YACHT RACE AT NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 939, 8 March 1872, Page 2

YACHT RACE AT NELSON.

The race foe the silver cup presented by Messrs Shaw, Saville and Co. to the Aolsoii Kegatta Club, caaie oft' on Monday, March 4th. A finer day for the purpose could not have been wished for. Three vessels only entered for this race, namely, the Minnie-ha-ha, belonging to Mr" Cross, the Lightning, Mr Burn, and the Dolly Vardeu, Mr Pons.mby. An excellent start was effected ; the Minnie being to windward, the Lig.itning next, and the Dolly Varden in shore. On beating up the harbor, the Minnie rounded the first buoy Imin 55sec ahead of the Lightning, and 3min usee ahead of the Dolly Varden, but when running free to the mouth of the harbor, the Lightning gained upon the Minnie so rapidly as to lead her admirers to back her freely for first place. However, when the little vessels came to feel the force of the wind outside; and the retarding effects of rather a lumpy sea, the superior trim of the Minnie, aud the seamanship displayed by her owner, Mr Cross, who sailed her himself, began to tell at once, and before the buoy off the Moutere was reached, symptoms of a desire to " hedge " among the sporting gentlemen on board the Lady Barklv were manifested, and the drawers of the boats in the various '* sweeps " were moved to commercial activity, in the effort to exchauge the Lightning for the Minnie for first place, aud Dolly Varden for the former for second. However the two other boats had tue heels of the Dolly, and although she sailed a plucky race, she had no chance against either of them. The YVahapuaka buoy was passed in the following order : —Minnie-ha-ha, 1.52 p.m.; Lightning 2.19 p.m.; Dolly Varden, 2.31 p.m. Prom this point the Lightning gained somewhat on the Minnie, as the course was free—and that is evidently the Lightning's strong point—but nevertheless the Minnie won easily, the vessel arriving at the winning-post in the following order : Minnie-ha-ha, 2.50 p.m.; Lightning, 3.13 p.m. ; Dolly Varden, 3.22 p.m. Great credit is due to all parties who sailed in the race. The Minnie is an old favorite, and had established reputation for herself at Wellington.