YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 304, 24 December 1929, Page 16

YACHTING.

TWO OCEAN RACES,, STARTING TO-NIGHT, 7.30. THE THREE COASTAL REGATTAS. DISTANCES TO ALL PORTS. (By SPEEDWELL.) The annual ocean races to Tauranga and Russell, promoted by the regatta committees of both ports, will start this evening off the King's wharf. There are races for both keel and centreboard boats to Russell, and for keel boats only to Tauranga. The starting line is between the end of the whrrf and starter's launch, moored north. The five Hag system will be used, with two guns, the first when the Hags are hoisted on the launch, and the second gun as the starting signal on the fall of the last Hag. The competitors in the race to Tauranga, which starts at 7.10, are as follows: Xga Toa scratch, Heartsease 111 45m, Queenie 2h 15m, Wairiki 2h 50m, and Daisy 4h 25m. The course is from starting line direct to The Mount at the entrance to Tauranga harbour, finishing between the blinker light and judge's boat, moored about north-west. At night this line will be marked by a light on the judge's boat in line with blinker. First prize is the Colin Norris Memorial Gold Cup and miniature, with £15, and champion flag, second £10, third £5, and fourth £3. ' " .. .. The progress of the race will be recorded by! pigeons kindly loaned by Mr. Geo, Stephens, and sent off from the Xga Toa at intervals. The programme on Regatta Day, December 27, comprises 50 events, including rowing, sailing, launch, outboard, and side shows. The Northern Steamship Company's favourite excursion s J earner Rangitoto will leave town on Thursday r.t 7 p.m. She will act as flagship on the day, and leave on her return at 6.30 p.m. A dance, pictures, and various other entertainments have been arranged for visiting yachtsmen, who are assured of a very hearty welcome. Race to Russell. Classes going north will start together at 7.30 p.m., the starting arrangements being the same as for Tauranga. The finishing line will be between the end of Russell wharf and the whaler s.s. Ilananui. At night this line will be denoted by the red light on end of the Russell wharf and the riding light of the, whaling steamer. The entries and handicaps are: Keel yachts; . Ariki scratch, Thelma scratch, lorangr ;20n1,, Ida; 3a 50m, Windward 4h 2"ohr, Rangi 4h 35m, -Mahaki 4h 40m, Janet-Sh loni. - Centreboard yachts: Starloch scratch, Starlight 15m, Omatere 20m, Celox 30m, Rakoa 3h 30m.. " The prizes for both the keelers and centreboarders are, first £15, second £5. The chief attraction at Russell Regatta, to ue held on Friday, will be the outboard races, of which there are no less than eight. The B class outboard championship of New Zealand has again attracted our best boats and with tine weather record times are expected. In addition there will be yacht, and motor boat races. The Whangarei Harbour Regatta Association will hold its annual regatta at Onerahi on New Year's Day. The programme includes races for keel yachts, mullet boats, IGft and under classes, 7ft one • design class, and launches. A race for the .New Zealand championship for 22ft yachts is also included on the programme, the first prize for which is £10, second £3, and third- £2. Crews will be restricted to a maximum of five and a minimum of four, including a fair-play man. Not less than one ton of "ballast is to be carried under the floor. In addition.': ta-a first prize of £10, a valuable cup has. been donated for this race,-and it will, als > carry a champion flair. ' ; An exhibition will be given by the outboard racer Ocean Mule, which attained a speed of 40 miles per hour last, Tiies-' day oil the Whau River. The 22 footers', race promises to be well contested if the weather is favourable. An excursion steamer leaves fOr Russell on Thursday, December 20, at -7 p.m., and for Whangarei at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, at special fares. Distances for Each Race. The following are the distances on the course to Russell: North Head to Canoe Rock, 23& miles; Cano-> Rock to Rodney Point, 10i miles; Rodney to Sail Rock, 17i miles; Sail Rock to' Bream Head; 9A miles; Bream Head to Tutukaka, 14-A miles; Tutukaka to tape Brett, 3(J miles; Cape Brett to Russell wharf, 14 miles; total distance, 120 miles. The distances on the run to Tauranga taking a departure from Emu Point on the eastern side of Islington Bay are: Emu Point to Watchman Island, off Cape, Colville, 2G miles; Watchman to YVaikawau Point, 11 miles;, Waikawau Point to Old Man Rock (220 ft high), 21 miles; Old Man Rock to the Mount, 50 miles; total distance, 121 miles. The Cowes Bay regatta will take place off this favourite Waiheke bay on New Year's Day. The usual programme of sailing events will be carried out by a small but energetic local committee, assisted by a lew enthusiasts fiom Auckland. . Speedwell's idea of a "Round the Coast" regatta trip has been very favourably received by each of the three regatta committees concerned, and the hope expressed that it might be possible next year. t Red and Black Buoys. Visiting yachtsmen will find the coastal habours well market. Whangarei being especially well favoured in this respect. It is well to remember that when entering a harbour from the sea all red buoys are to be kept on your starboard hand, and black buoys to your port. DISTANCES FROM AUCKLAND. ' The following-distances in nautical •mites ill. lio vustfu| : ;for reference., when cruising!-—< • • " ' •., w" , „ King's' 1 .'wharf" to "".'North . Head, 2; .Brown's. Island: beacon, 0; •Islington Bay, 7 ; Home 'Bay, Station Bay, 10£; Matiatia, 11; Rakino, 12A; Oneroa, 13Jj Onetangi, 16; Hook's Bay, 21J; Noisies, 14; East Tamaki Point, s}; Beachlands, 10:J; Maraetai, 13*; mouth Wairoa River, IS; Motuihi wharf, 8; Surfdale, Ostend, 125; Rocky Bay, 14; Awaroa Bay, 10; Orapiu. 19; Cowes Bay, 205; Man-o'- War Bay, 22; Hook's Bay, 25; Ponui Passage,,2o; Rutile's Island Passage, 21A; Coromandel, 30; Ruthe's Passago to Te Kume, 11 A; Ruthe's Passage to Coromandel, 141; Coromandel to Cabbago Bay, 13*; Cabbage Bay to Cape Oolvillo, 13; Coromandel to Thames, 25A; Ponui Passage to Thames, 20*; Ponui PuHsago to Kopu wharf, 24 J.

King's wharf to Rangitoto beacon, 5; Rangitoto beacon to Tiri Passage, 11J; Tiri to Canoe Rock, OA; Canoe Rock to Rodney. 11; Rodney to Sail Rock, 17£; Sail Rock to Bream Head, 10; Bream Head to Tailiarura Point, 8; Taiharuru to Tutukaka, CJ; Tutukaka to Elizabeth Reefs, Gi; Elizabeth Reefs to Wide Berths, 6A; Wide Berths to Home Point, 7J; Home Point to Cape Brett, 9£; Cape Brett to Russell, 14; Cape Brett to Step Island, 195; Step Island to Whangaroa. 10A; Whangaroa Heads to Doubtless Bay, 17. King's wharf to Mansion House Bay, Ivawau, 27; Mansion House to Maliurangi Heads, OA; Mahurangi Heads to Warkwcrtll, 7A; Mansion House to Waiwera, 9; Mansion House to Omaha Cove, 11; Mansion House to Canoe Rock, GJ. King's wharf to Wellington Head, Great Barrier, 4S; King's wharf to Capo Colville, 30; Cape Colvillc to Whangaparapara, Great Barrier, 13A; Cape Colville to Tryphena, 11; Cape Colville to Mercury Island, 23; Cape Colville to Old Man Rock, 30; Old Man to Slipper Island, 21; Slipper Island to The Mount, 34; Auckland to Tauranga, 121. RULES OF THE ROAD FOR MOTOR BOATS. At holiday time there Ts always more traffic on the harbour and at the various resorts. It is well to remember the rule of the road applies at all times, both to large and small craft. So keep to the right when you meet a boat coming head on, or nearly so. Another tip is not to rush into an anchorage at full speed. 1. Two launches meeting'— When all three lights I see ahead, I port my helm and show my red. 2. Two launches passing— Green to green, red to red, Perfectly safe —go ahead." 3. Two launches crossing— If to my starboard red appear, It is my duty to keep clear; Act as judgment says is proper, Port or starboard, back, or stop her; But when upon my port is seen A launch's starboard light of green, For me there's nought to do but see That green to port keeps clear of me. 4. All ships must keep a good lookout, and stop and go astern is necessary— Both in safety and in doubt, Always keep a j>ood lookout; In danger with no room to turn, Ease her—stop her—go astern. TAURANGA OCEAN RACE WINNERS. The race from Auckland to Tauranga was inaugurated in 1!)21, chiefly by the efforts of the late Colin Norris, and the sold cup, the coveted prize for this event, is now named in his memory. The winners and owners each year are as follows:— 1921 —YVaione, C. F. McWilliam. 1922—Restless, Tercel Bros. 1923—Queenie, Thos. Hill. 1924—Queenie, Thos. Hill. 1925—Vanitie, J. and E. Morris. 15)20—Wairiki, S. G. Speight. 1927—lorangi, Geo. McKcnzie. 1928—Xga To a, Winstone Bros.