THIRD RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 24, 29 January 1891, Page 3

THIRD RACE.

Yachts, 7 tons rating and upwards, Ist prize, £25 and cup presented by Messrs T. and S. Morriu and Co. ; "2nd pi'ize, £10 ; 3rd pri;:e, £5. Course : From flagship round mark boat ;tt Ranpifcoto Roof, round mark boat at Judgo's Bay, round mark boat oft Sugar Works, keeping on I south side of Sandapib buoy and east of ! tho black and rod and chequered buoys in the llangitoto Channel, both going and returning. Twice round. Finishing south sido of fiagship. ENTRIES AND POSITIONS. 1. Matangi (J. Wiseman), 13-14 tone 2. Ar'awa (H. R. Blomfield) S. Spray (Captcin Gibbs), 7 tons 4. Kgaire (H. Eaines), T2O tons. The four yachts pot a flying start at 10 a.m., and went away in tine style, with every stitch of canvas spread to catch the taint breezo. The Spray, which was in charge of Captain Gibbs, had tho best position, and deftly managed to obtain the advantage at starting. The Spray, though the smallest of the four, i 3 well-known as a "hummer," and the fact that Captain Gibbs held the tiller w&3 a guarantee tlmt she would bo very well handled. .She held the inside position, and on getting away was followed in order by tho Arawa, Mafcangz, and Ngaira. Uv. Hnines'e yachb had a poor start, and held the most unfavourable position. Tho other three had a good start off Passing the Queervstreet Wharf, the Spray led, the Arawa, Matangi, and tho Ngaira coming on next in order. All had big spinnakers spread. These positions were maintained unchanged down the harbour, the Spray especially beingvery welfhantiled. Tho 'Ngaira displaced the Arawa some distance before rounding tho North Head, and the yachts passed out of sight round tho Head in the following times : — Spray 10.20 a.m. Ngaire 10.20.50 a.m. Matangi 10.21 a.m. Arawa 10.21,9 a.m. On reappearing round tho North Head again, the Spray was still leading, with the Arawa second, close up, Matangi third, and Ngaire last. Coming up to the Judge's Bay mark boat the Arawa gained very considerably on the Spray, and passed the mark first, the Spray being close up, the Matangi third, and the Ngaire a long way in the rear. The Spray luffed up rather too much on tho stretch from the North Head to Judge's Bay. The Ngaire appeared to be losing ground considerably. Passing the flagship at 12.25 p.m., the Arawa was leading, forging ahead in tine style. Just abreast of the Queen-street Wharf tho Spray, which had the second position, got into some difficulty through approaching the wharf too closely, being unable to weather it until after a delay which enabled the Matangi to creep into second place. Captain Gibbs's next move was to make a long board up into Freeman's Bay, shaving the Hobson street wharf, and than shaping a straight course for the Sugarworks mark boat. The Ngaire came along leisurely in the rear, Dr. Haines making a series of short boards up the harbour. After a great deal of tacking and manoeuvring in the upper reach of the harbour the Arawa got round tho Sugarworks mark, boat first, at 1.10 p.m. The Spray's tactics in keeping right away up on tho Ponsonby shore were very successful, for, notwithstanding her loss of rime off the wharf, she made it _ all up in tho run across from Freeman's Bay, and rounded the mark-boat just 2min 28aec behind the Arawa. Captain Gibbscalculated his chanceswell. Thestrongebb-tidecoming down round Kauri Point was something which had to be taken into consideration. The Matangi made fair headway up the harbour and rounded the mark third, the Ngaire being still last. Dr. Haines did not appear to have sufficient canvas on hie yawl-rigged craft for the lightness of the ' weather. The two leading boats came ( .at a spanking pace down the harbour'before the wind. The Arawa passed the fiagship first this time round, tho others following in the

I order named. The Spray had lessened the j distance separating her from the Arawa j somewhat by this time, having gained J thirty seconds on tho run down from Chelsea. Thoy passed round the North Head for the second time in this order.