PONSONBY REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 303, 21 December 1903, Page 3

PONSONBY REGATTA.

A BIG SUCCESS. The annual Ponsonby Regatta, held on Saturday last, was a great success. The flagship Wakatere was crowded with sightseers, while the s.s. Waimarie, which was moored alongside her, was also crowded. It has been estimated that close on three thousand people weut off to the flagship,' and there is every reason to believe the estimate is not very far out. That the outing was enjoyed almost goes without saying. The No. 1 Battalion Band enlivened the proceedings with sweet music, and throughout the afternoon time was never allowed to flag, as a great amount of incident seemed to be crowded into every moment. Usually sailing races are decidedly uninteresting to the general run of spectators, except at certain stages, but on Saturday interest was sustained practically throughout each race. This was due to the way in which the boats in the different classes hung to each other—la many Instances from start to finish—and the fine muster of yachts that the racing attracted.

"White wings" dotted the upper reaches of the harbour as far as the "ye could see, while the stretch of water intervening between the flagship and the town wharf was literally ailve with sailing craft. Of course all were not in the racing, but the greater number of them were. The stately "Volunteer and Viking, down to the patiki, oc. rather, the small open-boat, cruised no and down the harbour during the afternoon, and were joined later by a number of boats which took part in the races. Thus It will be seen that even as the racing died down there was still left plenty to interest nil. The rowing races formed no small part of the afternoon's sport; indeed. th» racing was particularly good, and some close finishes were witnessed. Mr R. Masefield's Thetis proved a very popular winner In the first-cIaRS yacht race. The win. however, was rather easy. She eatne in last, but on time allowance, being deducted, she was found to he the winner by fifteen minutes. The champ.onship for yachts 26ft and over was the tiost keenly contested race of the day. Emtrald and Okere sailed close together for the whole distance. Twenty yards from home Okere had a lead of perhaps a bowsprit length, but at that moment Emerald, receiving the full benefit of ihe breeze which she was shielding from her rival, being on the windward side, shot nhead and won by half a second amidst applause. By six o'clock all the races were over, nnd the greater number of people had left the flagship in lenders. .-,n ::q:eitie event, which will 'jug !i - remembered thus being brought to :i close. The committee worked energeticully, and deserve every pr.iise for theb" painstaking regard for the en.levu'cn-1 nnd convenience of the public. It is gratifying to note Hint there was an entire nbsenc" of "crushing" on the gangways. The committee went I • Rlverhead yesterday, an enjoyable day being spent. THE RACES. Appended are the results: First (Mass Handicap Yacht Race.— Thetis, l. r >m, 1: Ida. Mm. 2: Moaua. Ora, 3. Also started: The'ma. s-n. leh. The'.noi went into first position from the jump, which she continued to increase throughout the race. The finishing times were: Thelma, 3h 56m 225: Moana -in Om 3 ; Ida. -ill 2m 41s; Thetis, 4h 4m 13s. Second Class Handicap Yacht Race, about 154 miles.—Toroa, 134ni, 1: Thistle. 30?,. 2; Wnirere. scratch, 3. Also started: Ponekc, L.in,; lsnfruel, 13m; Iluia, 4m: Peri. 4im; Mahakl. scratch. The race started at 20 minutes past one. Poneke soon assumed the had. followed by Wnirere, Mahakl being c ise up, third. Passing the flagship on the first round Thistle had v lead of fully 50 yards from Walrcre. the latter being about the same distil ti,-a' ahead of Peri. Mahakl and Hnia some distance behind were coming up fast. The finishing times were: Thistle. 2h 2Rm; Wairer . 3h 47m 30s: Thistle. 3b 47m 4sis; Mahikl, 3b 4!) m: Peri, 3h 54m lis: Hnia. .'-'h 56m 21s; Toroa, 3b 58m Is; Irafrael, 4h 3m 2Ss; I'oneke. 4h 4m 80s.

Yachts, 26ft and under, linear rating handicap. Course: Same as last race.— Speedwell, scr., 1; Tlulalle, 9m, 2; Janet, 3m. 3. Also started; Mlro. scratch, and Matua, 2m. Speedwell maintained a good lead throughout. The finishing times were: Speedwell. 3h 52m 10s: Miro, 3li 55m ls; Matua, 3h 59m 50s; Jauet. 3h 50m 56>: Enlalie. 4h 3m 48s.

Yachts 20ft and uuder, and over 21ft overall, centreboard and tuck stern; championship course, same as last race. —Emerald, 1; Okere, 2: Annie, 3. All the boats started. The yachts got away pretty evenly. Mauola had a bad start, and Okere and Emerald, two new boats, were pretty evenly matched on the run to Kauri Point, and ihe other boats were very little behind. I'assing the flagship Okere had a aligrhl lead of Emerald, aud the others hud dropped a long way a.-urn. Emerald took the lead on the beat from O'Neill's Point to the Queen st. Wharf mark. She was soon "overtaken, however, by Oker.'s, which held a lead of about 303 passing the flagship. The remainder of the race was keenly fought out between these two boats, and tha finish was remarkably close, the distance separating the two boats being scarcely perceptible. The times were: Emerald, 4h 5m 565; Okere. 4h 5m 50is; Aliuie. -th 9m 275; Mauola. 4h llin 2s; Iloro, 4b 11m ss; Olympia, 4h 13m 335; Flora 4b lUin 20s; Seablrd, 4h 16m 525; Arawa, 4h 19m 535.

Palikis (sailed under Parnell Sailing Club's rules): course, about 9 miles.—Warelio, lim, I: Maroro, scratch, 2. Also started: Sweet Nell, scratch; Rambler, scratch, Boomerang, scratch. The race started at 10 minutes to 2. Sweet Nell got a very bad start. Maroro rounded Kauri Point mark lirst, Sweet Xell second, and Wareho third. Boomerang and Rambler were a long way, astern. Wareho assumed second place after rounding O'Neill's Point mark. Maroro still held the lead,which she maintained throughout. The finishing times were: Maroro. 3h 23m 255; Wareho, 3h 25m 255; Sweet Nell. 3h 25m 355; Boomerang, 3h 28m 40s; Rambler. 3b 29m 265.

Yachts 24ft and under, and over i2ft overall, centreboard and tuck stern: handicap; course, sauie as No. 2 race. —■ Echo, 2Jm, 1; Bell, scratch, 2: Foam, scratch, 3. The finishing times were: Bell, 4h 33m 31s; Echo 4h 33m 235; Foam, 4h 34m 20s; Spray, 4h 3tim; Ofa, 4h 3Sin 16s; Tiro, 4b 38m 21s.

Y'achLs 22ft overall and under, centreboard or otherwise; handicap; course, same as fifth race. —Ru'ru, li)m, 1; Success, om, 2; Welcome Jack, 2J,m. 3. Also started: Waioma, 3m; Moa, Mm; Spendrift, scr; Eileen, 6m. The finisbiiug .times were: Hetty, 3h 4.9 m 10s; Welcome Jack, 3h DUm 2Ss; Waioma, 3h 50m 50s: Success, 3h 51m 4s; Ktiru, 3h 52m 51s; Moa, 4h 2m 2s. Spendrift and Eileen did not finish. Yachts 1* rating and under: handicap; course, same as fifth race.— Aoma, scratch, 1; Fountain, sm, 2; Rose, Oim, 3. The finishing times were: Aoma. 3h -14m 595: Doreen, 3h 51m 545; Myra, 3h 53m 3Ss; Fountain,' "3h 53ui 58s; Rose, 3h 55m 355; Wishbone 3h 55m 445; Orangl, 3h 57m 4s. The others did uot finish. Senior Fours, about two miles.—St. George's R.C. (T. Richards stroke, E. Stone 3, U. Littlejohn 2, A. Jagger 1), 1; Auckland and St. George's were the only starters. The former swamped a short distance from the finish. Maiden Fours (open).—Auckland R.C. (P. Davis stroke, A. Clark 3. S. jjtorne 2. W. Franklin 1), 1: West End R.C. No. 2 (F Guthrv stroke. C. Mackrell 3, W. Littleproud 2. F. A. Browne 1). 2; West End R.C. No. 1 (R- English stroke. G. S. Mitchell 3, A. Quin 2. P. Wright 1) 3. West End held a good lead to within a short distauce of the finish, when Auckland shot ahead and won comfortably. Junior Fours (open), about a mile and a half.—Waitemata R.C. No. 2 (G. Huddlestone stroke, D. Bell 3, W. Stcveus 2, E. Smith 1, uud Auckland R.C. (P. Davies stroke, A. Clark 3, S. Home 2, W. Franklin 1), dead heat, 1: West End R.C. (F. Gutbr'y stroke, C. Mackrell 3, W. Littleproud 2. F. Browne 1), 3. Junior Fours, uuder lOst. about one mile aud a half.—West End R.C. No. 1 (D. Hanna stroke, O. Carlaw 3, H. Adams 2, E. Edwards 1), 1; Waitemata B.C. (C. Waud stroke, T. Payne 3, C. Short 2, C. Tyer 1), 2; West Eud R.C. No. 2 (F. Thompson stroke. A. Adams 3, Parker 2, W. Wright 1), 3. Model Yachts.—Reed's Alma 1. Smith's May 2 Crawford's Billy Riehardsoi; 3. Bona-fiue Yachts' Dingeys: Val, Masefield 1, J. Hodgson 2, Dacre 3. Cigar and Umbrella Race.—Bell L Gittos 2. Tin Whistle. Race.—W. Sands won, with Praser second. Greasy Boom.—Gittos 1, H. Sands 2. Tub Race.—Hughes 1, Cossar 2. Water Tournament.—Dncre 1. H. Sands 2. Greasy Boom.—H. Bands 1. Gittos and Erickson tied for second place. Fraser took the prize for the most original costume,

Ladies Bona-flde Yachts' Dingeys Race. —Miss Bartlett 1. Sliss Roper 2. Maiden Fours, under lust, about one mile.—Auckland R.C. (L. Forgie stroke, A. Fleming 3, L. S. Clark 2, C. Trevithick- 1), 1; West End R.C. No. 1 (R. English stroke, G. S. Mitchell 8. A. Quiuu 2, P. Wright 1), 2; Waitcmata P..C. (A. Sanders stroke, J. Russell 3, P. Brewin 2, F. Eraser 1), 3.