AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 299, 17 December 1900, Page 3

AQUATICS.

PONSONBY REGATTA.

The Ponsonby annual regatta was held on Saturday afternoon, under the most

unfavourable circumstances that could be imagined. A gale of wind was blowing from the north-east, accompanied by heavy rain, and a big sea was running in the harbour. Notwithstanding the bad •weather a considerable number of enthusiasts interested in the regatta, Including some ladies, gathered on the flagship, the paddle steamer Wakatere, and witnessed the races, or as much of them as they could see through the driving rain. Afternoon tea and refreshments were served out to the damp crowd during the progress of the races, and the committee made the best of a bad day.

The sailing and rowing races which took place were of a very interesting character, and the naval cutter and men-of-war boat races were especially good. Mr S. D. Hanna (chairman of the committee), and the other members of the Regatta Committee, worked hard to overcome the disadvantageous circumstances of the day, and to provide some good sport for their patrons. The members of committee and the officials were as follows:— S. D. Hanna (chairman), R. R. Masefield, F. Stonex, S. W. Buck, S. E. Chatfield, W. Sands, W. Carter, W. H. Morpeth, R. Grey, C. P. Stichbury, J. E. Owen, D .Gallagher, J. Carder, R. Carder, R. B. Sceats, R. Baxter, W. Somers, M. Keefe, J. Sim, J. Redman, O. Riley, A. AVilson, P. Greenhough, C. P. Murdoch, W. A. Reed, W. Jones, S. Leyland, A. Smith, A. Thompson, C. Jackson, H. V. Bindon, R. Moore, W. Smith, jun., E. Winthorp, W. H. Cooke; starter and judge of sailing races, Mr W. Jones; starter and umpire of rowing races, Mr R. Logan, jun.; judges of rowing races, Messrs G. W. S. Patterson, and W. Somers; timekeeper, Mr M. A. Carr; hon. treasurer, Mr S. D. Hanna; hon. secretary, Mr A. G. Cooke.

All the yachts competing in the afternoon's races were close-reefed, and their crews had a wet and exciting time. Even the bad weather, though, had its advantages. It showed what our yachtsmen could do in a strong breeze, and under the most uncomfortable circumstances, and the large field which entered for most of the sailing races proved that the charge of being only "fine weather sailors" cannot be made against the Auckland boating men and boys who turned out in Saturday's wind and rain.

A feature of the day's racing which aroused much interest was the excellent contest between the yachts Ida and Thetis in the open handicap race. Both yachts, the former sailed by her veteran skipper, Mr C. P. Murdoch, and the latter by Mr R. Masefleld, kept close- on each other's heels all through the race. Running free, leading, or on a wind, they were never very far from each other, and the finish was a most interesting one, Thetis just saving her time allowance by 36 seconds. Both crews were heartily cheered as they passed the flagship. Another noticeable feature in the sailing events was the excellent sailing of the handsome little yacht Miro in the 24----footers' race. The Miro was only launched from the yacht-building establishment of Messrs Bailey and Lowe during the week. She was in excellent sailing trim, and proved herself a fast sailer, and a first-rate sea boat.

Only two rowing races took place, but they were first-rate "goes," and were contested in splendid spirit. One was a race for naval cutters manned by naval volunteers, and by members of the Permanent force. The other was a race for men-of-war cutters. Three crews (each of 12 oars) competed in each race, and the. finishes created great excitement. It was unfortunate, however, that thereshould have been such an unduly long start as five minutes given to the Permanent Force boat in the naval cutter race. As events proved it was altogether too great a handicap against the other two boats, -which had no possible hope of beating the limit crew though they pulled gamely and well. In the men-of-war cutter race the British bluejackets (two crews) laboured under great disadvantages as compared with the boat's crew from the United States transport Abarenda. The Americans had a beautiful carvel-built boat, light and easy-pulling as compared with the heavy clinker-built naval volunteers' cutters borrowed by the Mildura's men for tho races. The consequence was that the Abarenda's men won easily. The winning crew, who pulled splendidly, won the genuine admiration of the spectators for their excellent rowing, and the smart manner In which they finished their long race, and were loudly cheered. The sturdy Britishers, too, were very warmly cheered when they finished, and the plucky dogged manner in which they stuck to their hopeless stern chase, battling against the heavy sea and strong wind, was something they well had reason to be proud of, even although they did not win.

Captain A. Farquhar, of the Wakatere, and his officers and crew, deserve praise for the manner in which they exerted themselves for the success of the regatta,' and for the comfort of those on board. Much inconvenience was, however, caused to the spectators on the flagship by the failure of the Devonport Ferry Co. to send a steamer up at the close of the races to land those on board. Nearly the whole of.the spectators on the flagship were residents of Ponsonby, and the expectation was that the ferry steamer which tendered the Wakatere early in the afternoon would have returned to land the people at the Ponsonby wharf. No steamer came, however, and the consequence was that they all had to go back to town in the Wakatere, a delay which caused much discomfort.

The Newton brass band played excellent musical selections on board during the afternoon. As the American crew finished their race (men-of-war cutters), winning in fine style, the band very appropriately played "The Star-spangled Banner."

The results of the races were as follows:—

SAILING RACES,

Open Handicap Yacht Race. — First prize, £10 10/, and trophy value £S; second prize, £i 4/ and trophy; third prize, trophy value £2 2/. Course: From north side of flagship, round mark boat off Kauri Point, thence round mark boat west of Queen-street wharf, thence round mark boat south of O'Neill's Point, back to mark boat off Queen-street -wharf, thence round mark boat off Kauri Point (twice round), finishing north side of flagship. The starters were: Thetis (R. R. Masefield), ISmin; Ida (C. P. Murdoch), 13min; Ladye Wilma (J. Dunning), 19min. Thetis was first away, but on passing the flagship the first time down the harbour Ida had passed her, and at the end of the first round had about a minute's lead. Towards the finish, however, Thetis improved her position somewhat, and managed to finish first within her time allowance. The race finished in the following order:—lda, 4h 3m 425; Thetis, 4h Sm ISs; Ladye Wilma, 4h 11m 375. As the Thetis had 5 minutes' time allowance from the Ida, the former just saved her time allowance and. won the race. The result of the race therefore is: Thetis, 1; Ida, 2; Ladye Wilma, 3. Bona-fide Cruisers' Race (handicap).— First prize, £8 8/ and trophy; second prize, £3 3/ and trophy; third prize, trophy value £1 5/; fourth prize, trophy value £1 1/ Course same as first race. The boats which started were: Mavis (H. Parker); Rarere . (T. Alexander); Spray (Gibbs); Mabel (E. Winstone); Corinna (H. Salmon); Cooee (Roy and Coy); Isafrael (T. Bach); Tangaroa (W. Kay). The boats got away well together; Cooee was the first to round the Kauri Point mark, followed quickly by the old crack Spray, which was sailing very well. On the wind, going down the harbour, Cooee improved her position, and secured about three minutes' lead from the Spray. The other boats were several minutes behind the Spray. On the second time round Cooee graduallydrew more

ahead, and won the race. The contest finished: Cooee, 4h 21m 4Ss, 1; Spray, 4h 26m 225, 2; Mabel, 4h 44m 14s. 3.

Yachts. 24ft (linear rating).-First prize, £7 7/, and trophy value £4 4/; second prize, £3 3/. Course, same as previous race. Starters. Matua (E. Stevenson): Maka Maile (A. Clare); Bona (A. Dye); Miro (McAuliffe and Cowie). Maka Maile got the best of the start. The two new boats Matua and Miro, however, soon forged to the front. Miro sailed especially well, and the contest between these two was close and interestlag. The race finished—Miro, __ 40m 555, 1; Matua, 4h 48m 10s, 2.

Patiki Class (sailed under rules of Parnell Sailing Cluty. First prize, f5 5/; second prize, £1 1/ and trophy. Course, same

as No. 1 eveut, once round. The starters were: Rambler and Kangaroo (scratch), and Rita (2m). The race resulted: Rambler, 3h 40m 30s, 1; Rita, 3h 57m, 2; Kangaroo, 3h 59m, 3.

yachts, 26ft or under and over 22ft overail, centreboard and tuck stern (handicap). Course, same as open handicap. First prize, £7 7/ and trophy; second, £2 2/ and trophy; third, trophy valued at £1 1/. Entries and handicaps: Flora, 215 ft, scratch; Shamrock, 2uft Gin, scratch; Konene, 24ft, Situ; Shamrock, 2Cft, 7im; Waitangi, soft, 9£m; Kotiro, 7}in; Pastime, 24ft sta, 31m; Ofa, 24ft, 7im; Italy, 2ott 7^m; Cicely, 25ft 4in, scratch. Several dropped out early in the race. A good race resulted between Cicely, Italy, and Ofa. The race ended: Cicely, sii Cm 225; Italy, 5h 8m 8s; Ofa, 5h 14m 335. On time allowance Italy takes first place and Cicely second. YaChts 22ft and under (handicap). First prize, £0 6/ and trophy; second prize, £1 1/ and trophy; third prize, trophy value 10/. Course, the same as for the pa tiki class. Wainioa, Antipas, Seahorse, and Ruru were the starters. Waimoa led most of the way, and finished at 4h 11m lis, Seahorse at 4k 12m 475, and Ruru at 4h 33m 2s. Seahorse was allowed 2^m and Ruru 9m from Waimoa (scratch); therefore Seahorse takes first prize, Waimoa second, and Ruru third. ROWING RACES. Naval Cutters.—First prize, £12, and trophy for coxswain. Course, from flagship, round mark near Watchman, back round mark off Northeote, back to Watchman mark, finishing on south side of flagship.— Auckland Naval Artillery, Hinemoa (scr): Devonport Navals, Volunteer (scr); No. 2 Service Company P.M., Explosion (Om). Ponsonby did mot start. This race created a great deal of interest, but owing to the long start conceded (sm) the Permanent Force crew of 12 oars (No. 2 Service Company), otherwise known as the Torpedo Corps, had things all their own way, and wo-n easily: Sergeant-major Pacey steered the Permanent Force crew, who won by Siminutes. A very close, exciting, and. wellfought finish for second place occurred between Auckland and Devonport, the former coming out best. The Auckland and Devonport crews each broke an oar, owing to the heavy sea. Men-o'-war Cutters (12 oars).—First prize. £S 8/;. second prize, £2 2/. Course, about 2 nrles. Starters: Mlldura, No. 1; Mildura, No. 2; Abarenda. The U.S. Abarenda's crew had the lightest boat of the three, and won easily. The American boat finished two minutes ahead of the Mildura's No. 1 crew (bluejackets), the Mildura's No. 2 crew (stokers) being __ minutes astern of the second boat.