AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1922, Page 18

AQUATICS.

(BY SPEEDWELL.) With the exception of about a dozen of our largest boats which are still away North, the majority of our pleasure fleet have returned from their holiday cruise. The wind was most decidedly "in," i.e., from North East to East, during the whole fortnight, and at times blew Of the yachts' which made the trip to Tauranga, Victory, Waione, and Restless are back, the others not being due until Sunday. AH report a good passage except for last Friday, when they got a dusting, Waione losing her dinghy somewhere off the Slipper. Heartsease was the only boat to do .both Tauranga and Whangarei regattas. She left Tauranga 'on the evening of regatta day and after spending a day at Mercury Island in company with Victory and Waione, sailed direct for Whangarei. Victory went on to the Barrier «;nd Waione to Kawau. Restless arrived back on Tuesday evening, Ngahau, Queenie and Colonist being still cruising. All the competitors are well pleased with the trip and express their intention of competing next year.

More boats than usual reached Russell in spite of the fresh sea breeze and big sea on the coast, amongst them were the launches Luana, Daisy, Avis, Rongo and Oenoene, the latter also visiting the Poor Knights. The yachts included Moana, Ilex, Waitangi, Thelma, Ariki. The yachtg at Whangarei included Scout, Constance, Little Jim, Omatere, Waitere, Starlight, Marie, Kotare, and Valeria, and over a dozen launches from Auckland, including Renown, Ranoni and Wild Thyme, and two from Russell. Kawau was well patronised as usual, many being content to put in the ten days cruising around this pretty spot, which affords especially good shelter in easterly and northerly winds. Amongst the boats which visited Kawau during the holidays were the launches Luana, Imanota, Piakea, Marguerite, Daisy, Fleetwing, Princess Pat, Wild Thyme, Tamure and Ahuareka. The yachts included lorangi, Kawene, Heartsease, Waione, Restless, Aorere, Ladye Wilma, Mahaki, Gloriana, Waitere, Daisy, Constance, Little Jim, Sadie, Waitere, Marie, Omatere, and Starlight. Waiheke also attracted a great many, Cowes Bay being the favourite rendezvous, and on New Year's Day quite a fleet lay there, amongst them being Viking, Maude T., Sileus, Adelaide, Ahuareka, Pirate, Wailani, Geisha, Mama, Virginia and lone. Virginia, Adelaide and Ahuareka also visited Kawau later on.

The Whangarei regatta, held on Monday last, was favoured with fine weather and was a great success. The racing was very keen, and everybody enjoyed themselves. In addition to the very laTge fleet of launches owned in and around Onerahi, Parua Bay and Whangarei town, there were many from Auckland, and as far north as Russell. While the visiting yachts put up a good race, especially in the centre-hoard class, the launch races were confined to local boats, a visitors' race, which was only added on regatta morning, failing to attract the necessary tnree entries. This race might be included in next year's programme, and we feel sure it would draw good entries. The racing amongst tihe local launches was better than ever this year. Several owners mid bought new boats, and all were keen on trying their paces against the otter boats. Amongst these was Bccles - Brothers' Jean, which they purchased during the winter from Mr. S. H. Leyland. Jean won the pennant for the fastest time, with a speed of 12* knots. The most successful launches were:—Haeremai, which won the traders' race, and was second in the cruisers' race. Thelma won the cruisers' race and was second in the 10-h.p. event. This 'boat is better known as Lane's Rival, and is now owned by a resident of Russell. The finish of the traders' race was rather exciting, only two seconds separating Haeremai from the second boat, Opaia, which was one second in front of the third boat, Oleo. All launch handicaps are given •on the Mark Foy system, i.e., at the start, and this caused great interest in the finishes, several of -which, were very close, showing careful work on the part of the handicapper, Mr. Arthur Pickmere. The success of this regatta is largely due to the happy relations existing .between the four ohief factors, i.e., Whangarei residents and tradesmen, Onerahi residents, the Whangarei Rowing Club, and the recently-formed Whangarei Cruising Club. Each party was well represented on tiie committee, and all worked together for the success of the regatta, and they are to 'he congratulated on again making a great success of the function. Owing to the steamer returning from Onerahi at 8 p.m., the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert, commencing at 6 p.m. Mr. W. Macintosh Murray presided, and a number of toasts were honoured and responded to, the principal prizes being presented. A special word of commendation is due to the president, Mr. A. R. Pickmere, and the hon. secretary, Mr. C. D. Moloapy, for the good work they did both on the day and for some weeks previous. All the officers and committee worked well together, while Mr. Andrew Dreaver, harbourmaster, attended to the many duties of laying marks and assisting generally.

As our anniversary regatta draws nearer interest is being shown in the 21-foot speed class, for which a prize of £100 is offered. A speed boat race can always be relied on to draw the public, many of whom would not otherwise trouble to view the regatta, and once established no doubt the class will continue to attract attention at all future regattas. The committee in charge this year of our time-honoured aquatic function will now have to get to work in earnest to collect the necessary funds, and a start will be made next week. This year an appeal is to be made especially to yachtsmen who, the committee hope, will supply a fair portion of the funds necessary to carry out the regatta in a proper manner. All our local yacht clubs have elected representatives to the regatta committee and are helping in other directions, and it is hoped that yacht owners and their crevvs will give a lead to tbe general public in the matter of donations, which will be hard to get in the present state of affairs. The Harbour Board have generously granted the committee the use of the Calliope Dock site, and adequate arrangements will be made to enable all who wish to see the swimming and side-show events, which will take place in the dock. The Admiralty and dock reserves will form ideal points from which to view the speed race as well aa the start and finish of the regatta generally, and with a specially chartered ferry boat should ensure a large attendance at the dock. We commend this regatta, which should he away ahead of all other regattas and club events, having been carried on with one exception since 1850, to the generosity of all boating enthusiasts.

Auckland and Dunedin are the only | centres which have not decided on their ' representative for the Sanders Memorial I Cup contest, which takes place during the first and second week in February in Dunedin. Iron Duke has been chosen to represent Wellington, Linnet for Canterbury, while Heather has made the best showing so far in the tests to decide j the Dunedin defender. A further race for our boats will be held this afternoon i between Desert Gold, Bona, Nyria and Joan. On form, both last year and this. Desert Gold has made the best showing so far, having been placed in every race she has taken part in, and it will not surprise us to see her chosen to bring the cup back. Iron Duke is an improved boat this season with a new suit of sails and four men in her. Her for'ard hand is Athol Bailey, youngest son of Mr. Chas. Bailey, who now resides in Wellington. Strange to say Iron Duke now wins all her races in a hard breeze. Which ever boat is finally chosen from here must be done quickly, as she must be named by January 15. The Victoria Cruising Club is holding harbour races for the small classes this afternoon also a cruising race to Arkle's or some more sheltered bay. The North Shore Yacht Club will hold their annual ocean race next Saturday, the course being round Canoe Rock, round a mark boat off Coromandel, finishing at Matiatia. This year the boats will race in two classes, keel and centreboard. For the former class the prize is a cup presented by Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, the club giving a similar prize in the centreboard class. Harbour races will also be held for all small classes, entries closing at usual on Wednesday. SWIMMING. Aucklanders expect Pauline Hoeft to run Gwitba Shand close at the N.Zr Championships. Discussing lhe Auckland swimmer the "Christchurch Sun" says:— "Pauline Hoeft is, and has been for someyears, a remarkably fast performer over short distances. So far this season att her good swims have been over distances of 66 2-3 yards and under. On November 22 she left 50 yards behind in 30sec (a performar/e that she had also placed to' her credit in the previous year); o»~ December 13 she left the same distance behind in a trifle under 30sec (the best time for that distance ever registered by a New Zealand lady swimmer, and among I the best performances anywhere); ana on Tuesday last she left 66 2-3 yards behind both in her heat and in the final in 42see—a wonderfully fast swim. Hoeft's best time last year for 66 2-3 yards was 44sec, as against 45sec registered up to that time by Gwitha Shand. Yet when the pair met in Dunedin, and Shand set and held a pace that shattered the New Zealand record for 100 yards, the speedy Aucklander was unable to hold the Christchurch girl even over the former's favourite 66 2-3 yards section of the distance. In the last lap Hoeft went to pieces, and filled third' place. Shand, in that swim, showed 44aec for the 66 2-3 yards. So far this season Shand has done little serious swimming in public— even in the ladies' 100 yards Canterbury championship she was not extended. Her time for the distance was 73 l-ssec, the 66 2-3 yards section occupying 45 3-ssec. She gave every indication then that she will be able, by the time the championships come up for decision, to reproduce form quite as good as she displayed last year, in which case her prospects of retaining her title look very bright. Roughly, Hoeft has shown an improvement of 5 per cent, since last season, but, if Shand shows no falling-off, the Auckland girl will have to show an improvement of quite 7 per cent, to equal her in the 100 yards event, and so much more to win the quarter-mile race, that her chance in this is almost negligible. Hoeft is not a stayer, and has yet to show capacity to keep the pace over the last 20 yards of 100. In the quarter-mile race last year she was never near the leaders, and was easily beaten for third place by Kathleen Bristed. Canterbury is not only confident that Shand will retain her title, but is hopeful that Muriel Simes will take second honours." V-