DECLARED "OFF."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 10

DECLARED "OFF."

CRUISING RACES. YACHT SQUADRON EVENTS. MATIA WINS THE "LADIES'." Bocjuise a large number of the leading boats failed to report to the flagship at the entrance to Mansion House Bay last night, it was decided by officials of the Royal Xew Zealand Yacht Squadron to declare the annual cruising race to Ivawau Inland "off."

The mark boat moved in from Mansion House Point about 1 o'clock after the majority of the boats which -finished had sailed past so far out in the darkness th.vt they could not be recognised. The first boat to finish was the new craft Maiia, which came in well ahead of the rest of the fleet, but was not seen from the mark boat.

-At the start from King's wharf last night, the veteran Ida was fi'rst away, and was followed by Aviki, Xga Toa, lorangi, Tainatea and Waionio. The whole fleet ran down the harbour with spinnakers and leaders set, to a gentle sou"-westerly breeze. At Xorth Head, Hanger, Ariki and lorangi led. When darkness came. Ranger and Ariki were out in the lead, with lorangi and X rr a Toa leaving the rest of the fleet some dust a nee behind.

Tangaroa was easily first awav in the race for second division vachts* -She was followed by Aranioana "and Windward. When darkness came, Windward was well in the lead.

„.u l " tia , ko P t w<?11 °»t in Tiri Passage. While the rest of the fleet worked the »Yhangaparoa shore, Matia kept -out caught a stray breeze, while the others "ere becalmed, and went on' to- finish

,T ~ , o wei ,oat ™eo. which started befo e the yachts, resulted i„ a vietorv to. Rotoniahana. which started on a 70nmiutc handicap. Next came Xereides (4.111), and La<lv Margaret (ser). The Maigaret finished first at 8.55 p.m. * To day's Regatta. To-day. from Sir Krnest Davis' schooner Morewa, the annual Yac-i-t Squadron regatta was held o ff Mansion House Bay. J his morning the race for women skippers was held over an 8-mile course from Mansion House Bav round marks off Christian Point and' Algie's. »T "ty-four boats started, and round the first ,nark. Matia led Xga Toa and : n r ' '; J !c t three big boats kept but Ariki was first round the second mark. Ariki and Matia fought along the last leg to the finish, but Auki lost the wind near the end. and Matia went on to win by a few seconds. finishing times of the first boats were:—Matia (4Ji 30m). llli 44m 48s; ' ln,) ! 1 11,1 4r,m 12s; Xga Toa (4m •JWs), llli 46m 0s; Jamatea (3m), llh 4)iii o8s; Waiomo (0m). llh 50iil 5.55: lawera (4m 30s), 111, 51m 265; loran-i (2m 30s), llh 51 in 425; Victory (Bml. llh olm 495; Moana (Tin), llh 54m Aramoana (})Jm). llh 56m 3Ss; Windward (12m), llh 57m 545; Taint,i (14m), 12h Oni 4s.

Result. Matia (Mrs. IT. E. Chamberlain) 1, Xga Toa (Mis,, Hilda Winstonc) 2, Waiomo (Mrs. X. C. Mains) 3. The winner was awarded the spccial trophy presented by Sir Ernest Davis.