REGATTA DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 10

REGATTA DAY.

HARBOUR CARNIVAL. CITY'S 100 TH BIRTHDAY. DAYS OF THE SCHOONERS, Auckland yachtsmen will celebrate tho 100 th birthday or the foundation of the city on Monday in the timehonoured way by holding a regatta on the shining waters of the Waitemata. After Governor ITobson had concluded the ceremony which laid tha foundation of Auckland in 1840, a regatta, consisting of three events, was held oIT the point later named Fort Britomart, and now known as Emilv Place. Ten years later a meeting of citizens unanimously decided to hold a regatta on .January 20 to mark the occasion. It was a success and the committee then set up decided to make it an annual event. This decision of Auckland's pioneer sportsmen has bscn honoured ever since, although the nature of the events lias changed from the early days of Maori war canoe races and ships' gigs, with a few sailing races. These were followed in the 70'* and SO's with races for cutters and schooners, the annual contest in whaleboats for a prize of £100 being the chief attraction. hater ctill the forerunners of our present large licet of pleasure craft appeared, and gradually increased in numbers and classes. From the oldtime yachts of the Arawa-Rita class was evolved the Bermuda-rigged, graceful and fast yachts of to-day, such as Ranger, with her 00ft of length and 73ft mast, the old favourites, Rainbow and Viking, the shapely Tawera. and the schooners Morewa and new Golden Hind. All are products of Auckland's boatbuildcrs and designers, of which the city is justly proud—as the.y were in the SO's of the schooners. Schooner Race. In 1572 S4 schooners raced around Tiritiri and the number gradually increased." In ISBO the first champion schooner race was held, the prize being £100, for which 12 vessels competed. In ISS2 Cygnet won without her handicap. By ISS4 the race had reached its highest point, the prize money for the regatta of that year totalling £730. Like other classes, the schooners gradually died out, their place being taken by scows and cutters, which made a fine show for many years until they also disappeared, leaving the sailing field to the yachts. These carry on the days of sail in a worthy manner, this being the sole means left of perpetuating a love of the nca. Keen Racing Promised. For Monday's regatta there are 360 entries in the sailing division in 24 different classes. In cne class, the IS-foot V boats, the entries total 41 and the race hais been divided into two sections. Other classes have over 30 boats and each skipper and his crew are keen to win, spending time and money oil their racing gear and sails and entering heartily into the work of polishing or copper-painting the underwater • section. For the past two months an energetic committee, headed by the chairman, M. Geo. M. Dennes, ably assisted by others who give their time and talents to the successful carrying out of the regatta, has been at work on the numerous details and with the prospect of a fine day and fresh breeze they should be rewarded by a new level of success. Motor Boat Events. The oflicinl boat, the s.s. Ivawau, will be moored in a line with Queen's wharf and Stanley Bay wharf, where all races will start and finish. The motor events and naval aquptic carnival will take place in Hobeon Bay, east of the Royal Akarana \aeht C'iub's pavilion. The Frostbites and Midgets will race in St. Mary*6 Bay and the model yachts on the Orakei Basin. Lord and Lady Gal way will view the regatta from the launch Ferro. Lord Gal way going aboard the flagship at 10.30 a.m., and he will start the A class yacht race at 11 a.m. Great interest is being taken in the race for two-masted yachts, for which there are 10 entries, including the schooners Xew Golden Hind tienne and the Xavy's representative, iking. The first race will start at 9.lT>. The Wellington 14-footer Innocence will be a competitor in the Y clas*.