WELLINGTON REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1892, Page 4

WELLINGTON REGATTA.

A WELLINGTON GALE.

YACHT RACES UNDER DIFFI CULTIES.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. The Regatta is taking place to-day under circumstances the reverse of favourable. Late yesterday afternoon a southerly breeze sprang up aud increased during the night. This morning half a gale was blowing, accompanied by occasional showers of rain, alid the prospect of getting more than tho larger yacht races off wae nob very bright. In fact, the weather was bo bad at one time chub the Comioittee eeriouely thought of postponing the whole regatta. The public, however, rolled up in large numbers, and in order not to disappoint them it was resolved to get off as many races as possible.

First-class Champion Yacht Race, for bonafidi yachts, 7 tons rating and over (New Zealand Yacht Racing Asuociution Rules). First Prize, lOOaove, Championship Flag, and Wolfe's Schnapps Trophy (presented by Walter Nathan and Co.). Second Prize, £20. Entries.

G. Moe's Maritana; rating, 12-3 ; lmin 25sec

W. R. McKiQStry'e Mima, rating 11, 4min 45sec. J as. Sinclair's Maacobte, rating 1352, scratch.

This was the principal race on the programme, mid of course great interest was taken in it. The start wae not a good one. Both the Maecotte, from Lyttelton, and Maritana, formerly of Auckland, crossed the line before the timo, and before they could return and make a proper start tho Mima had 2£ minutes' leud or about 1.000 yards of the Iwo. However, the Maritana had the advantage, as she trot away a few seconds before the Lyttelton craclt. AH three, bouts went uway with a double reef in. The Mascotte, howevor, carried a balloon jib. For the first four miles the yachte had almost a dead run. The Mima, which is a heavy shallow draught boat, more than maintained her lead on the run down to Petone buoy and rounded it several minutes before the Maecotte, which had rop'aced the Maritana as second boat. The race i 3 really between the Mima and Mascotte. A heavy sea is running in tho entrance, apparently crippling the Mari-' tana.

1.30 p.m. On the beat down to Worsar Bay the Mascotte showod her weatherly qualities by overhauling tho Mima. Tho latter also gave place to the Maritana, Tho boate completed the n'rat round as follows :— Mapcotto, 4min 13sec past 1 p.m. Maritana, lOmin 35sec past 1. Mima, 17nrsin 28eoc pact 1. It is reported that the Mima fell so far behind in consequence of an accident. 2.15 p.m. The Mascotto has now a long had from the Maritana.

2.30 p.m. The Mascotte has increased her lead aud will finish in about an hour. Tho Maritana is still ahead of tho Mima but she is a long distance, at leaet a couple of miles behind the Mascotte. 3.50 p.m. The Mnscottc (Lyttelton yacht) won the riretclass championship easily. The Mima gave up. Second-class Champion , Yacht lUce, for yachts 4 bons rating and undor 7 toue rating. Hfi'w Zotslund Yachi-Kaqin.jr Association Rules*. Fir3b prize, £40, championship flag, and Commodore Mills's Cup (value, £6 6s). Second prize, £10. Entries: Chapman's Thetis r>iting 6 - 9, scratch. O. B. Waymouth'e Mapu, rating 5*4, 5 mm 33? Ec

Couttb's Carina, rating 4\5, llmh 24sec. J. R. Gibbons' Mahina, rating i% 9min 21*ec.

C. Brown's Ouawe, rating 5.43, &mm 8 ccc.

Dixon and Williams' Jessie Login, rating 4-1. 12tnio.

Osborne and Witt's Isca, rating 6-6, al lowance lmin 3soc.

Tho Carina, which is a fino boat in a seaway, did not come up owing to an accident. With the exception of tho Thetis, an old Auckland craft, all the other bate were sent away on pretty even terms, the Mahina leading past tho flagship, with t-he Mapu a length or two behind, the Jeseie Logan and Isca together, and Oniwe (from Lyttelton) six lengths in thtir rear. Tho Thetis was Dot at the post vhen the gun fired, and left over three miiutes behind the Onnwe. AH the yachte had at least two reeft ; down and storm jit* set, and presented a pretty picture as ihoy were running down to Petone. The isca must win, as her power will tell in ft htovy »ea. The Talfapuna is following |ho races, with 800 people on board. & l\so p.m. The yachts are having a fearhl time in the entrance.

The Mapu is leading. The Jessie Logan nave up bfore completing half the course. 215 p.m. The Mann was five minutes ahad of the Thetis at the end of the iirst bund, and must win easily, bar accident. !30 p.m. The yachts competed the firs rouud as follows: — Mapu, 6min 20aec past two o'ebek. Thebitf, llmin 48;<i!c_past two. Isca, lu'min 32sec past'two. Mrthina, .lTmiu 39sec Pfist twoj