YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1931, Page 13

YACHTING.

VICTORIA AND PONSONBY

CRUISING AND HARBOUR RACES.

The Victoria Cruising Glub and the Ponsonby Cruising Club held a series of combined races on Saturday. The cruising race finished at Surfdale 3 for which sixteen boats got away together at 2.40 p.m. The smaller classes competed over two rounds of a course, starting and finishing off the western wall. Great interest was taken in the 14footers' race as Avalon was making her first appearance this season. She was manned by a crew under 21 ae she will sail in the Sanders Cup. M. Jones was skipper, with Tupp, Andrews and Donovan ae crew. Loie led all round, which was expected with her larger sail area. Joan also finished ahead of Avalon, which had the misfortune to hit the mark when completing the first round. Shortly after the start of the cruising race the well-known 22-footer Marie carried away her mast. She was towed to her moorings off Bayswater by Mr, C. H. T. Palmer's motor yacht Adelaide.

Maratea and Surprise had a great race in their class. Maratea led by 14 seconds on th« first round, but they finished a dead heat.

A new M claee boat, Memutu, made her first appearance. Painted a btijrht red, she looks smart, and promises to be well to the front in this keen class. She finished 4m 14s after Matatea, but will do better when her sails are fully stretched.

The mark which Avalon struck sank later on, but all events were judged from the same place and no protests were received.

The reeults were ae follow: —

General handicap for the Surfdale Shield aud Mackay Memorial. From a pretty start Spray got away first, followed closely by Oniatere, Starloch, Qucenie, Malua, Starlight, Matariki, Mowai, Scout, Wairaugi, Doreen, Why Not, Otira, Eulalie, Marie, and Wairere. There was a steady full sail breeze trom the spu'-sou'-west, wJiicti gave the boats a broad lead all the way from start to finish, and the race was sailed in quick time. Off Queen Street wharf the four 26footers, Spray, Omatere, Starloch, and Starlight, were all close together in the lead, with Queenie next to leeward, aud followed by die 22-footery. Leas than 10 minutes alter the start, Marie's mast carried away short above the deck. Spray led to the Brown's Island beacon, where she carried awuy her spinnaker, and Starloch took the lead to the finish.. The tinish was timed':—Starloch, lh 465; Uiuatere, 4h 34ni 455; iJUrliglit, 4h 3Um (Us; Queenio, 4h iSSm l'Jd; Spray, 4h 3Sui 2Us; Scout, 4h 40m 28s; Why Not, 4h 40m 365; Mowai, 4h 47iin 435; Doreen, 4h 4i)m Us; Malua, 4h 41)iu 265; .Matariki, 4h 30m 425; Olira, 4Ji 53m '62a ; Wairangl, 4h b-im 11s; Wairere, 4h 57m. 565; liulalie, Oh lin Us.

Alpha led the way in the launch race, with Mama and Moreen following in straggling order.

M, V, and S Class. —This was a very good start, Maratea and Surprise crossing lirst, followed by Avro, Sceptre, Meuiliti), Leveret, Wild Wave, and Maneue, S minutes late. On the lirst round, Maratea led Surprise by 14 seconds, Avro and Memutu following nearly 3 minutes later, with Sceptre, Wild Wave, Manene, aud Leveret in this order. The finish waa timed : Maratea, 3h 51m 30s; Surprise, 3h 51m 30s; dead heat; Avro, 3h 55m 14s; Memutu, 8h 05m 445; Maneue, 3h 58m 545; Wild Wave, 3h 59m 11s.

T, X and Y Class. —This was the best start of the season, the eleven boats crossing within about a minute. Joan was first, followed by Aviilon) Lois, Meteor, i''uy, Sybila, Alerte, itangi, Romance, Rita 11., and Sea Dawn. Lois, sailed by A. Willetts, soon went ahead on the lead up hurbour to the mark off Chelsea, with Joan, Avalon and Rangi next. On the close haul from Chelsea to the Watchman mark Avalon took second place, rounding after Lois, but on the broad lead down to the mark off the starting line Joan, with a big spinnaker set for'ard, passed Avalon. The first round was timed: Lois, 3h 34m 40s; Joan, 3h 37m 455; Avalon, 3h 38m 30s; Kangi, 3h 38in 325; Sybila, 3h 38m 345; Alerte, 3h 30m 10s; Fay, 3h 3t)m 255; Romance, 3h 42m 40a. As the times show, Avalon, ilangi and Sybila were at close quarters. When Avalon ran past the turning mark, before gybing round, she struck it, aud it aank a few minutes later.

On the second round Lois improved her lend and the finish was: Lois, 4h 7ui 40s; Joan, 4h 10m 335; Avalon, 41i 12m 28s; Sybila, 4h 12m 48s; Fay, 4h 12m 51s; Kangi, 41i 13m 41s ; Meteor, 4h 14m 295; Romance, 4h 18jii 575. Z Class. —The finish in this class was: Kitty, 3h 48m 30s; T.io, 3h 40m ss; Trevic, 3h 50m 7s; Me Too, 3h 50m 525; pi, 3h 58m. The results in each club were as under: — PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB. Keel Yachts.—Scout, 1; Queenie, 2. H . Class. —Starloch, 1; Starlight, 2 ; Omatere, 3. L. Class. —Mowai, 1; Matarikl, 2; Malua, 3. M, V and S Class.—Avro 1, Surprise 2, Maratea 3. T, X and Y Class.—Lois 1, Rangi 2, ■Romance, 3. Lois wins by one second on corrected time. Z, Class. — Tio 1, Me Too 2, Kitty 3. VICTORIA CRUISING CLUB. ■General Handicap for Surfdale and Mackay .Memorial Shields.—Starloch, 1; Omatere, 2; Starlight, 3. H Class.—Starloch, 1; Omatere, 2; Starlight, 3. L Class. —Mowai, 1; Malua, 2 ; Matarlki, 3. Launches. —r—Marua, 1; Alpha, 2. V and iS Class. —Avro 1, Surprise 2, Wild Wave 3. T, X and Y Class. —Meteor 1, Romance 2, Rangi 3. The officers for the day were: Starter, Mr. O. Johnson; judge, Mr. E. Griffiths; time-keepers, Messrs. J. Maher and A. Perkins. Mr. L. Tercel acted at Surfdale.

MANirXAU YACHT CLUB

PICNIC TO WAIKOWHAI.

The Manukau Yacht Club held a picnic + .o Waikowhai yesterday. The launch Manukau left the clubhouse at 8.30 a.m. accompanied by a number of yachts and launches, all well filled with members and friends. A sports programme for adults and children was carried out also four races for the 12ft 6in class, which resulted in wins for. Tua Tea in each event, but manned by a different crew. Over 20 boate were at anchor in the bay.