OLD-TIME INCIDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 300, 19 December 1930, Page 16

OLD-TIME INCIDENTS.

THE PEWTER CUP.

TWO COASTAIi KEGATTAS

TO-MORROW'S EVENTS

(By W. A. WILKINSON.)

The request made last Friday for particulars of the incident which took place at a prize-giving of one of our old-time regattas .brought many replies. It concerned a -winner of a prize which had been advertised as a silver cup, donated by a city merchant. The prizes •were on view a day or two before prize night, and the winner saw, to his disgust, that the reputed silver cup was nothing more than pewter. He vowed that if it was presented he would jump on it. Sure enough the cup was duly presented and the irate skipper threw it on the floor of the regatta room and stamped on it, at the same time giving the committee a piece of his mind.

All my correspondents agree that this took place at a Ponsonby regatta prizenight in the Ponsonby Hall, and the skipper was the late John Waymouth, sen., father of John Waymouth, the boatbuilder. The cup was offered as a prize for the 20ft open boat class, the leading small class of that time, and it was won by J. Waymouth's which was sailed by his son "Knoll," one of lier crew being Mr. Oscar Nelson. The damaged cup was rescued by "Knoll" Waymouth, who had it reconditioned. It is still in the posseesion of Mrs. "Knoll" Waymouth; also the silver cup which Mr. Waymouth, sen., pur- 1 chased and had engraved similar to the pewter ■" cup. Both are much prized possessions, especially the pewter one of the Waymouth family.

John Waymouth had a boat-building shop on the old -waterfront, near where Leyland-O'Brien's mill now stands, some 200 yards past the Kauri Company's yard. Later, he moved to the end of the old Hobson Street wharf. Amongst the boats built there was one for the Knox family of fishermen. She was about 30ft overall, and known as the Sea<nill. A year or two later this boat was°bought by "Knoll" Waymouth> son of the boat-builder, who had it converted into a keel yacht, and added a schooner bow. When relaunched she was named Ma-pu, and she won a number of prizes in the hands of "Knoll." She was one of file few boats which beat the Jessie Logan, owned and sailed by the late Walter Jones. Both belonged to Ponsonby, which was noted for its number of boats, and the keen interest taken in the sport by the residents of those days.

The Ponsonby regatta was held each (rear about the first week in December, md vied in popularity with the Anniversary Regatta. It was last held about L 905. The p.s. Wakatere was usually the flagship, being tendered by two ferry steamers, the Eagle and Osprey. On one occasion she was so crowded that the two ferry steamers were ordered not to leave her, and a third boat had to be engaged to take off some of that crowd before it was thought safe to allow the Eagle and Osprey to move away. The Mapu was later sold to a Wellington yachtman, Dr. Fell, and finally sailed across Cook Strait to Nelson, where bhe is still reputed to be in use as a motor boat. Other boats built at Waymouth's yard on Hobson Street wharf were Yum Yum, built for Mr. Dave Carter, viow manager at Auckland for the Union Steamship Company. • . .

The writer wishes to thank those who took the trouble to send particulars of the incident, including Messrs. Oscar Nelson, Percy Dufaur, E. and F. Howard, Angus Campbell, John Collis, John Gibbs H. Kirkham, T. Qulnn and; Chas. Bailey.

Mr. Collis draws attention to a misprint in the name of the scow owned by Captain Gibßs. The name was intended to read Dungarven. The Dungarven was sailed by Captain Johnny. Ericksen, a native of Norway, Mr. Collis says that one of the competitors in the race for the Mutual Life trophy was Mr. Humphrey Haines' yawl Ngaire, and that he watched the race from Mount Victoria, which was sailed on Regatta Day, 1890. This trophy was not a regatta prize, but.a special race was held for it about a month after Regatta Day.

A REGATTA OP THE 'EIGHTIES. Considerable interest las been taken by the older yachtsmen in the account of Spray's victory in the race for the Mutual Life trophy. : Mr. J. Gibbs now tells of one of the Anniversary Day races for first-class yachts. The incident, where the fleet lay becalmed for two hours near the black "Buoy Inside Rangitoto reef was repeated exactly ' in the regatta race of 1924. Mr. Gibbs says: "As an instance of that old saying 'There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip/ I remember a regatta held i& the eighties. The Union Company's Te Anau was flagship. Captain Harry Parker, of the Customs, was starter, and Mr. John Waymouth, sen., judge of the sailing events. The best of the local yachts entered for the big yacht race, which was a handicap event. The first prize was £25 and a trophy Some of the yachts which competed were Muritai, Mr. C. H. Street; Wynona, Mr. Harry Whittakerj Arawa, Mr. Luke Bloomfield; Rita, Mr. Tom Henderson; Maratea, Messrs. Renner and Hegman; Tawera, Messrs. John Wiseman and H. Wilson; Albatross, Mr. Percy Dufaur; and the Spray, Mr. A. J. S. Gibbs.

"The wind was very light and fluky, and ■'all the yachts edged over to Brick Bay (as Stanley Bay was called in those days). From there we got a light northerly which carried us to the North Head. After a lot of hard work trying to get the advantage, of every puff of wind, all the yachts bunched up close to the buoy inside of Rangitoto reef, where we lay becalmed for nearly two hours. Then a light air came across from Narrow Neck, and it just reached the Spray, which was the outside boat, and as luck happened we were heading the right way to take advantage of the puff. The other yachts were not able to make any use of it, as they were aU pointing towards Brown's Island _and there was not enough wind to give them steerage way to come on round. J-.ae Spray was just able to clear the beacon and went on to round the old schooner Mary, which was the mark boat, about two miles outside the reef. On our return we found the whole fleet still in the same spot, and as we sailed past them Mr. J. B. Graham (or Long Jim

as he was popularly known among yachtsmen), was standing on the stern of the Rita, and calling for bids for our chance of winning the prize. The last bid, before we got out of hearing, was one for £20 from someone on the Wynona. The Spray carried on till we reached North Head, and as the tide was ebbing, we started to go astern. Just about this time we could see that the other yachts had got a nice northerly wind and were beating out to the mark boat.

"My father manoeuvred the Spray ready to take advantage of the wind when it should reach us; but as luck would have it the other yachts brought it in with them, and the whole fleet sailed past and were well in the harbour before we could get enough wind to move us. To make matters worse, the wind came out from the south, and as the leading yachts were past the Sandspit buoy they had no trouble in laying straight up the harbour, with the tide on their lee bow, while the Spray had to make a couple of- boards in the strong ebb before she v could lay for the finishing mark. If I remember correctly the Arawa won the race, with Rita second and Muritai third, -while the Spray only beat two boats home, which shows the luck and uncertainty of yacht racing in light winds."

THE TWO REGATTAS

TAURANGA ON BOXING DAY.

All arrangements are now complete for the Tauranga regatta, which takes place on Boxing Day, a week from today. The entries for the two ocean races close at 7 o'clock to-night at the Squadron rooms. The prizes are £10, £7 and £3, and the gold cup and miniature for the keel yachts, and £10, £3 10/ and £2, and the Clench Cup and miniature for centreboard yachts, with a champion flag for fastest time in each race. On regatta day there is a race for keel yachts, with prizes of £7, £3 and £1, .and for centreboards with, prizes of £4, £2 and £1.

There is a full programme of rowing races, for which the entries are a record. An additional attraction is an exhibition of swimming and diving by Miss L. Copplestone, ex-champion, who will also swim from The Mount, at the entrance of the harbour, to the town wharf.

The' following outboard racing boats have entered, and will definitely- compete in the five events on the programmer—Lady Eve, Mr. E. R. Butler; Lady Wilma, Mr. J. Johnson; Pug, Mr. W. F. Neal; Silvertown Kid and Redskin, Mr. 1 , . D. Pidgeon; lledstreak, Mr. S Ford; Pegasus, Mr. J. Dickson; and Nymph, Mr. E. J. Schofield. Mr. C. J. Cbllings will also go down, but will not race, as he has not been well for the past two weeks.

Altogether the prizes total, with trophies, just on £500, and with reasonably fine weather there is every prospect of a record regatta. A dance will be held in the Town Hall on regatta night, and the prizes will also be presented at a smoker held in another hall. Dances, garden parties, excursions ' and other forms of entertainment have heen arranged for the benefit of visitors, who are made welcome from the time they drop anchor off the town wharf.

The distances on the Tauranga course, taking a departure from Emu Point, Motutapu Passage, are as follow:—Emu Point to Watchman Island, off Cape Colville, 26 miles; Watchman to False Watchman, 4 miles; False Watchman to Waikawau Point, 7 miles; Waikawau to :6ld'Man Rock (220 ft high), 21 miles; Old Man Rock to The Mount, Tauranga, where the race finishes, 56 miles; a total of 121 miles.

.0 The entries up to last evening for the races' to. Tauranga were: —

Keel Yachts.—Nga Toa, Kot?ri, Waione, Wairiki, Ladye Wiltna, Quesnie. Centreboard Yachts.—Omatere, Starloch, Rakoa.

The Whangarei Regatta. While not carried out on such a lavish scale as Tauranga, the Whangarei Harbour Regatta Association, have been hard 'at work for some months past, and quite a good regatta will take place at.Onerahi 011 New Year's Day. The programmeincludes yacht and motor boat, events, also rowing and outboard races. Nearly all the - outboard boats which are going to Tauranga will also go North to Whangarei. Visiting yachts arc catered for in keel and centreboard classes, while the courses have been considerably shortened' and are all in €ull view, from the wharf. Post entries are always received for this regatta from visiting boats, usually at 9 a.m. on regatta morning. It is the hope of several boats which are competing in the race to Tauranga to try and reach Whangarei in time to compete. As there is a full week between the two regattas this is possible. (Jueenie, so far, holds the record for having raced at both Tauranga and Whangarei regattas in the same week.

KEENNESS OF AUCKLAND YACHTSMEN.

At a meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee last Monday, Captain Wm, Ross was named by the chairman, Mr. A. Braund, as being easily the oldest member of the committee. After admitting that lie had been connected with the regatta for over 60 years, Captain Rose stated that he had visited many parts, and had viewed many fine regattas. Our boats could not be compared for size or value with the big 'boats at Cowes or New York, but he ventured to say that in no port in the world was so much interest taken in the sport of yacht racing than was shown by the skippers and crews of our small boats.

THE SEASON'S FIXTURES.

December 20.—Tamaki T.C., small classes. December 26.—-Tauranga Regatta. January I.—Whangarei Regatta. January 17.—N.Z.P.8.A., Victoria and Ponsonby C.C. cruising race. January 24.—Royal N.Z.Y,S., Tamaki Y.C., Takapuna 8.C., Cornwell Cup race. January 29. —Anniversary negatta. January 31. —Royal N.Z.Y.S.. Takapuna B.C. Regatta. February 7.—Royal N.Z.Y.S., Akarana Y.C., cup day. February 14.—Victoria C.C. Regatta. February 21.—Devonport Y.C. .Regatta, N Z P.B.A. '•■■ »»■;•.-■ • February 28. —Ponsonby C.C. Regatta, N Z PB.A. picnic. March 'i. — Northcote and Birkenhead Regattas R.N.Z.Y.S.. N.Z.P.B.A. Marchl4. — Tamaki Y.C. Regatta, Ma ß rch' Z 2f.-Akarana .Y.C Victoria C.C. March 28.— Devonport Y.C. inrll 4 n.-Po e nsonby C.C, Lipton and 4P Hewson Cups; R.N.Z.Y.S. AprU 18.—Final day.