THE ANNUAL REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1896, Page 2

THE ANNUAL REGATTA.

Active preparations are being made by the local yachtsmen for the Judge's Bay Regatta on Saturday next, and the Annual Regatta, which is to ba held on the 29th. There is always plenty to be done in connection with a yacht, and fcho amouut of work entailed in putting a boat in racing trim would astonish thoao who know nothing of the subject: Tho owners of scows, and cutters too, who intend entering their craft for the annual aquatic carnival are beginning to bestir themselves, and it is hoped that the amount of interest which is being taken will mean large entries. The entries for the Auckland Regatta close tonight at the Waitemata Hotol. The yftChb races should prove the most interesting (•ailing contests wo have have had in Auckland Harbour, owing bo Che number of new boats which have been built this season. The interest in rowing here has not been well sustained during the pasb few yeare, but all the clubs have crews in training, and although tho entries in each race do nofc promise to be numerous, several of the events should be closely contested. The scow race, which, by the prize money given, was made one of the chief features of last year's regatta, again promises to elicit a good entry. The boats likely to dispute tho possession of the £40 prize money are the Excelsior, Shamrock, Puka Fuka, May, Irene, Bee, Orakei, Ranger and Rover. The nexb race on the programme, that for yachts of 7 rating and over, at the past two regattas has resolved itself into a very close fight between the Viking and Volunteer, and as those two boats are considered certain starters this year a good race may again be looked for. But the Aorore will afso come out in the 7 rating class, and aa tho two larger boats have to allow her over 30 minutes, should tho wind provo light there am much more improbable thiugs than her proving the winner. The Halcione, one of this season's boats, is also spoken of as likely to onter, and there lias been some talk of the VVaibangi, which finished first at the big race at Lyttolton in December, and which is a competitor ab Wellington Annual Regatta to-day, coming up to try conclusions with the Auckland boatß, but the chance of this is remote.

The class for trading veesels, it ie anticipated, will bring oub gome eight or nine cutters, namely, the Nancy, Wanderer, Lily, Henry, Gannett, Ettio White, Harvest Home, Four Sisters and Tay. Should anything like tho number of vessels named above come up to the line, an interesting race ia ensurod. In the yacht race under 5 rating, ib is expected that one of the cloeesb contests of the day may ba looked for. The starters well probably be the Ida, Moana, fUngntira, Lady Wilma and Thetis. The meeting of the Ida and Moana should in itself ensure an interesting race.

Yachts of two and a-half rating have of late been very popular, and a good race of this class is promised. The Mabel, Mahaki and Rarere, all this season's boats, are certain starters, and tho Zinita and Daisy, both of which won races lasb year, also take part. The Huia, the new steel boat, unfortunately requires Rome alterations, which her ownera have nob at prosent time to make, and she will nob start, while it is a pi:y that the crack Glorinna is an almost certain absentee from tho race.

All the other sailing racos and especially that for cruisers are expected to elicit satisfactory entries. Of tho rowing races the ono which seems to be attracting most interest is that for naval voluntoer and man-of-war boats, duo to the probability of sevoral crews from the warships in port competing. The Devonporb Torpedo Corps, in our advertising columns, invite tho Auckland Navals to rneec them in the Naval Cutter Raico ab the Annual Regatta. Crews from these corpa have met on two previous occasions, and both times the Auckland Navals proved victorious.