THE BOAT PROCESSION,

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1760, 4 November 1884, Page 2

THE BOAT PROCESSION,

True to anticipations the opening day of the boating season turned out a great success on Saturday last. The weather was truly Taurangnian, and our lovely harbour looked, if possible, more picturesque than ever. The turn out of boats, both sailing and pulling, was highly creditable, and the busy look upon the water was quite exhilarating. The procession was arranged as follows— First, a line of row boats, each carrying a distinguishing flag, filed past the head of the Town Wharf, and pulled about half a mile down the harbour, turning round towards the opposite shore, and back again to the starting point, the pilot boat, with the commodore, leading, carrying the New Zealand flag. Just at the moment the line of boats were passing between the two wharves, and each boat could be seen, the sailing boats — which had been cruising about — all made for the wharf, and the sight was really charming. The sailing boats, some 16 in number, took up their places and passed in procession, and kept in admirable order, filing past as they went out, and returning in what might justly be called review order.

The third event was a race for pulling boats, the conditions being that the competing boats should be pulled by two men and a coxswain. For this race there were four entries — The Spark, Oxford, Tauranga, and lone. The race was looked forward to with considerable interest. A good start was made, and until the mark boat was reached it was quite problematical who would be the winner, but the Oxford rounded first, and the contest was then for second place. The race was well pulled and well won. Oxford (pulled by Faddy and Fenton), 1 ; Tauranga, 2.

The fourth event was a sailing boat race, for which the following boats entered — Hiria, Wave, Corsair, Margaret, Alarm, Tui, Spitfire, Mermaid, Maud, and Union (10 entries). All boats who entered started, and a better race and more interesting sight has seldom been witnessed. There was just enough breeze to give the boats a fair opportunity of showing their speed, and the smaller boats had as ranch as they could carry comfortably without a reef. The run out was perfect; the run home brought out the sailing qualities in' greater perfection, and after a closely contested race the boats returned in the following order — Corsair, 1 ; Hiria, 2 ; Spitfire, 3. The Corsair thus won the cup presented by Mr Gray. The committee deserve all praise and the unfeigned thanks of the public for the admirable way in which they carried but all arrangements, and it is only due to them to say that in their hands the arrangements for the regatta season will be well placed, and success will- be assured. The opening day may, we hope, be taken as a foreshadowing of what is to come, and it is only right that the committee should be heartily supported by the public.