up befor pulling half way round. A close contest ensued between the two boats, Savage's crew keeping about a length ahead till the Shellback buoy was reached on the turn home, when they pat on a spurt, and won by fully three lengths. The Oddfellow's crew pulled a fine race, and bad they not been so heavily handi* capped, through their .boat being larger than their opponent's, they would pro* bably have come in first.

8. SCULLERS' RACE — Single-handed, open to all-comers, Out-riggers or covering not allowed. First Prize, Silver Cup, valued at two guinea*, and JB3. H. Allom'a Mayflower, white flag; A." Hew* dick's Star, blue and white fUg; V. Savage's Mood, red, started, .

This was a pull-over for Allom, Savage only starting to get the event off, and Newdick giving in after pulling half the distance, which was about 2 miles. Alton pulled a good stroke the whole distance.

9 PAIR.OAREDDIN&Y RACE, for Boyi. Prize, 255; post entry. Leathart- and Farquhar'B Pollie; Gibbons"( 2) Wud Duck; and Schofield and Bates' Skylark started. • .

The course was from the flagqbip, round the buoy off Shortland Wharf, and back. The Wild Duck- dropped out of the race almost at once, and the Pqllje eventually came in an easy winner from the Skylark. .; 10. PAIREDOARED BA.CE-^* riggers allowed. Firat PrUfl, Slim-Cup, valued at two guineas, and" £3" added. — Lucaa' Nellie, white flag (Lucas and Hawkes); V. Savage's Eliza Jan*, btae and white (Laurie Bros ) j and J. Battaly's Flying Soud, red, started. Course, 2 wiles. , This was a close race between the two , first named, the Flying Scud dropping eat of it almost immediately after starting. Passing the flagship the first time, the Eliza Jane, which was steered by. If. Savage fjunr.), was leading,' the brothers pulling well together, though the Nellie, with Barlow (ionr.) cox, was not far behind. Iq rounding the Shellback bdoy, however, owing probably to the inexperience of tho coxswains, the two boati nearly fouled each other, and the Nellie rounding inside the other, gained aa advantage, which Bhe.heli±o v the finish.

10. DINGY BAOE—Single-handjßcl, not to exceed 13ft,, for sailing vessels sad steamers' dingies only. First Prize, £3.— H. Gallagher's Trial, white flag ; C. Seed's Vivid, pink; 0. Rolton'* 'Mary, red; and J. Cleveland's Waito* started. Course, about 2 miles.

The boats got well away together, the Trial and the Vivid shooting to the front, and it quickly being evident that the others were entirely out of it. ■A good contest ensued between the first named two for half the distance, when Gallagher, who had been pulling a fine steady stroke throughout, gradually increased his lead, coming in an easy winner. The Dingy Eaoe, for fishtrmeu only, was postponed to some future occasion, owing to the competitors being away in other boats, and the Ladies' Bice, for the handsome trophy presented by Mr Booth, of the Rotomahana, was likewise postponed. ' / The last face to finish was the Gutters', which ended at 3 o'clock, and this brought the day's proceedings to a close. The whole affair passed off very successfully, and reflects crediton the Comuuttee and other gentlemen who helped to get it up. ' . _ ■•. -/ ■ ■■ - Second prices will be given in tbf cotter and 16ffc to 24ffe open sailing bpW: races, (Hid probably in most of the other 1 events.