REGATTA AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20773, 6 February 1933, Page 15

REGATTA AT LYTTELTON.

IRENE WINS 14-FGOTER CHAMPIONSHIP. BETTY FINISHES SECOND, BUT disqualified. Not since the days of the old-time Lyttelton Kegattaa has so large a crowd assembled to watch aquatic sports as waa present on Saturday afternoon when the regatta in connexion with the Sanders Cup contest was held.' The Gladstone pier, from end to end, was lined with spectators, and there were hundreds watching from the hillside in the vicinity of the Time-ball. On the Sumner road motor-cars were parked in a long line, providing a good grandstand for the passengers. Afloat, a fleet of passenger launches, trawlers, fishing boats, and other poweied craft each carried a full number of passengers bent on seeing the racuig at close quarters. The Lyttelton Harbour Board's dredge Canterbury conveyed some 200 guests of the Board for a cruise around the harbour. The B.N.V.R. cutter Deveron was the flagship and starter's boat. During the earlier part of the afternoon a Darktown crew in a cutter caused much amusement. Interest in the regatta was centred chiefly in the Canterbury championship for 14-footera. There were nine starters in this event, including the four contest boats, Avalon, Idler, Lavina, and Avenger, and Betty, former Sanders Cup clY&mpion, .which was brought down from Wellington specially for the race. The championship was won by the Lyttelton boat Irene, built by Mr F. Dobbie, the builder of Colleen and Avenger. Irene was skippered by Eliott Sinclair, a member of the crew of Avenger at last year's and this year's contests. Ho sailed a magnificent race, fighting the redoubtable Betty for the whole of the race. The weather, although somewhat cold, was all that could be desired from a yachtsman's viewpoint, a fresh and steady south-west breeze prevailing, with only sufficient sea running to "liven" the boats. Progress of the Kace. The race was over a triangular course, three times round. The nine 14-footers were sent away at 3.0 p.m. Elfin, Idler, Irene, and Betty crossing in that order. The positions wore maintained to the Battery Point Buoy, which was rounded in the following order: Elfin, Idler, Irene, Betty, Lavina, Avalon, Colleen, Huia, Avenger. All went away on a long board over to Purau, and then worked up the Diamond Harbour shore. Opposite Diamond Harbour jetty Avenger had sailed into fourth position, with Irene, Betty, and Colleen to weather of her. Crossing tacks off the quarry, Betty put Irene about, and rounded ten seconds of Irene. Colleen was only another 10 seconds away, with Avenger and Idler close up. On the run for the pier buoy Irene sailed into the lead and completed the first round seven seconds ahead of Betty. The order at the commencement of the second round wa3: Irene, Betty, Colleen, Idler, Avenger, Avalon, Lavina, Huia, Elfin. Bounding the Battery Point buoy for the second time Irene had increased her lead to 43 seconds, the order being unchanged. On the beat for the quarry buoy Irene further increased her lead on Betty to Imin lOsec, and at the pier buoy at the completion of the second round to lmin 45sec.

A Feat of Seamanship. It was just after rounding the buoy that the most exciting incident of the day occurred. Betty stood across the stem of the flagship Deveron, anchored off the pier buoy, with Colleen coming up fast between. There were yells from all sides to Betty, to givo sea-room, but she held closer, if anything. It seemed that Colleen, running fast, must strike either Betty or the Deveron, as there certainly appeared to be insufficient room to pass between. Forman, Colleen's skipper, was not to be baulked, however. Hauling his sheet slightly he Bhot between Betty and the Deveron with bare inches to spare on either side. A storm of applause from the spectators afloat and ashore acclaimed this clever feat of seamanship. A few seconds later the boats did touch, the judges placing the responsibility upon Betty. Irene Loses Spinnaker. About half way on the run for the Battery Point buoy Irene's spinnaker split and the leading jib was used as a spinnaker when necessary for the remainder of the race. At the quarry buoy for the third time, with only a short run to be made, Irene was 45aec ahead of Betty. As she was deprived of the use of her spinnaker, it appeared that Irene must be overhauled by the other boat. To the delight of the spectators she maintained her lead, to finish strongly with 42 seconds in hand. There was a great tussle between Idler and Colleen for third place. Colleen came up on the Auckland boat right at the line, but Idler moved ahead slightly, to beat the Lyttelton boat by less than six inches. The boats finished as follows :

The Regatta Committee announced yesterday that Betty (shr 44min 18sec) which was originally placed second had been disqualified for fouling C°l]een. and that Idler (Auckland) had been awarded second place and oolleen (Lvttelton) third place. ' Avalon (A. Hunter) and liaftn (J. T. Hobbs) not timed. The owner of Avalon. A. Hunter, sailed the Otago boat, and T. Bragg, the delegate from Stewart Island, was a member of the crew The winners crew were E. Sinclair, H. May, and *>. Fisher. Other Events. The results of other sailing events boats under 14 feet —Listless (W. Tissiman), sor, 1; Onv,'ego, 2min, 2; Alice, 2min, 3. The others to complete the course were Ariki, TTira, Wai?una, W- and Wee May. The three placed boats, all of the Idle Along type outclassed the Takapuna type boats, but Jinx, ail Idle Along from Kaiapoi, fin Tjider 26*feet—Seai Kid (A. Bound)., llmin, 1; Keverie (C. Allen) llmin, 2- "Waterbeetle (W. Gilray), <nun, 3; Hakari (I. Newton), omin, 4. Won by ten seconds. The other starters were Cyclone, Cherub, Pal O' Mine, Boojum, and Tachts _y von i,c (H. Norris), 25min, 1; Waiata (W. Sarelius) ISmin 2; Pera (A. Smith), 48mm, A. Jf"" ' i\q Curtis) 12min, Mana (A. f Chrisp) 25mln, and Waimana (T. Harkess) scr also finished. Mana came £ with a large split in her mainsail. Power Boat Races. The wind and sea interfered to some 4- the nowor boat events. Tne extent with the pow «» »»'« An there was'only one entry for the class, the entrant was

included in the over six-knot race. Results were as follows: Over six-knot class—Roamer (F. L. Friedman), 242-min, running time 45 min ssee, 1; Pastime (E. L. Kennett), lomin, running time oomin ISsec, Seamew (F. Hill), lomin, running time 56 min 2osec, 3. Twelve started. Speed-boats, over .12 knots, six laps of the inner harbour: Imp (scr), running time 12min 30sec, 1; The Hawk (4min), running time Slmin 30sec, 2. The only other starter, Baby PaTani, retired in the third lap with engine trouble. SPEEDBOAT RACING. JELO WINS MASPORT CUP. (PKEiSS ASSOCIATION TELSQa.VM.) AUCKLAND, February 5. In thq speedboat race for the Dominion championship (Masfort Cup), held on the Tamaki river, a very interesting contest was witnessed. The Pic-ton-owned boat Jelo, driven by E. E. Lane, being the winner. Jelo, which covered the 16 miles course at an average speed of 3T miles an hour, appeared the outstanding boat, and won comfortably. There were eight entries. easily the largest since the race was instituted. Results: — iTelo (Picton), 200 li.p. Hispano, 2omin 4Ssec . ■ ■ .. 1 Spitfire CWanganui), 18 b.p. Essex, 28min 30sec • • .. 2 Betty (Wanganui'i, tiO h.p. Curtis. 29min 23sec • ■ .. 3

Hi-. mill. see. Irene Sinclair,) • ■ 5 43 t>6 1 Idler (W. Rogers) ... 5 46 4S 4U 3 Colleen (F- Forman) o 4 6 Avenger (6. Brassell) 5 47 3 32 — Lavina (-^ T . £>. Blair) 5 40 —