Ariki Receives Start For First Time In Career

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 13

Ariki Receives Start For First Time In Career

being Oil the'' scratch mark since she first commenced her racing career thirty -years ago the Auckland firstclass keel yacht Ariki is to lose the position of honour in the race between the big keelers at the Anniversary Regatta to-morrow. As far as can be ascertained .this is the first time the pride of the Waitem.ata's fleet has received a start in a race.

It is not that the Ariki has lost any of the sailing qualities which, have marked her career since she came off the slip of her .world-famed builders—Logan Bros.— but with the passing'of the "years changes have been made in design and rigging. This year there was launched on t1*«; Waitemata the Ranger, built by her owners, the Tercel Brothers. A craft 60ft overall, practically the same overall as the Ariki, the new boat embodies the latest in design and is equipped with Bermudan rig. The • Ariki in contrast retains her original gaff, mainsail and topsail rig. Last-Saturday week the newcomer issued her first challenge to the older craft and was incidentally joined by another recently-built boat, the .Matia, a-50-footer. The ' pair'took., part in ' the New Zealand Yacht- Squadron's annual- contest for the Macky . Memorial Gup, , contested on a basis. /vX i ganger and Ariki-' Tanked equal ' s on' fame allowance for rating and" this pair' conceded allowances to . the . rest of the . competitors. Though not. the actual winner, Banger was the first-boat to cross the finishing line with her principal rival in third place, .3m 29s . behind.

For to-morrow's .race the handicappers have put'._ Ranger on the scratch mark and she is to concede Ariki ,4m start. There is a record/entry of .38 keelers for tile race. Though challenged as a spectacle by the 'bigger fleets of smaller craft;, the keelers will still hold their own irl the public interest, and ivhen they stretch their sails on the 27-mile course'they "will still remain the centre of attraction, with the duel between Ranger and: Ariki and another great noted old-timer,.' Rainbow, the highlight.