OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 18, 15 January 1881, Page 176

OUT DOOR SPORTS

— The yaclit "Toy "is being coppered. — The race for Stanford's Cup brought out ten open sailing boats. — The Mercuiy Bay crew are in training for the champion outrigger race. — Melbourne papers speak very highly of the Auckland representative yacht "Taniwha." — Barton's sailing boat "Nemo" is a smart little craft, and sails well with a small spread of canvass. She Avas built by her owner. — The fame of Auckland as a boat building port is apparently not on the decrease. An order for a pleasure boat was received this •week by Mr. Bailey from Messrs. Ross and Fraser, of Invercargill. . ■ —The West End Cricket Club will have three elevens playing on Saturday next. The first and second elevens play the first and second elevens of the Otahuhu C.C., and the third eleven play the Alpha C.C. — The large open sailing boat •which is being built by Logan of the North Shore, and which is to compete in the first class race at the approaching regatta, has been purchased by a well-known Ponsonby resident. — It is not improbable that the crack topsail schooner, "Annie "Wilson," now at Lyttelton, will "be here in time to compete in the Regatta. With the " Annie Wilson " and " Torea," Mitchelson should stand a good chance of carrying off the first and second prizes. — The weather last Saturday was too light for McEwen's new fin-boat, the " Crab." Had there been a stiff breeze and plenty of beating it is believed that she would have distinguished, herself, but as it was she only took seventh place. — The sailing boat "Imp" won Stanford's cup very easily in the race last Saturday afternoon. The Hattie May outstripped the others easily in the run down to the North Shore close-hauled, but before the wind she soon dropped astern. — The sailing boat "Olga," which Avon the match against the "Nemo " last Saturday, is a very pretty little boat. She -was well-handled, and at times carried canvass sufficient for the outfit of an ordinary size yaclit. She Avas built by her owner — Mr. SAvailes. — It is expected that the yachts "Hertha," "Whisper," "New Parliament," "Daisy" and "Ripple," "will come from the Thames to compete in the fishing yacht race at the approaching regatta. The Thames NaA r al Brigade boat Avill compete in the first class open sailing boat race. — The determination of the Auckland Regatta Committee to make a race for barges or scoavs has been generally approved of. JThere should be fully eight or nine competitors," and a contest betAA r een these peculiarly built and uiiAvieldly looking craft should proA r okc a good deal of amusement and interest. — The announcement that the Thames oixtrigger would not compete in the champion race at the Auckland Regatta, caused considerable surprise, and it Avas concluded that the creAv were afraid to roAV against the White Brothers of Mercury Buy. It has since been reported that a creAv has gone into training for the race, so that after all, the Thames will be represented. — The Auckland creAv Avhich has been training on the Wairoa RiAer, for some time past, came up to toAvn last AA'eek, and had tAvo trial spins in harbour. They do not appear to be in such good form as might have been expected by this time, but as they have still more than a fortnight at their disposal, it is to be hoped they Avill in that time make a marked impiwement. They are noAV located at Panmure, and train on the Tamaki River. — The example 'of Messrs. Stanford and Gallagher in presenting cups for competition by "by sailing boats, deserves commendation and imitation. So far, only publicans luiA'e come to to the fore in this respect. Let the Good Templars exhibit there generosity iioav, and I , doubt not that Messrs. Warbrick, Halstead, and others "will be only too pleased to compete for a Temperance Cup. — The oAvners of small yachts are endeavouring to haA'e a race placed on the programme of the Auckland Regatta Club for yachts under three tons. They say that their boats are practically excluded from the regatta every yeai', as they haA^e no chance in the race for boats under six tons. The Ponsonby Club has a race each year for boats of this size, and hitherto the number of competitors has been large. Amongst the boats Avhich Avould probably'be entered may be mentioned the " Neva," * ' 'Zulu, " ' ' Sybil, " " Egeria, " " Try, " " Flora, " and "Nellie." There are also others Avhich I do not remember just now. Perhaps one of our enterprising citizens Avill present a cup to the club Avith the proviso that it be competed for by yachts under .six tons, and a- very interesting race might then be added to the programme. — The Corio Bay (Geelong) regatta resulted in a victory for Clarkes Victorian yaclit "Janet," Avith the Auckland representative "Taniwha" second. The place" AAiiere the race Avas held Avas A-ery unsuitable, the local craft being favoured Avith currents, &c. The •wind AA r as a leading one, and as there Avas no "beating, the race cannot be looked upon as a proper test of the sailing capabilities of the competitors. Messrs.'. Marshall, Niceol, and other Aucklanders aa-lio were on board the yacht at the time, are confident that she Avill acquit herself even more creditably at the Intercolonial Race tomorroAV (Saturday), the course in Hobson's Bay being much more suitable. It is gratifying to know that so far the "TauiAvha" has proved herself superior to all the other yachts that competed in the race.