LARGE YACHT RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 126, 30 May 1887, Page 5

LARGE YACHT RACE.

VICTORY F©R THE MTA.

The handicap yacht race, which was proceeding when we went to press on Saturday, resulted in an easy ■ victory for Mr T. Henderson's Rita, which was rather a surprise considering the six minutes' lead which the Matangi held from her rival when the course had been sailed over for the first time. The race from a very' early stage resolved itself into a struggle between the Matangi and the Rita, and this was recognised by the crews of each vessel, for in paying too much attention to each other after rounding the North .Head for the first time they stood on too long towards the Rangitoto shore, and on going about discovered that the other five competitors actually held a better position to windward. The Rita in this respect Mas particularly unfortunate, and at one time really held the sixth place, the only yacht in her wake being the Dunedin " crack" Spray. The Spray did-not appear to have a great spread of canvas, but she had evidently all she could comfortably carry, as the wind freshened occasionally, and her chance of getting even placed appeared very meagre from the outset. The Wenona did well by hugging the North Head on the first round and gained a good position, which she maintained for the greater part of the race, as would be seen from our report already published. The Rita was not long in the background, and soon the race resolved itself into a struggle for first place between her and the Matangi, and a good race for third honours between the rest of the fleet, which Ranged positions on several occasions. The times of rounding the Lake buoy, as taken by our representative, who followed the race in Mr Feathevstone's steam yacht Nautilus, wore as follows :—

The collision wlr'ch took place on tho return trip, and which was briefly mentioned in our report of Saturday, was between the Maratea and Wenona, and happened about a mile below Fort Takapuna. The yachts were coming up channel on opposite tacks, and one of the couple appeared to be in stay%, when the other came on top of her and fouled. They held to each other for a minute or more, and lost considerable headway in consequence. The Matangi and Rita fetched a point just below Kohimamara, and each made a short board to enable them to weather the Clara Hargrares. The Matangi, which up to this time had been leading at a spanking pace, met with a most unfortunate accident. . She was between seven and eight minutes ahead, and just to leeward of the hulk, when her topmast went by the board, and her topsail had to be hauled down. This caused some delay, and the mark was rounded :

Matangi 2h 35m 0s Rita 2h 41m 0a The rest of the competitors came on at some distance behind, and rounded in the following order : Tawera, Maritana, Spray, Maratea, Wenona. The Matangi having been cleared of the wreck, got her gafftopsail jury rigged, but it did her very little service, and later on was hauled down. The Sugar Works buoy was rounded as follows : —

Matangi ... llifca Wenona ... Maratea ... Marifcaua ... Tav.-cra Spray lh lh lh lh lh lh lh 55m 57m 57m 58m 58m 59m 59m Os 15s 253 5s 503 25s 30s

Matangi ... Rita Tawera Maritana ... Spray Maratea Wenona ... Sh Sh 3h 3h 3h 3h 3h Om 5m 29m 30m 34m 34m 38m OS 45s Os 30s Os 30s 30s