WHANGAREI REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 1, 3 January 1927, Page 3

WHANGAREI REGATTA.

VERY KEEN RACING. SAILING, MOTOR BOAT AND BOWING EVENTS. PRETTY SCENE AT OXERAHI. The annual regatta promoted by the Whangarei Harbour Regatta Association was held at Onerahi 011 New Year's Day. and some very good racing was witnessed by over 2000 people, who had travelled by train, motor car. and motor boat to this popular seaside resort. The programme included races for yachts. 1-1-footers. 7-footer auxiliaries, speed and cruising launches, traders, side-shows, and the usual number of rowing races in pairs and fours, crews from Hamilton, Whangarei, and all the Auckland clubs competing.

The llegatta Committee, of which Mr. A. H. Curtis was president, Messrs. H. Menzies and F. Roynolds vice-presi-dents. Mr. R. H. Dempster lion, treasurer, and Mr. Cyril T. Keyburn, the energetic secretary, were backed by a strong committee and assisted by racing officials from Auckland. All events were carried out without a hitch. The northerly breeze, which was a bit too strong in the morning to allow the rowing races to be carried out in comfort, fortunately eased up in the afternoon, although the water was still rough, and it would have been better if the rowing courses had been moved to off the railway station, but they were all completed without accident.

The fresh northerly breeze suited all sailing events, also the motor boat races, and some keen contests were witnessed. The start of the 26-footer class was the best this season, all live boats getting away in a perfect line at gunfire. The 22-footer start was nearly as good, while the finishes in the motor boat races were close, except the principal event of the day, the race for the Harbour Board's Cup, when Air. F. Going's Stude won easily, from Mr. W. Dudley's September Morn, with Mr. W. Millington's Hinemoa a close third. Stude also won the pennant for fastest time over the course. The finish between Waitere and Starlight in the 2(i-foot class was very close, only ten seconds separating the two after sailing a'bout IS miles, Waitere getting the gun.

The racing officials were as follow: — Starter and judge for yachts and launches. Mr. W. A. Wilkinson; timekeepers. Messrs. F. Byles and .T. Shucksmith; rowing, Messrs, A. Maekay, T. Marshall, A. Xorden. T. Marshall and W. Bissett; side-shows, Messrs. Mullins. Dudley and Tucker. J The following are the racing details: — SAILING RACES. 26-Fooiers.—The entries ami handicaps were: Waitere scr. Starlight ser. Sadie lin. Calypso ."mi. Spray sm. All cot a way at gunfire to a perfect start. Waitere and Starlight had their usual good race all round the course, and the finish was: Waitere 12h 3Sm. Starlight 12h 3Sin Ids. Sadie 12h 40m 15s, Calypso 12h 43n; 10s. Spray 12h 45m fts. Corrected times place Sadie first. Waitere second. Siarlight and Calypso being a dead heat fur third. A protest has been entered by Waitere and Calypso against the other three boats on the ground that they did not observe the Wellington buuoy as a fairway mark. The protest has been referred to the Sailing Committee to decide.

22-Footers.— The entries and handicaps were : Otira scr, Xgnru scr. Forest Gold 2m. Lucille 2m. Winifred 3Jm. All got away together except Lucille, which ran on to the bank inside the wharf as she was betting under weigh to start. Otira. sailing well in the fresh breeze, finished first in 111 5m 50s. Forest Gold lh 0m 365. Winifred lh 7m lfis. Xgnru 11. 1h Sm ISs. Corrected times place Winifred first. Forest tJold seeond. and Otira third. This race was also subjezct to protest by Otira, on the same grounds as the 26-footers.

Auxiliaries. —Waiwera (lmt led throughout :mu finished at fill 34n\. Kuku (4m) 3h 41in 255. Heather (Sin) 3h 41m 455. Corrected tim/s place Waiwera first. Heather second and Kuku third. YWon by 355.

14 and Ifi-Footers.—The finish was Alice C. l:>h 54m 50s Sea Urchin 12h 57m 455. Ranger 2m Ss. Corrected times place Alice C. first, Ranger second and Sea Urchin third.

"-Footers. —These diminutie craft finished : Adoo 3h lCm Ids. Halcyon 3h Kim s')s. Mascotte 3h '.'4m 15?. The placed hoats are in ilie same order, Adoo 1. Halcyon 2. Mascotte 3. LAUNCH RACES. Traders' Launch Race.—Opaia, Frishie. Oleii. Haeretnai and Kva each got away in the order of their handicap, anil the finish was: Oleo 121 i lsm Is.first : Frishie 121 i tilin 7s. second: Haeremai 12h 32m 225, third. Ka 12h .'lt! in 15s and Opaia 12h 33m 30s aiso finished.

Cruising Launch Race. — Five started in this race, the limit boat. Jean, leading throughout, and the finish was: Jean 21i 3m, first: Hinemoa 21i 0m 50s. second". Wvoma 2ii Sci, third. Florence 21i :tm 40s and Valencia 2h 10 m 30s also finished. Launches, S-h.p. and under. —Six started in this rent, including Mr. J. Palmer s l'-ft outboard motor boat. Miss Spitfire, from Auckland The finish was \\ inie Mil) 2h Sm, first : l.oloina 3h lm, second - , Felix 3h 3ill 20s third. Romp 3h 3m 50s and Miss Spitfire 3h bill 10s also finished. Whangarei Harbour Board's Cup. for launches exceeding S knots. I'irst prize. Cup and i'S. also championship pennant for fastest lap time. —The entries and handicaps were : Stude scr. Valencia in Wyomn 7in. Baby Mac 7ra. September Morn Jim. Floronco 1 Uni, J i i a n 14m. Hinciiio*x lSni. I'disooii is 111. The handicaps were all given at the start, and the race was ery interc-ting as the hack markers struggled to catch the limit hoats. It was soon seen that Mr. F. Going's Stc.de would wm. as she passed one after the other of the field, going from scratch to leading boat in the three rounds of the course, and the finish was: Stude 4h lni, winer: September Morn 4h 4m 4s. second: Hinemoa 4h sni 28s, third. Valencia 4li 5m ->os. Wvoma 4ii Oni 445. Jean 4h 7m 2s. Florence -lb 7m 40s also finished. ROWING RACES. Maiden Fours (open). —Wliangarci 1. ~nd 2. Waiteniata 3. St. tieorge s. Mamilton ad West End also finished in thir order. Won by a length. Junior Fours. —Waiteniata and St. George's were a dead heat for first p.ace. Hamilton 2. Whangarei 3. This was a very close race all the way. Maiden Double Sculls ( open) .— North Shore 1. Auckland 2. St. George's 3. Waiteniata and Hamilton also finished in this order. Won by two lengths. Single Sculls Handicap.—W. A. Stevenson scr (Waiteniata i. 1: J. W. St. Clair 3s I Hamilton >. 2: K. Hill. 17s (Hamilton). H. Hanan 30s < Whangarei) also finished in this order. Won by three feet. Maiden Fours. Isr and uader. — Hamilton 1. Auckland 2. St. George's 3. North Shorn and Whangarei also finished in that order. Won by one length. Maiden I'air Oars. —Auckland 1. PS | t End 2. Sr. George's 3. Auckland. Waiteniata and Hamilton also finished In this order. Won by two lengths. Youths' Fours.—-St. George's 3. Hamilton -J. Won by half a length. Junior Pair (open i.— Waiteniata 1. Hamilton 2. North Shore St. George's aiso finished. Won by half a length. Side Shows. — itreasy boom : -T. Wilson 1. F. Mnnro 2. IMncliy ace: Eagle.- 1. G. I Mid ley 2. Neat header : Miss Jean Forsfer 1. Dickey 2: only decide,! after four tes;-. Swimming 1 ia c— Open handicap 50yds. N. Hollows 1. C. Dudley *J. Ladies" 50yds championship : Miss Forster 1. Boys, under I'> : Wi'.-on 1. 2. Bo.vzsz, under 12: Partes I.' Edward? 2. nine competed. Novice race : ,T. F. Shearer 1. E. Bra in-by 2. The Northern S.S. Company's Clansman acted as flagship and was suitably dressed with bunting. Captain Keatley and his officer* giving every attention to their visitors.