SAILING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 16

SAILING

18-FOOT CHAMPfONSHH*

BRITANNIA GUP WON BY MALAY

Sailed at Lytlelton yesterday afternoon, in ideal yachting weather, the first annual race for the 18-foot championship of Canterbury for the Britannia Cup was won by the Christchurch. Yacht Club's M class boat, Malay, the club also securing second place with Marlene. Added interest in the race was caused by the entry of two West Coast boats, Mystic and Mako, both from the Greymouth Regatta Club. Mako, unfortunately, was put out of the race, soon after the start through fouling Matarere, and Mystic found the company too good for her, and finished last. Although slow on the wind, Mystic was very fast when running. The race was to have been held in Sumner Bay, but a heavy ground swell there yesterday morning caused a change to be made to Lyttelton Harbour.

The Start

The start was at 2.5, all getting away well together. On the broad lead for the pile, Marlene and. Matarere fried to carry spinnakers without success. The boats were bunched at the turn, and it was then that Mako fouled Matarere and retired. Malay was first around with Matarere next. After a short board all went about again towards the pier. Marlene was first about again, and headed for the quarry, the others holding on. Hakari was coming up on Malay. Off Shaw, Savill's shed, Malay started to increase her lead. She was pointing better than the others and was being splendidly handled. At the Ripa Island buoy the first time the times were: Malay 2hr 45min 54sec, Hakari 2hr 47min 4sec, Marlene 2hr 49raih 4sec, Matarere 2hr 51min. Snark 2hr 51min 30sec, Mystic 2hr 55min 37sec. On the run for the pile, Matarere and Mystic made exceedingly fast time. The first round was completed as follows:—Malay, 2hr 59min 27sec; Marlene, 3hr 3min 7sec; Hakari, 3hr 3min 18sec, Matarere, 3hr 4min 51sec; Snark, 3hr 6min 26sec; Mystic, 3hr 9min 29sec. Hakari had trouble in taking in her spinnaker and over-ran the pile some distance, losing about two minutes. There was little change in position in the second round, and the finish was: Malay (I. Treleaven), 3hr 49min

Marlene (F. Morrison), 3hr 52min

47sec .. .. .. 2 Matarere (C. Banks), 3hr 55min lsec 3 Hakari (I. Newton), 3hr 55min 13sec 4 Snark (P. Rhind), 4hr lmin 9sec .. 5 Mystic (C. Brown), 4hr 7min 12sec 6 At the Canterbury Yacht and MotorBoat Club's sheds afterwards, the Mayor of Sumner (Mr T. Newburgh) presented the cup to the skipper of the winning boat, I. Treleaven. After congratulating the winners, Mr Newburgh expressed pleasure at the presence of two West Coast boats in the race, and also of a boat from Kaiapoi.

IRENE STACEY TROPHY RACE

EXCITING FINISH AT REDCLIFFS

Rita, sailed by R. S. Beveridge won the' Irene Stacey trophy at Redcliffs on Saturday afternoon. '.„„»_ t There was a record entry of 18 boats which included 12 Redcliffs representatives, four from Lyttelton and one each from Pleasant Point and Mount Pleasant. There was a great deal of interest ta*cn In the race, and before its commencement the Christchurch Club's jetty was a scene of great activity. A , . The conditions were that the length of the boats must not be greater than 12ft 9in, and that the sail area must not be more than 110 square feet. The material used for mainsail must not be lighter than six ounce cloth, and that for the spinnaker not less than five ounces. The race was sailed over the following course, approximately seven miles long:—From mark oppostie Bay View road to tripod, keeping channel marks to starboard, pass tripod to port, thence to Skylark, pass to starboard, back to tripod, pass to starboard. Repeat tripod-Skylark four times and finish at starting point. The officials were as follows:—Judges, Messrs Magnus Smith, R. A. Beveridge, W". H. Beanland, and C. G. Banks; starters, Messrs W. Toomey, F. Morrison, E. Butcher, and A. T. Round; timekeeper, Mr W. Toomey. Conditions could scarcely have been better when the boats crossed the line at 3.10 p.m. The tide was making strongly and there was a fresh easterly on the run up to the stake. The closely bunched boats fought for position. Fidget was first round, followed by Wren, Nimrod, Rita. Solace, Rascal, Redwing, Nuie, and Uira. Fidget was first round the tripod, followed by Rita, Nimrod, and Wren, with the rest of the field beginning to straggle. Spinnakers were set on the run to Skylark, and on the beat back to the tripod Fidget, Wren, Rita, and Nimrod were Wfell clear of the rest of the field. The first time round the tripod the times were as follows:

Rita —3 hours 45min 50sec. Nimrod —3hrs 46min 20sec. Fidget—3hr 46min 36sec. . Wren—3hr 47min 50sec. Solace—Shr 48mln ssec. Nuie—3hr 49min lOsec. Falcon—3hr 50min 15sec. Rascal—3hr 52min 6sec.

The second time round the times were Nimrod —4hr 6mln 49sec. Rita—4hr 7min 12sec. Fidget—4hr Bmin 2sec. Solace —4hr 9min 43sec. Wren—4hr 9min 55seo Nuie—4hr llmin. .Falcon—4hr 12min 46se<\ Treasure—4hr 15min 57sec. Rascal—4hr 16min 40sec.

The third time round the times were:— Rita.—4Ks H&min. - Nimrod —4hr 28min 20sec. Fidget—4hr 29mln 30sec. . Wren—4hr 31min 40sec. Nuie—4hr 32min 16sec. Solace—4hr 32min 38soc. Falcon —4hr 34min 34sec. . Treasure—4hr 38min 2sec. Rascal—4hr 38min 46sec.

With so very little distance between the two leading boats an exciting finish was expected and this proved to be the case. Unfortunately, however, in rounding the tripod, Nimrod touched with her sail and was automatically disqualified. Her skipper decided to carry on and provided the spectators with one of the best finishes seen on the estuary for many years. At the turn round the stake for the beat home the boats were separated by a few feet, and they continued in this style for some distance until Rita, nearing the finish, began to draw away and won by 23 seconds. Because of the Nimrod's disqualification second place was taken by Fidget, who had also sailed a good race. Rita's win was well deserved, her skipper, R. S. Beveridge, displaying good tactics throughout. A word of praise is due to the spinnaker hand, B. Crawford, a young lad whose smart work played an important part in Rita's win. The finishing times were:— Rita (R. S.. Beveridge). 4hr 57min 12 sec .. .. .. .. l Fidget (E. Morrison), 4hr 59min 30sec 2 Wren (J. G. A'Court), shr 2min 15sec 3 Nuie (R. Hendry), shr 2min 20sec .. 4 Solace (A. Penn), shr smin lOsec .. 5 Falcon (F. Sutton), shr smin 3sec .. 6 Also started—Nimrod (W. Webb), disqualified, Uira (H. Wells), Rascal (C. Papps), Redwing (A. D. Stemmer), Spindrift (T. Turner), Winsome (B. Turnbull), Elaine (R. Thompson), Dulcet (T. Bassett), Treasure (E. Rowntree), Marina (H. Plummer). Vanitie (R. Nolan) broke a batten soon after the start and retired.