YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1928, Page 12

YACHTING.

ROYAL N.Z. YACHT SQUADRON

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S CUP.

PRIZE WINS AFTER CLOSE RACE.

TWO M BOATS CAPSIZE.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron held three races on Saturday afternoon, the principal one being for a cup presented by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, who took a great interest in the race, sailing on board Ariki

There was a fresh nor'-wester blowing all the afternoon, about the hardest sailing breeze of a season which has been marked by light sea breezes. Six of our largest yachts competed, and after a close and interesting race, in which Ariki led all the way, Mr. W. P. Endean's Prize, on the 12-minute mark, won the cup, Ariki being second on corrected time, one minute later, and lorangi third, only 10 seconds out. The second class competed for a trophy presented by Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield, Delville winning rather easily from Kotiri on corrected time. In this race Kotiri and Waione had a really good "go," Waione leading off the wind but Kotiri proved her weatherly qualities on the beat home, finishing 5m 48s ahead of Waione, which was third on time

The squadron's popular 18-foot M class competed for the Drysdale Cup, all being sailed by youths under 21. On the first round Mawhiti capsized soon after the start, and Maratea turned turtle on the second round. Manene won rather easily from Maroro.

A launch chartered by the club followed the boats round the course and was fairly well patronised, the passengers including a number of the fair sex.

His Excellency was taken from the Man-o'-war steps to the Ariki on Mr. A. Prosser's fast cruiser Maibe, accompanied by Mr. J. W. Frater, commodore.

When Ariki was finishing the breeze was at its hardest, and she looked a picture as she lay over with lee rail awash. As Ariki luffed head to wind after gun-fire her main-sheet ran through the blocks and became unrove. The yacht was quickly squared away for her moorings, which were reached without mishap.

The officers for the day were Messrs. B. W. Beaumont, G. Deery, and A. M, Gilmour.

THE GOVERNOR'S CUP. This race started at 2.30 p.m., the course being from off the King's wharf, round Bastion beacon, thence round red light buoy in tbe channel, thence round Duder Spit buoy, off Rangitoto reef, thence back round red light buoy, thence down to buoy below Rangitoto wharf, finishing across starting line, about 16 miles. Tbe handicaps were : Ariki, scr; lorangi, 41m ; Thelma, 7m ; Nga Toa, 101 m ; Prize, 12m; Victory, 13m. There was a smart breeze from the west-nor'-west at the start. All carried topsails except Victory, and had spinnakers ready t» run out. Ariki, Prize, Nga Toa, Victory, and lorangi were waiting well away from tbe line on the last minute, but Thelma was a little late. At gunfire Victory was first across to a very straggling start, followed by Prize, lorangi, Ariki, Nga Toa, and Thelma in this order. All went off on the port gybe for the first leg of the course, a flat run to the Bastion mark. With mainsails right off to starboard and spinnakers to port, tbe six boats ran down harbour at a fast pace. Ariki soon took the lead, with Prize second and Victory third, Ariki rounded the Bastion 40 seconds ahead of Prize, which led Victory by 10 seconds, followed by lorangi, Nga Toa And Thelma in close order.

From Bastion it va* a full-and-bye on port to tbe red light buoy in tbe channel, for tbe second leg of the course and Ariki slowly Increased her lead from Prize, while lorangi went up to third place, with Victory fourth, Thelma fifth, and Nga Toa last. Nearing the buoy lorangi passed Prize, taking second place. The wind was now more nor-westerly, and a bit fresher, causing topsails to be aback, the upper half of Arikl's topsail not drawing.

Sheets were flattened hard aboard after passing the red light buoy ror the third! leg of the course to the Duder Spit buoy off Rangitoto beacon. lorangi improved her position, while Victory came up a bit. Thelma now did better, and after a luffing match with Victory, in which Victory came out tbe better, Thelma passed through her lee. Prize was still third boat, Thelma fourth, Victory and Nga Toa following. All made a long board on port close along the Rangitoto shore, Arlkl being first to go round. loranji and Prize held on to port much longer than Thelma, Victory and Nga Toa, all of which made a short board out from the shore. Ariki threw round at 3.15 and stood for the Spit buoy. Thelma followed Ariki, making a longer board on starboard, slightly overlaying the mark.

Ariki rounded Duder Spit mark at 3h 21m 10s, lorangi at 3h 24m 10s, Thelma 3h 25m 50s, Prize 3h 26m 10s, Victory 3h 26m 12s, Nga Toa 3h 26m 50s. It was now a broad lead for the fourth leg of the course, back to the red light buoy. All were content with leading jibs except Victory, which tried her spinnaker, but had to take it in. Quick time was made to this mark, Ariki gybing round at 3h 35m Os, lorangi following at 3h 37m 50s, Thelma 3h 39m 30s, Prize 3h 40m 255, Victory 3h 41m 20s, Nga Toa 3h 41m 30s. It was another broad lead, with sails to starboard, for the fifth leg of the course, from the red light buoy down to the new buoy, about a mile east of Rangitoto wharf. All but Ariki and Thelma set spinnakers, lorangi being very smart, but Nga Toa was well down before her spinnaker was up. Arlkl rounded at 3h 50m, having lowered her topsail before reaching this mark. lorangi followed at 3h 52m 20s, having gained 30 seconds on the run down. Thelma rounded at 3b 54m 455, Prize 3h 56m, Nga Toa 3h 57m 40s, Victory 8h 57m 555.

It was now a close haul on starboard for the sixth and last leg of the course from the mark below Rangitoto wharf back to the finishing line off the King's wharf, about five miles and a-half. lorangi followed Ariki's lead and got her topsail on deck, but Arikl's skipper showed better judgment by getting the topsail down when running to the last mark. All were laying well up towards North Head, Ariki trimming away ahead looking a real picture. lorangi was losing ground to Ariki, while Thelma was improving her position. Prize was rather far to leeward and off Bean Rock had to make a short board out. lorangi also made a short board on port when abreast of North Head, getting the full benefit of the strong flood tide. The other boats held on to starboard as long as they could, but each had to go about as they got further up harbour.

Ariki stood well along the southern shore, close to Resolution buoy, off Parnell, before going round at 4.30 p.m. for a board on port across the harbour, long enough to fetch the lee end of the finishing line on her next board. Judging her distance well, she stood on for the King'is wharf, but Just failing to weather it she had to make a short board to finish. lorangi's skipper judged his distance very well, and fetched right through, as did Prize, but Thelma had to make another board to finish.

The following were the finishing times: Ariki, 4h 40m 50s; lorangi, 4h 45m 395: Thelma, 4h 48m 225; Prize, 4fh 51m 595; iNpi Toa, 4h 52m 475; Victory, 4h 54m ol S.

'Result: Prize, 1; Ariki, 2; lorangi, 3. The corrected times are: Prize, 4h 39m 595; Arlkl, 4h 40m 595; lorangi, 4h 41m 9s; Thelma, 4h 41m 225; Victory, 4h 41m 31s; Nga Toa, 4h 42m 17a All six boats finished in 2m 18s on corrected time, only 32s separating the second, third, fourth and fifth boats

THE BLOOMFIELD PRIZE. The entries and handicaps were: Kotiri scr, Waione 25m, Windward 6m, Rangl 6m Scout 10m, Delville 12m, Gloriana 184 m' From a fairly even start Waione was first across, followed by Gloriana, Kotiri, Delville, Windward, Scout and All set spinnakers for the run to Bastion, Waione having tbe advantage of her topsail, soon went into the lead, and had over 2m at the first mark from Kotiri. On the beat out to the Duder Spit buoy Kotiri closed up on Waione, and before reaching the weather mark she was leading boat, a position she held throughout the rest of the race. On the run down to the mark below Rangitoto wharf, Kotiri was leading Waione by about 3m, which In turn was over 8m ahead of Delville. Then came Windward and Baagt close together, with Scout about 8m astern, and Gloriana a long way back.

On the beat home to the finishing line Kotiri and Waione got farther away from the second division, of which Windward and Rangl were leading. Delville now worked up into third place, and the finish was: Kotiri 5h 14m is, Waione 5h 10m 495, Delville 5h 23m 13s, Windward 6h 25m Is, Rangi 5h 25m 21s, Scout 5h 30m 41s. Result: Delville 1, Kotiri 2, Waione 3. THE M CLASS.

This class started •at 2.50 p.m., the course being round the Bastion and back, and across to the Sandspit on the second round. From a good start Maroro was first away, followed by Mara/tea, Manene, Matarere, Mawhiti and Maia. On the first round Mawhiti capsized off the Eastern Wall. The times of completing the first round were: Marere 3h 46m 30s, Maratea 3h 47m 20s, Maroro 3h 47m 355, Matarere 3h 51m 10s, Mala Sh 51m 50s. On the second round Maratea capsized when off Calliope Dock and was towed home by a hire launch.

The finish was:—Manene, 4h 19m 28s; Maroro, 4h 22m 58s; Matarere, 4h 26m 575; Maia, 4h 27m 275. Result: Manene 1, Maroro 2, Matarere 3

VICTORIA CRUISING CLUB.

CRUISING AND HARBOUR RACBS.

The Victoria Cruising Club, in conjunction with tihe Pousonby and Richmond Clubs, held a general handicap race on Saturday for all classes down to 20footers, to Surfdale, Waiheke, the prize* being the Surfdale Shield and the Mackay Memorial Shield. The race started at 2.40 p.m. from off St. Mary's Bay, the course being ditect to Surfdale, keeping channel side of Sandspit, Bean Rock and Brown's Island beacon. There was a hard nor'-westerly breeze, which gave the boats a run all the way down. S&arloch was first across the line, followed by Starlight, Wairlki, Awatere, Celox, Winifred, Waima, Valeria (2 minutes late), Wairere, Lucille, Queenie and Why Not (5 minutes late), in that order. The finishing times of the boats taking part in the combined cruising race were:— Starloch, 4h 25m 58s; Wairiki, 4h 28m 4e; Awatere, 4h 28m ss; Ladye Wllma, 4h 28m 6s; Waitere, 4h 30m la; Starlight, 4h 31m 465; Lovellght, 4h 32m 375; Winifred, 4h 32m 495; Queenie, 4h 33m 33a; Kokiri, 4h 34m 455; Rahiri, 4h 37m 9s; Lucille, 4h 37m lis; Waima, 4h 37m 38s; Valeria, 4h 37m 565; Otira, 4h 41m 265; Wairere, 4h 41m 475; Why Not, 4h 42m 20s; Matariki, 4h 42m 30s; Mahoe, 4h 44m 4s; Marere, 4h 46m 14s; Dolphin, 5h 7m 395. Launches.—My Girl, 3h 20m 21s; Irene, 3h 58m 425; Phyllis, 4h 9m 18a

'|*ho fxi yrppp * M&ckay Memorial and Surfdale Shield.— Starloch. 1; Winifred, 2; Awatere, 3. Keel Class. —Wairiki, 1; Queenie, 2; Dolphin, 3. H Class: Starloch, 1; Awatere, 2; Waitere, 3. L Class: Waima, 1; Koklri, 3; Lucille, 3. N Class: Winifred, 1; Wairere, 2.

Launches. —Irene, 47Jm; 1; Phyllis, 511 m, 2. Harbour races were also held for the T and Y classes, starting at 2.50 p.m., V and S classes starting at 3 p.m. Tbe course was from tbe flagship, round a mark off tbe western tide deflector, round mark in Shoal Bay, round mark below the Watchman and back to starting line, twice round.

T and Y Class. —The finishing times were: Joan, 4h 13m Is; Meteor, 4h 21m 20s; Eleanor, 4h 23m ISs; Ngaio, 4h 23m 15s; Sheila, 4h 28m 7s. Result: Joan 1, Eleanor 2, Meteor 3.

S Class. —Atang&tal wa« tbe only boat to finish. Sea Sleigh, tbe other starter, split her mainsail and was forced to retire. Awatea capsized cbortly before the start-

V Class, 18-footera. —The finish was: Drone, 4b 11m 325; Surprise, 4h 15m 31s; Magic. 4h 17m 435; Wild Wave, 4h 18m 365; Rita, 4h 28m 7s. Result: Rita 1, Magic 2, Drone 3.

PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB.

The events of the Ponsonby Cruising Club were also held in conjunction with tbe Victoria and Richmond Clubs.

General Handicap to Surfdale.—Led by Ladye Wilma, tbe boats crossed tbe line in the following orderKoklri, Starloch, Starlight, Awatere, Otlra, Celox, Mahoe, Winifred, Waima, Wairere, Lucille, Queenie. Waitere sailed up the course and turned before crossing the line, thus being disqualified. On the run down harbour Starlight led, with Ladye Wilma and Queenie the next boats. Tbe results were:— General Handicap.—Starloch 1, Awatere 2, Waima 3. Launches.—My Girl 1, Irene 2, Phyllis 3.

V and S Classes. —Rita 1, Drone 2, Atangatai 3. T and Y Class.—The finish was: Meteor, 4h 21m 20s; Ngalo, 4h 23m 15s; the only boats to finish. Result: Meteor 1, Ngaio 2.

RICHMOND CRUISING CLUB.

The Richmond Cruising Club also joined forces with the Victoria and Ponsonby Clubs, holding class races for the H, L and N boats, to Surfdale and general handicap for the same classes.

H Class. —The order crossing the line was: Starlight, Awatere, Celox, Why Not. The result was: Awatere 1, Waitere 2, Starlight 3. L Class.—Koklri led across the line, followed by Lovelight, Kahlrl, Otira, Waima, Valeria, Marere, Lucille. Result: Lovelight 1, Rahiri 2, Waima 3.

N Class.—The only three to start were: Matareki, Winifred and Wairere. who crossed the line in that order. Result: Winifred 1, Matareki 2, Wairere 3.

V Class. —The finishing times were : Drone 4h 11m 325, Surprise 4h 15m 31s, Magic 4h 17m 435, Wild Wave 4h 18m 365. Result: Drone 1, Magic 2, Wild Wave 3.

S Class.—Atangatai was tbe only boat to finish. Sea Sleigh, the other starter, split her mainsail. Awatea capsized just before the start.

Y Class.—Continuance was the only starter and finished "at 4h 25m 565.

T Class.—The finishing times were: Joan, 4h 13m Is; EBeanor, 4h 23m 18a Result: Joan 1, Eleanor 2.

The officers for the day were.—Starter, Mr. O. Johnson; timekeeper, harbour races, Messrs. H. Crowle and W. Joynt; judge, Mr. W. Matthews; judge cruising races, Mr. L. A. Tercel; timekeepers, Messrs. R. G. Tercel and W. Walsh.

INTERNATIONAL STAR CLASS.

OLA IV. WINS THE CUP. Tbe third heat of the series sailed for a handsome cup presented to the local unit of the International Star Class of America, by headquarters, was sailed on Saturday afternoon in a hard breeze. The three boats, Ola IV., Moa and June, started off Devonport at 2.80 p.m., all boats being reefed down. Ola soon went ahead, with Moa and June following in this order. June got aground off Oraket and lost some time before she got off again. The result was: Ola 1, Moa 2, June 3.

This made Ola and Moa tie on points, with 7 each. The final between these two boats was sailed yesterday, when CNa won by six minutes. She holds tbe cup for the season. Ola is owned and was sailed by Mr. E. Swinnerton, of Devonport.