THE BIG RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 29, 3 February 1934, Page 10

THE BIG RACE.

Sixteen Keelers in Fine Start.— Thelma First to Finish.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's race to Kavvau, for a trophy presented by Admiral G. Blake, started off the King's wharf at seven o'clock last evening. There was a very fresh wind blowing from the east-north-east and most of the 16 starters had one or two reefs down in their mainsails. The course was from the starting line direct to Kawau, iiiiisliing off Momona Point, a distance of 27 miles.

The competitors and tlieir handicaps were as follow: Tlielma scr, Nga Toa 4m, Rawene 15m, Prize 17m, Victory, Moana 19m, Ida, Waione 24m, Ilex, Waitangi 28m, Ladye Wilma 32m, jKotiri 34m, Mahaki 55m, Kotuku li.' lam, Medina lh 40m and Janet 2h 10m. lorangi, Windward, Dorothy and Gloriaiia did not start, although Dorothy left shortly after the race started without crossing the- starting line. The start was a good one, Waione, Ladye Wilma, Kotuku and Nga Toa getting away very quickly in that order, followed by Janet, Victory, "Rawene, Mahaki, Kotiri, Prize, Ida, Waitangi, Moana, Tlielma, Ilex and Medina. It was a beat down harbour to North Head, and all but Ladye Wilma stood on the port tack towards the eastern tide deflector, Ladye Wilma going oil on etarboard towards Stanley Bay. The big boats, Waitangi, Tlielma, Ilex, Nga Toa, Moana and Rawene lay well down to it, throwing the seas from their bows as they fought their way against a head wind, sea and tide.

Waione held her initial advantage all the way down the harbour, with Nga Toa, Prize and Rawene nearest to her. All made a short board to clear the end of the eastern tide deflector, afterwards laying into Pauls Bay, Orakei. Rawene, Prize, Nga Toa and Moana left the southern shore, standing across the harbour towards Devonport wharf, where they passed Ladye Wilma working down the northern side of the harbour. Nga Toa led the weather division and Waione the boats that lay towards Bastion Point before standing across the harbour! Nearing North Head, Waione crossed tacks with Nga Toa and weathered her, still maintaining her lead. At North Head the positions were Waione, Nga Toa, Rawene, Prize, Victory, Moana, Tlielma, Waitangi, Ladye Wiima, Ida, Ilex, Kotiri, Kotuku, Janet, Mahaki and Medina. When clear of North Head sheets were eased a little, and tlio boats made faster time going down Rangitoto Channel and on their long leg out past Whangaparaoa and Tiritiri for their objective, Momona Point, on the lee side of Kawau. Mr. A. E. Gilford's Rawene won the race, finishing at lib 13m 535, with Mr. W. P. Endean's Prize second at llh lfim 225, and Mr. IT. C. George's Victory third at llh 23m 40s. Tlielma finished first at llh 8m 30s. All sixteen yachts completed the course, the lest boat coming in at lb 50m. Waioni was fourth and Thelma fifth. Tlio finishing order of the others was:— Ladye Wilma. Kotere, Nga Toa, Kotuku, Ida, Moana, Mahaki, Waitangi, Medina, Janet and Ilex. Results:— Ladies' Race (seven miles)". —Waitangi came in first and was the only boat io completo the course. The other 15 competitors failed, on account of poor visibility, to pick up the section mark ofT Algie's Point. Miss Elizabeth Erater sailed Waitangi. The Matai, with the Vice-Regal party on board, sailed for the North shortly before mid-dav.