THE WELLINGTON REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1892, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON REGATTA.

INTERESTING YACHT RACES,

FOUR AUCKLAND - BUILT BOATS COMPETING.

(BY TELEGRAPH, —own corkespondent. )

Wellington, this day No Regatta which has yet been field in Wellington has excited so much interest as tho ono that is to take placo on Friday next. There will only bo three boats in the first-class championship raco, viz., Mascotto, from Lyttelton, which has won every race she Ims run in ; Maritana, late of Auckland ; and Mima, better known as tho Florence, a Wellington 1 craft of the ancient typo. The Mascotbe is a decided favourite, but the owners of the Mima, who havo provided her with new canvas, are confident of success. TheMaribanaisnotgoing well this season, and there is littlo doubt she will finish third. The second-class championship is likely to bo the race of tho day. Soven boats are to bo ontered, viz,, Onawe (winner of Lybtelton and Akaroa regattas this season), Mapu (from Auckland), Carina, Isca, Jessie Logan, Mahina (Bailey's new boat), and Thatia. Four of these arq Auckland-built boats, The favourite is the Isca, which is a long, sneakylooking boat, measuring about 6 tons, and there is littlo doubt that in a breeze she will show most of tho other competitors a clean pair of heels. The Onawe, from Lybtelton, however, is nob to bo despised, particularly if there is a big breeze. Sho has moro beam than her rivals,and possesses a nice entrance and clear run. Nearly all tho boats havo beon blackleaded. The Jessie Logan and Mahina will havo a good show in light weather. Speculation is rife as to how these two boats will shape, and sevoral bets havo been laid on the result. Tho question of shifting ballast is oxereising tho minda of owners, and a great deal of warmth has been displayed when tho Club have discussed the matter. Thero is no special provision in rulos of the New Zealand Yachting Association for fair-play mon, and an effort, has been made to introduce a regulation to meet this difficulty. A meeting" of tho Regatta Committee) was held last evening to further consider the matter, and after an acrimonious discussion a resolution practically allowing ballast to bo Shifted was carried by two vobes. The owners of tho Mascotto, Maribana, Isca, Mahina, Carina, Mapu, and Onawe have notified the Committee that unless fair-play mon aro carried they will declino to start*, and there is every prospect of the success e.f the Regatta bei.ig imperilled.