AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

The balance of the races in connection with the Auckland Anniversary Regatta vyere got off on Saturday afternoon I here was a good attendance of the public on the wharves, but the racing does not call for comment. The expenses incurred in connection with the Auckland Anniversary Regatta were very heavy. The secretary informs mc that they will run into nearly £100 In my notes last Saturday, after referring to the race for I said the conclusion would probably be come to that the Speedwell was a champion in any sort of weather. The -Mir.) it seems, has an equally brilliant record, and honours arc just about even between the two boats. Since these yachts were launched in 1901, they have met about twelve times, and have defeated each other six tiir.es. The racin-r so far has possibly proved that the Speedwell is on the whole the faster boat in light weather, though the Miro has beaten her in light wind. Tn heavy weather Miro is undoubtedly the faster boat the last Auckland regatta being the only occasion on which Speedwell has crossed the finishing line ahead of Miro in a •'reef" breeze. On that date the Miro was compelled to retire, through her rudder-head giving way. The small yachts Wairere and Janet started on a short cruise to the northeast coasts. Messrs. Bailey and Lowe have just completed a 32-ft patiki for Mr. R. K. White, of Napier. This year there has been a revival of open-boat sailing races at, Wanganui, and many new boats are finding their way thither. The Auckland firm of Messrs. Bailey and Lowe, have just received an order for an 10-C-ft. boat of this type for Wanganui. The Rotorua Carnival Regatta, to b? held in Rotorua in connection with the carnival takes place on February 2:>. It is expected that crews from Wellington. Wanganui. and Auckland will compete in the heavy-weight maidens and senior dg races. The prizes for the. senior gig event are £15' for first and £:i for The second, and for the heavy-weight maidens, £12 for first and ±::3 for second, in addition to the challenge shield.. Th.c shield, which has been presented by Messrs. John Dewar and Sons through their agents, Messrs. L. I). .Nathan and Co., is to be competed for annually by the amateur maiden old men of the colony at Rotorua. The shield is surrounded on 22 plates on which the names successive winners will be enpraved. Competition is' sure b" very keen. It is pretty definitely settled that several of the local clubs will be represented at tiie forthcoming regatta at Rotorua. The Auckland Club is sending crews for both the senior and maiden events, and West End, Waitemata, and others are also mentioned. The Auckland Club's crews for Rotorua will be:—Heavy-weight maidens. P. H. Davis (stroke); A. Clarke, 3: S. Howe, 2; W. Franklin. 1. Seniors— J. Forshaw (stroke); C. O.'Hughes, 3: W. J. Lovett, 2; W. Wade. 1. L. Forgie, of the Auckland Club's lightweight maiden crew, has been transferred to the Timaru Post Office. The committee has selected Cleal to replace him. On next Saturday the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's third ocean yacht race takes place.

The yacht Ladye Wilma was put up for auction by Messrs. Warren Blyth and Co. on Thursday, but was withdrawn at £210. The yacht Rainbow left- on a week's cruise to the Great Barrier on Saturday afternoon. Her skipper forwarded a pigeongram to the secretary of the "Royal" as follows on Wednesday: — "Arrived at Tryphena at 7.15 a.m. on the 9th, a-fter a run of Gh hours. On Sunday afternoon we were at Whangaparapara, and at Point Fitzroy on Monday. We are leaving to-day for Whangarei, and will probably call at Mokohinau. Fair winds, travelling all the time.—Rainbow." The vessel is expected back in Auckland on Sunday. The big yacht Viking returned from a cruise to the North on Sunday. She left Auckland on Saturday, January 23, calling at Whangaruru, Russell, Whangaroa, Rawhiti, Whangarmimu, Whangarei and . the Great Barrier. Fair winds and smooth weather were experienced for nearly the whole of the cruise, and the vessel never once had to beat to windward, except when entering some of the harbours. On the run up the coast off Cape Brett heasy weather was experienced, the span of the boom, the jaws of the gaff being carried away, and other minor damage being sustained. Off Whangamuinu some heavy weather was experienced, but it did not last for long, and comparatively little damage was done to the sails. The Viking rode out the recent gale at anchor in the Red Bluff, Great Barrier. The following comprised the crew: Messrs Winkleman, Armstrong. R. Wilson, Plugge, and Kissling. Mr Winkleman left the boat at Whangaroa. The motor launch race on Saturday, consequent on tlhe regatta committee upholding the two protests lodged in connection with the original contest, on regatta day, was in some respects more satisfactory than its predecessor. An excellent start was effected, and the leading boats kept well together all the way round. It was amusing to see the various skippers manoeurving theiT crews so as to get the ultimate inch out of the boats. While interest centred on the leading division, the fact was largely overlooked that the smaller craft were keeping well up, and it was a decided surprise to find the Doris first by quite a coirrfortable margin. I am told that the owners of the Doris thought her chance veiy indifferent on the handicap, and it was only after some barracking they acquiesced in her racing. There was, unfortunately, again a protest, the Pakeha, second on time allowance, being the subject of it. Her engine, it was alleged, had been shifted during the week, and the committee were asked to decide whether this was admissable. The money lodged with the original protests against tile race on Regatta Day was returned, showing that the committee regarded both as justified. The present system of motor launch racing here is wholly unsatisfactory. The boats really require drafting into two classes. On a six-knot course, any launch not able to compete with the. larger boats Tinder a handicap of eight minutes should be placed in a second division. As it is now it is entirely impossible to frame a satisfactory handicap. While on a rough day one of the smaller fry would come nowhere with a start of 20 minutes, on a fine day the same boat might easily defeat her larger opponents, even with five minutes less handicap. You cannot make a handicap for every varying shade of wind and sea. and the only course open if launch racinp is to be successful is, to establish two divisions. That the boats make an interesting race from a public point of view the large crowds which have witnessed every contest afford ample testimony. It would be a pity to see these races drop through, but I believe owners are becoming so dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs that reduced entries are certain unless an alteration is made. The North Shore Rowing Club is now quite set-tied down in their new club house; and what with their increased membership and good plant, we ought soon to hear of them coining to the front in the regattas. The North Shore Club have a strong maiden crew to do battle for the.n at Rotorua for the handsome Dewar's shield.