WAITERE'S RACING RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 274, 18 November 1932, Page 11

WAITERE'S RACING RECORD.

OVER 80 FIRST PRIZES. * TEN CHAMPION FLAGS. There have been few boats racing on the harbour within the past 20 years with a record of successes equal to Mr. W. A. (Farmer) Willett's 26-footer Waitere 11. Built by J. H. Slattery, in 1913, from a design by Mr. Arthur Willets, of Stanley Bay, and finished off by him and his sons, she made a name for herself from her first season. It was the same year, 191314, that Omatere and Starloch were built, and the class was always a hot one' with these three and Starlight, Celox, Calypso, Mystery, Ronaki, Cloud, Bluestreak, and Esma all going strong in the North Shore, Ponsonby, and Victoria Clubs. When the war started, W. A. Willetts and all his crew enlisted, and the good ship was laid up. With their job done, she was recommissioned in 1919, and it was during the next ten years that she put up her record. The crew remained about the same during that time, and included her skipper, W. A. Willetts, J. Wheeler (for'ard man), D. Wakerley (main-eheet man), A. Montague, Alf Willetts, J. Gasparich and E. Waite. It was in the long-distance races to Russell, and down the coast from Kusseli to Onerahi that Waitere and her crew showed their mettle, and she got some rare dustings off the Cape. Waitere won the Anniversary Regatta 26ft championships in 1925, 1926, and 1927; won the ocean race, Auckland to Russell, 1922, 1925, and 1926; won the race from Russell to Onerahi, Whangarei,' 1924 and 1925; won club championships in her class in North Shore Yacht Club (in which Mr. Willetts was a flag officer for several seasons), 1920, 1921, 1923, Ponsonby Club 1921, 1922, and Auckland champion 1922, 1923. In addition to the championships, Waitere's skipper carried off over 80 other prizes, including five cups, three of which, tho Usher Cup, at the Anniversary Regatta, the Jackson Cup, Akarana Yacht 1 Club, and the Celox Challenge Cup, he now holds, having won them outright. Her best year's total was 13 wins, besides several seconds and thirds. This record speaks for itself. In 1929 her skipper retired from the eport, and sold Waitere, which is now on the beach at Onehunga. Mr. Willetts comes of old boating stock. His grandfather was building boats in the very early days of Auckland, while his father, Arthur Willetts, owned several yachts, all of which he built himself. For

nearly 50 years Mr. A. Willetts has been with Mr. George Nicol, ship builder, over 30 years as foreman. His sons also include A. Willetts, well-known skipper of 14-footers. Hβ sailed Avalon to victory in the Sanders Cup contest at Akaroa in 1929. He built the champion Y class boats Lois and Fay, and the new boat, Demon, fts well ns several others. A younger brother, H. R. Willetts, built and sails the T class champion Sybila, so that building boats and winning races runs in this family. Waitere H. in shown in the centre of the picture, taken on a light weather opening day. ANNIVERSARY REGATTA. The 83rd annual meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee will be held on Monday in ~the rooms of the Flying Angela Mission, Sturdee Street,! next to the Sailors' Home, when the report and balance-sheet will be submitted and officers elected for the 1933 regatta. Mr. A. Braund, who completes liis second year as chairman, in the course of his report states that the last regatta was one of the best held for many years. The entries were exceptionally good, the weather was perfect and having H.M.s. Diomede as flagship attracted a very large number of visitors. During the day the flagship was visited by their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe. His Excellency also viewed the racing from Mr. E. H. Northcroft's yacht Ilex. Lord Bledisloe took a keen interest in the finishes of the yachts and congratulated the officials on their work. His.Worship the Mayor, Mr. Geo. W. Hutchison, also paid a visit to the flagship. Mr. Braund pays a tribute to the interest taken in the regatta by Rear-Admiral Blake and his officers. An innovation this year was the holding of a "smoko," when the prizes were distributed. His Worship the Mayor officiated and took advantage of the representative gathering of yachtsmen to enlist their support for the proposed celebration of the centenary of Auckland, which occurs in 1940. The proposals include an old-time regatta, and Mr. Braund assured his Worship that he could count on every assistance from the regatta committee. The report concludes with a reference to the fact that in epite of the times and the reduction of prize money, the entries did not suffer, but showed a small gain. He thanked all who had helped to carry out the regattas during his term of office and bespoke for his successor, Mr. J. Longbottom, the saine good will. PONSONBY MODEL CLUB. The Ponsonby Model Yacht Club has set up a sub-committee to go into the matter of a 3ft standardised class. A design has been kindly supplied by Mr. Arch. Logan, which will be submitted to the meeting on Monday. Challenges will be received then for the Winter Cup, held by Mr. W. T. Matthews' Rona. and the Victoria trophy, held by Mr. Matthews' Ida. A 3-footer, built by Mr. C. J. Collings will be amongst several new competitors at the club's next races on November 27. SUNDAY SERVICE IN ISLINGTON ' BAY. Following his custom of the past few seasons, Rev. Jasper Calder, the yachtsmen's chaplain, will hold a short service on Sunday morning at 9.30 in Islington Bay. It will be held on the weather shore, which, from present indications of a sou'west wind, will be on Rangitoto.