SMALL CUTTER RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1887, Page 3

SMALL CUTTER RACE.

Tre spirit of rivalry between tho maelors and owner* of tho various small cuttora that usually tako part in tho anuual Hogatta was manifested again to-day,when a swoepstakee race of £5 a eide took place betwoen tho Gannot, Mahurangi, Honry, and Seagull. Tho Lark and Turanga did not compoto. Tho course Was arranged as follows :— From tho ond of Queon-strobt Wharf round the hulk Clara lfargraves, anchored noar tho Bastion, ronnd tho black buoy in Kangitcto Channel ; thonco round the hulk Neptuno ; twice round,finishing off the ond of Queen-street Wharf. Mr L. Dacre was starter, aud he had a vory diih'cult task. Tho race was to have started at 9 a.m., but at that time almost a calm prevailed, and it waa quite 10 o'clock before tho cutters got into the stream. Thon about an hour and a half was occupied in getting them into position in an effort to give them a fair flying start. About 11 o'clock tho wind oamo out light from S.W., and at 11.10 tho starter dropped the flag, and the cutters got away fairly well together under ordinary canvas, with watorsa'ls, ringtails, and spinnakers in readiness to take advantage of tho run back. Tho Mahurangi had the windward position at starting, and tho Henry was undor her loe, and in close company. Two or throe lengths astern were tho Gannet and Seagull, tho former holding the windward position. Ths Henry drew gradually away from tho Mahuratigi on tbo way down to the Clara Hargraves, and when that mark was rounded she had a lead of quite a minute. Tho Mahurangi, which was second, led tho Gannet by about the same distance, and thero was about 45 seconds botween the Gannet and Seagull. The cuttors than Btood over towards Raogitoto, close hauled. The Henry continued to mako good headway a.id ateo kept well to windward, whilo tho Mahurangi did not appear to bo doing so well as formerly, for the Gannet, holding a bctbr wind, gradually came up and got on evon terms with tho Mahurangi, tho relative positions of the vessels otherwise wero not altered. Off the lighthouse tho Gannot want about on the port tack and stood towards the North Head, whilst the other three were still heading for Uangltoto. This was at 12 noon, and it was nob till flvo minutoa later that the Honry, Mahurangi, and Seagull caino about. Tho Gannet w;vs thecotore tho first to disappear round the North Hoad ; bufe just then it was difficult to judge of the relative positions of tho cutters, for tho .wind evidently was blowing more northerly than at tho start. Tho Honry appoared to be a considerable distance to windward of all tho others, and sho consequently did not pass the North Head until after tho Seagull and Mahurangi had disappeared in the order given. Tho Seagull was thon to leeward of all competitors. When fho cuttors mot again on tho Ohi track there was hardly any dilToronco betwoen tho Honry, Mahunngi and, Garnet, but tho Seagull was a long distance behind. Tho Honry was tho first to round tho black buoy, and she was closely followed by tho Gannet, with tho Mrhurangi a go:d third. The wind at thia stage Eoomed to haul more westorlw, aud tho Gaunet, Henry, aud Mnhurangi caino on lowarda tho Southern Shore almost abreast. Tho Henry and Gannet veatherod Hie lighthouse easily but the Mahurangi passod to leeward of it, and appeared to bo dropping further astern. The Seagull, on tho contrary, now began ta gain somewhat. Coming up the harbour the Henry etill hold tho leading position, but tho Gannot was just orT her W9akor quarter, and the result eoemed to boas doubtful as ever. At 2.30 p.m. tho rolativo positions woro—, Henry, 1 ; Gannet, 2; Seagull, 3. The Seagull thon was making good headway, and was by no moans " out " of tho raeo. The Henry paesed tho North Hoad at 12.15. At 3 p.m. tho Honry was still ahead and led ths Ganet by about a minute. The Maburangi was a good third. The raco will probably linish about eight p.m. ,— i