AQUATIC SPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 275, 21 November 1927, Page 11

AQUATIC SPORTS.

YACHTING.

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

KEEN" RACING IN HARD SOU' WESTER.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS,

The yacht-racing season on the Waitemata wjs officially opened oil Saturday afternoon, when the combined fleet of nine clubs, all looking spick and span in their new paint and varnish, met under ideal conditions. A fresh eouth-west breeze gave life to the scene and kept all hands busy tending sheets and backstays. Racing in all classes was very keen and the 1927-28 season was given a good start. The hard breeze was responsible for a number of accidents, fortunately without any loss of life, although four' boats capsized. The ; Takapuna' 12ft 6in class boat Delphine was the first to go, through getting in the way of the 26footer Waitere as the starting gun went. She was struck by the Waitere's boom and turned over. The crew were promptly picked up and the boat towed off the course by the judge's boat.

When holding a good position in her race, the M class boat Manehe capsized Boon after rounding the Sandspit mark. The crew were rescued by the launch Olivene. Running down from the Resolution mark to Sandspit, the 16-footer Aratu capsized, the crew being rescued by another launch. Racing in the T class Rex carried away her mast and wae towed home by the launch Tul. In the 18-footer's race Surprise was having a keen race with Drone when her rudder gudgeon carried away. She was close to the ea»tern tida deflector at the time and got ashore. Surprise was later got off the wall and towed home.

The big keel yacht Nga Toa had two accidents. When gybing round North Head the mainsheet caught one of the crew, Mr. J. Inkster, and threw him overboard. Nga Toa was promptly brought head to wiud and Mr. Inkster, who was picked up by a launch and transferred to Nga Toa. Later on Nga Toa's mainsail ripped, but she was able to finish. Also competing In the first-class yacht race, Thelma had the hard luck to carry away her gaff at North Head, Rang! blew out her mainsail and Wanderer sprung her mast, necessitating all withdrawing from the contest. The 26-footer Spray, carried away the top of her mast just above the crosstrees. She was towed home. The most serious accident happened after the racing had finished. The 1" class boat Opah, owned by Master Ivan Andrew, of Kohimarama, was returning to his moorings atter finishing in his class race when the beat was struck by a sudden squall and capsized off Orakel wharf. Fuller particulars of this accident are published in our other news columns. Each club when racing under the auspices of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, as on Saturday, declares its own handicaps and provides the prizes. A» some boats belong to many clubs they often win several prizes. The most successful boat on Saturday was Mawhitu, which won six first prizes, Celox wun four and lorangi three -firsts. • • The racing on the whole was good, although there were not so many boats taking part as last year. The big keel yachts had a hard race round Motutapu to isllugton Bav, six finishing the course in very good time, The 26 and 22-footers were as keen as u«ual and there* were some good contests, in the smaller classea. The officials in charge of the racing were: Starter, Mr. U- R- • Arthur; aaslstant- ' starter, Mr. G. Moherle/; Judge, harbour » VUB-. rtNjsHiNG ~*SBS|S.: • *••• ; The following are the finishing times tot each cliut) > — A and B Classes.. —lorangi 4h 45m 16s, j Victory 5h Om 20s, Walone' 5h 4 m 16s, Kotlrl oh 6m 555, Lady Wilma 5h 10m ss, Nga-Toa Oh 22m 15s. ' C and E Classes. —Delville. 4h 14m 40s, Mahoe 4h 31m 225, Loloma 4h 36m 30s. Eulalie did not finish. H Class. —Celox 4h 22m 20s, Wattere 4h 23m, Starlight 4h 24m 4Ss, Awatere 4h 26m 7s, Mona 4h 26m l»s, Esma 4h 26m 255, Why Not 4h 31m 58s. Spray did not finish. L and N Classes.—Valeria 4h 34m 30s, Lovelight 4h 34m 375, Venus 4h 3«m 20s, Marere 4h 37m ss, Winifred 4h 37m 15s, Marie 4h 37m 50s, Koklrl 4h 34m 565, Hula 4h 4um Oh, Wairere 4h 41m 355, Walma 4h 43m 7s, Otlra 4h 43m 375, Wayward 4h 50m 58s, Mowai 4h 52m 15s, Lorna 4h 52m 355, Kathleen 4h 52m 375. Launches.—Maiebe 3h 28m 265, My Girl 3h 20m 50s, Romance 11. 3h 35m 48s, Kathryn R. 3h 46m 465, Irene 3h 48m 18s, Surf 3s 48m 30s, Manul 3h 50m 275, Klrita 3h 50m 40s, Eileen 3h 54m 48s, Wailanl 3h 56m 50s, Edwlna 3h 58m 48s, Lolita 4h Om 15s.

Star Class. —Ola IV. 4h 58m 17s, Moa oh 22m 425.

V Class. —Drone 4h 57m 565, Wild Wave oh 4m 255, Magic oh 10m 18s, Doris 5h 11m 14s, Leveret 5h 11m 58s, Rita oil olm 265.

S Class.—Mistral 5h 16m 21s, Namu oh 10m Gs, Sea Sleigh 5h 27m 31s, Waiui oh 40m 41s.

X, T and Y Classes. —Alerte 5h 23m 445, | Marie 5h 26m 51s, Linnet oh 32m 545, | Resolute 5h 38m ss, Ngalo oh 30m 7s, Sea i Breeze 5h 40m Bs, Waitui 5h 40m 41s, Manu 5h 42m 12s, Romp 5h 42m 275, Jupiter 5h 42m 475, Opah oh 46m 15s. Z Class.—Kitty 4h 46m 335, Comet 4h 46m 375, Tuatea 4h 51m 30s. The following are the results in each club: — ROYAL N.Z. YACHT SQUADRON. A and B Classes*—lorangl 1, Waione 2, Kotiri 3. • M Class. —Mawhiti 1, Matarere 2. Launches.—Wai Lanl 1, Kathryn R. 2, Maiebe 3. AKARANA YACHT CLUB. A and B Classes.—lorangl 1, Kotlrl 2, Waione 3. C and E Classes. —Delville 1, Mahoe 2. 11 Class.—Celox 1, Waltere 11. 2, Awatere 3. L Class. —Lovelight 1, Valeria 2, Hula 3. N Class.—Winifred 1, Wairere 11. 2, Wayward 3. Launches.—Eileen 1, Kathryn R. 2, Klrlta 3. Star Class. —Ola IV. 1, Moa 2. M Class. —Mawhiti'l, Matarere 2. S Class.—Mistral 1, Namu 2, Sea Sleigh 3. V Class.—Drone 1, Wild Wave 2, Magic 3. T Class.—Marie 1, Linnet 2, Ngaio 3. Y Class. —Alerte 1, Sea Breeze 2, Ramp 3. PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB. A and B Classes.—Lady Wilma 1. C and E Classes.—Mahoe 1, Delville 2, Loloma 3. H Class.—Why Not 1, Celox 2, Waltere 11. 3. L Class. —Valeria 1, Venus 2, Marie 3. N Class. —Winifred 1, Wairere 2, Lorna 3. Launches. —My Girl 1, Irene 2, Kirita 3. M Class. —Mawhiti 1, Matarere 2. V Class. —Drone 1, Wild Wave 2, Leveret 3. i S Class.—Namu 1, Sea Sleigh 2. T Class. —Resolute 1, Linnet 2, Manu 3. VICTORIA CRUISING CLUB. C and E Classes. —Colonist 1, Loloma 2. H Class, —Why Not 1, Celox 2, Mona 3.. L Class.—Valeria 1, Venus 2, Marie 3.' N Clans.—Winifred 1, Wairere 2, Lorha 3. Launches. —Irene 1, Lolita 2, Romance 11. 3. M Class.—Mawhiti 1, Matarere 2. V Class.—Drone 1, Wild Wave 2, Leverete 3. S Class. —Mistral 1, Namu 2, Sea Sleigh 3. T, X and Y Classes.—Marie 1, Resolute 2 Alerte 3. . RICHMOND CRUISING CLUB. H Class.—Celox !, Waltere IL 2, Awatere 3. L Class. —Lovelight 1, Valeria 2 Mare re 3. ' N Class.—Kathleen L Winifred 2, Wairere 3. V Class. —Drone 1, Wild Wave 2, Doris 3* * " S Class. —Mistral 1, Sea Sleigh 2. T Class. —Linnet 1, Manu 2. DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB. A and B Classes.—lorangl 1, Kotiri 2, Waione 3. H Class.—Celox 1, Awatere 2, Waltere 3. L Class.—Valeria 1, Venus 2, Marie 3 Launches.—Kathryn R. 1, Maiebe 2, Romance IL 3. M Class.-—Mawhiti 1, Matarere 2. Star Class.—Ola IV. 1, Moa 2. T Class.—Resolute 1, Linnet 2.

TAKAPCNA BOATING CUUB. B Class.—Lady Wilma 1. C and E Classes.—Mahoe 1. H Class.—Celox 1. A water® t, Walter® 11. 3. L and N Classes Loveliffct 1, Valeria 2, Winifred 3. T and Y Classes.—Manu 1. Star, V and S Classes. —Drone 1, Ola IV. 2, Magic 3. Z Class. —Comet 1, Kitty 2, Tuatea 3.

TAMAKI -YACHT CLUB. Star Class.—Ola IV. 1, Moa 2. M Class. —Mawhiti 1, Matarere 2. V Claßs. —Drone 1, Wild Wave 2, Magic 3. X and T Classes, iltirle 1, Linnet 2, Ngaio 3. Y Class. —Alcrte 1, Sea Breeze 2, Jupiter 3. K.Z. POWER BOAT ASSOCIATION. Launches. —Manui 1, My Girl 2, Waltari 3. | MANUKAU CRUISING CLUB. The Manukau Cruising Club opened their season on the Manukuu Harbour on Saturday afternoon, when races were held for yachts and launches. The following yachts got away at 2.30 off their handicaps in a heavy sou'wester, all reefed down: Sea Gnome, Sea Horse, Mystery, Waiapu, Sylvia, and Champagne (nine and a half minutes late). Sea Horse soon caught Sea Gnome, and opened out a good lead to the bottom mark. She led all the way to the top mark, followed at some distance by Sylvia, who had passed Sea Gnome, with Waiapu, Mystery and Champagne coming up. On the beat out Sea Horse further increased her lead, and laying the bottom mark well, she ran for home, crossing the line at 4h oOtn, followed by Sylvia at 4h 56m 30s: Champagne at 5h 13m 335; Waiapu at oh 17m; Sea Gnome at 5h 40m. The placings are: — Sea Horse 1, Sylvia 2, Champagne 3. THE LAUNCH RACE. Three competitors started, several intending competitors being nipped at their moorings by the low tide. The Kegal, 14m ; Wanderer, 12Jm; and Rainbow, scratch, got away in that order at 3.15 p.m., and the times rounding the top mark were, Regal 3b 50m; Wanderer 3h 53m 45s Rainbow 4h Om 345. Regal maintained her lead, and the finishing times were:—

Regal, 4h 11m 30s, 1; Wanderer, 4h 16m 455, 2; Rainbow, 4h 17m 455, 3. The officials- in charge of the racing were: Messrs. W. Davis, G. Mcl'ike, T. E. Smith, and J. 11. Keegan. The club will hold cruising races to Cornwallis next Saturday, when the yachts and launches will race under sealed handicaps. POINT CHEVALIER SAILING CLUB.

FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON". The l'oint Chevalier Sailing Club helji its first races oi the season over the weesend. Results are as follows: — First Kace, for yachts of 18ft and over. Tui, 15m, 1 ; Avahan, scr, S. The only other Btarter was Belle. • Second Race, for yachts under 18ft. — Mistral, scr, 1; Linnet, sm, 2; Sea Elf, Bm, 3. Also started : Lone Star 6Jm, Sea Rover 61m, Sea Kinp 9Jm, Splitwave 11m, Dorecn 17m, (£epi 22m.