FOURTH RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 30 January 1888, Page 5

FOURTH RACE.

YACHTS, 6 tons and upwards, Handicap. First Prize, £20 and Cup presented by Gabriel Lewis ; Second Prize, £5.

Qourse—From Flagship round Mark Boat off Lftko ''i'O'kttpnna, thence roqnd hulk '* tJlavft Hai-grcaves," thence rmi'nd'Mayk Boat off guge? Works; Twice round.

The four entries for this race all started. The Arawa had tho inside position next the flagship with the Wenona next, the Matangi on the outside and the Spray between. A meeting of the committee was held on the flagship, and it was decided that the handicaps for tho yachts should be delivered to them on board before they started. The handicap was as follows: Matangi, scratch ; Arawa, 8 minutes; Wenona, 20 minutes ; Spray, 30 minutes. Captain Nearing, on the solicitation of the starter, decided that they should be sent off to a flying start. The Arawa was sailed by L. Bloomfield, the Wenona by Dr. Humphries Haines, the Matangi by J, Carlow, «id tho Spray by Mr Gibbs. After a great deal of manoeuvring, which, though very pretty, had the effect of considerably delaying the race. The four yachts crossed the line together about a quarter of an hour after the advertised time, but boing all out ot position hod to return. The Spray was the principal cause of the delay, being unable fco get into position. All tho yachts sported mainsail, jib and staysail, with topsails up, but the Spray had a reef in tho mainsail. At 25 minutes to 11 Captain Rearing despatched them, the Spray occupying the position of the Wenona The Wenona had her spinnaker up first and was at once followed by the Matangi the Spray next and the Arawa last. The Arawa took the lead from a splendid start,

being but a, little ahead of the others, who were In an almost straight Hne. All the yachts were carrying as much sail ua was comfortable, and presented a very pretty sight as olose together they ran before the fresh breeze. The Matangi's spinnaker would not set at first, but was soon got into position, and the large yaoht stood up grandly. Considerable difficulty was experienced on board the Spray with, the spinnaker, and after sailing for a quarter of an hour the boom suddenly snapped, but was almost at once run up to the mast head and boomed out again, the small hooker not having lost anything by the accident, andmaintaininga position to windward and next to the Aravva, which was leading. As tho yachts passed the North Shore wharf the Wenona found her spinnaker too much for her and it was taken in, and she crossed the Spray's bows and took up a position to windward of the Arawa. A fierce squall swept down on the yachts, and following the Wenona's example the spinnaker of the Spray was taken in. Passing the Sandspit buoy the Arawa had a fair lead, the Wenona next, with the Matangi close up third and standing up splendidly, the Spray being last. As the yachts paid away and made for the North Head, the Matangi overhauled the Wenona. "Jibe Oh !" and the Arawa was the first to obey the summons, very smartly answering, and the great boom swung over and hauling on her wind the speeler streaked up Rangitoto Channel for the mark-boat off' Lake Takapuna with a fresh leading wind, rapidly followed by the Matangi, Wenona and Spray in order.

At tive minutes past twelve the large yachts put in an appearance round the North Head. The Aravva was leading the Matangi by about thirty yards, and a considerable distance to windward. The Spray came next not far behind, while the Wenona was a considerable distance behind her. On the board across the Matangi gained slightly en the Arawa, but the latter having the windward position on being caught at once went about and headed well up the harbour, making as to weather the flagship. The Matangi went about two minutes after the Arawa, and was followed by the Spray, and some time after by the Wenona. The Matangi made up the harbour and then put in a board into Paul's Bay and stood up to weather the Clara Ilargreaves. The Arawa had to make board past the Bastion, but in her previous board the Matangi had gained on her and passed her. The yacht taken for the Spray in the distance proved to be the Maritana, keeping the Arawa company, When the Matangi was weathering the Clara Hargroaves, the Spray was seen beating across from the North Head a quarter of an hour behind, and a considerable distance behind the Wenona,which was third. The Matangi passed the Clara Hargreaves at 25 minutes to 1, the Arawa being a good way behind. Five minutes after the Matangi, the Arawa passed the hulk away up to windward. The Arawa must have had an accident as she fell so much behind in the first two board but now being well to windward on passing the hulk she rapidly gained. With a spanking breeze tho Matangi came up the harbour with all sail set rather to leeward of the Arawa, but leading her by 2^ minutes, the Arawa having gained that much on her, and in this order they passed the flagship the Wenona next, 3J minutes behind tho Arawa. When past; the flagship the Matangi had to make a board to the westward of the Queen-street Wharf. "Lee Oh," and the Matangi went about fifty yards ahead of the Arawaandslightly towindward. The Arawa continued to gain on her. Up the harbour off Freeman's Bay tho Matangi miantained her lead but could not gain on the Arawa, Tho Wenona was graduallyjjolng toleeward. Tho Arawa was bettering her position to windward but the Matangi was leading by about twenty seconds as they neared the buoy off tho Sugar Wp.rk.fj, Just as the yachts were turning the buoy the Spray passed the flagship 16Jj minwtea behind the Matangi. The Matangi led the Arawa round the buoy off the Sugar Works by about 2 minutes 20 seconds, Once round the Ma.tangi hoisted her jib topsail and pvit o.u,t her watorsail and the Arawa her balloon jib. The Arawa held windward position. On approaching the flagship the Matangi ran her spinnaker up, while the Arawa took on her balloon jib and set her spinnaker also, The Matangi looked splendid as slip passed the flagship to leewai'fj \\'\t>]) mainsail, jib staysail, jib topsajl, waiprsail, and spinnaker 3et, Eanin. 68soo, in front of the Arawa. Just as tho Arawa was passing the flagship, the Wenona jibed round the mark boat off the Sugar Works, while the Spray > was beating up. almost hopelessly Qu.t of the race.