YACHT RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 985, 15 March 1873, Page 2

YACHT RACE.

Thk sailing race for the Commodore's Cup between yachts belonging to the Auckland Yacht Club took place this morning. The course was round a boat moored off the Lake, from thence round the Drunken Bay buoy up the harbour round a boat moored off Stokes' Point and back, finishing between the wharf and boat moored 200 yards off the wharf. The prize is a Kanclsome and chaste silver cup from Mr Kohn's establishment. Seven yachts entered for the race, but only five came to the scratch, namely the Spray, Energy, Fleetwing, Ripple, and Sabrina, which were moored off the wharf in the order in which they are named, the Spray being nearest the wharf. Considerable delay occurred in getting the yachts into position, the Energy having taken the wrong place. In dropping into her proper position her topmast-stay fouled the Spray's boom, and fears were entertained that either her stay or topmast would go. She was, however, cleared without mishap. The Fleetwing took up a foremost position, and the Energy being determined not to be behind hand hauled ahead of her, so that the Spray and the .Ripple were some distance astern at the start. This can hardly be considered fair, nevertheless as soon as the flag was hauled down the Spray showed the greatest alacrity on board, and was first to get under weigh, Itipple being second, Energy third, Fleetwing fourth, and Sabrina last. The Energy was first to set her gaff-topsail, Spray and Fleetwing setting theirs simultaneously Eipple and Sabrina set theirs, but found the breeze too sti'ong and hauled them down. They however sent them up again shortly after. The Spray at starting ran alongside the Energy on her weather side, and both yachts ran down the harbour under a strong! S.W. by half-south breeze. When off Holmes' wharf the Itipple ran over to windward, and bhe Sabrina followed shortly after on the same tactics. The Fleetwing then occupied the leeward position. We have omitted to mention that the start was effected at llh. 16m. The yachts rounded the North Head in the following order :—

Energy llh. 32m. lOsec. Spray llh. 32m. 15sec. Fleetwing ... llh. 32m. 20sec. Sabrina... ... llh. 32m. 30sec. Eipple ... ... llh. 33m. — On the way up the Spray first showed roun the North Head, and beat up harbour. Sh gained an advantage over the Fleetwing. which was second, by being able to weather the boat off Stokes' Point. She had hauled down her gaff-topsail when going about off the Lake, and did not set it again on the run home until after rounding the boat off Stokes' Point. The yachts finished as follow :— Spray ... ... 2h. 47m. 35sec. Fleetwing ... 2h. 5Gm. 38sec. Energy 3h, Im. 45sec,

The Sabrina was some distance astern, and xiuj o»" allowanoe of the Ripple last. By a l™^ three seconds