AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 300, 16 December 1912, Page 7

AQUATICS.

N.Z. POWER BOAT ASSOCIATION. The first cruising race of the New Zealand Power Boat Association this season was held to Awaroa Bay on Saturday." The weather was perfect, and conditions suitable for fast times. The Silver Cloud and Tui bad all the worst of the handicapping, there being no previous performances to guide the handlcapper. In Class A the race resulted in a magnificent straggle between the first three boats—Pastime, Nella, and Hautnru. Nella, the scratch boat, ran a magnificent race, and only lost first position by 46 seconds, after doing the course of 16i knots; Pastime just winning. Hautnru possibly lost her chance In the race by standing out too far from Waiheke. In Class B another fine struggle for supremacy between Countess, Jean, and Ikarere took place. The struggle between the second and third boats for second place was one of the finest, if not the finest, seen since the formation of the association. Only 31s separated the two boats at the finish of the 16-t knot course. The Trade Class was the next race, and Messrs Ceilings and Bell's fine launch ran right up to her reputation, and had it not been for the accident to the champion Regal's clutch, by which she lost fully five minutes, another fine struggle would have been witnessed at the finish. Tbe winning boats were inspected by the officials to see that all the conditions re cruising outfit had been compiled with. Tea was then prepared and partaken of on all the launches, »nd everything made snug for the night. The crews of. the various launches and the lady friends, to the number of about 200, who had come down from town on boats that were not racing, took advantage of the very kind invitation of Mr J. Gordon, of Awaroa Bay, to assemble in his newly erected hall, where a musical programme and dancing were gone through, everybody enjoying themselves. At 11.30 the guests adjourned to Mr Gordon's residence, where supper was provided, and was keenly enjoyed. Tbe Commodore (Mr W. J. Jaggs) in a few well chosen words thanked Mr and Mrs J. Gordon, and also tbe Nella Quartet, for the very excellent entertainment provided, after which the guests dispersed to their various boats. It was the general opinion of all that the first cruising race of the N.Z.P.B.A of the 1912-13 season bad been one of tIM most sneeessfuL if not the most successful, that the asoctation have held. Mr Gordon has extended a fnrther invitation to tbe N.Z.P.B.A-, and has promised to donate a trophy to be competed for later in the season. Mr J. Wilson, as judge, and Mr Bethwaite, as timekeeper, carried out their duties in a very capable manner. Results: — CLASS A Start. Finish. 45 Pastime (H. Bach) 2.38.0 5.0.29 J 56 Nella (A. A. Brook) 2.53.0 5.1.15 5 55 Hauturu (L. Cohan).. 2.43.0 5.2.5 f 35 Mayflower (C. E. Brooks) 2.30.0 5.10.38 4 46 Tui (C. E. Mackie).. 2.35.0 5.10.39 I Gl Silver Cloud (J. Ayllng) 2.53.0 5.12.9 ( CLASS B. Start. Finish. 33 Countess (E.A. Edgcnmne 2.55.0 4.54.42 1 2S Jean (S. Leyland) 3.9.0 4.57.24 ' 52 Ikarere (G. Walace)... 3.10.0 4.57.43 E 8 Grctchen (E. Buchanan) 2.55.0 5.0.49 4 TRADE CLASS. Start. Finish. 20 C and B. (C. J. Collings) 3.15.0 5.6.50 1 IS Regal (J as. Reid) 4.0.0 5.12.51 i