YACHTING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 17

YACHTING

GALE SPOILS LYTTELTON EVENTS ONE BOAT CAPSIZES A strong south-westerly gale which burst upon Lyttelton Harbour about 2.30 on Saturday afternoon caused a postponement of yacht races for the afternoon. The races included those for the Irene Stacey Trophy, the Beryl Stacey Trophy, and the Priddy Cup, the first two being inter-club events which had attracted a large number of spectators. By the time the gale had eased off, It was too late to start the races. „ . A small sailing boat of the Snipe class, the Tempest, in charge of J. Robinson, which had come around from the Estuary, was within a few hundred yards of the moles When the storm struck her and she capsized. The "small motor-boat Marlin put out at the height of the gale and picked up Robinson, who was suffering from seasickness after being in the Water for about 15 minutes. Larger launches arrived later and took the Tempest in tow, with the remaining member of the crew still clinging to the overturned boat. The races for the Irene Stacey Trophy and the Beryl Stacey Trophy, postponed from Saturday afternoon, were held yesterday. A very light breeze from the south-west blew at first, but before the races finished it had veered to the northeast and came away fresh. Irene Stacey Trophy The start for the Irene Stacey Trophy, for boats under 12ft 9in, was made at 10.20 a.m. in a light air. The course was a triangular one round the reef. Slow progress was made at first, the boats being bunched until the pile was reached, when Rita took the lead round the reef. On the wind becoming lighter still. Challenge moved up and overhauled Rita. She opened up a big gap on Rita, Nimrod and Treasure being handy and the others well astern. At the end of the first round Challenge had a lead of two minutes on Rita, and she continued to increase the lead. It was when Challenge was almost becalmed off the reef that the wind came away from the north-east and the others came up, carrying the wind with them. A beat from the reef to the finishing line followed. Challenge, however, had too big a lead from the others and she won easily. The result was:— Challenge (T. Bassett), 11.56.10 a.m. .. 1 Rita (R. Beverldge), 12.1.40 p.m. .. 2 Nimrod (W. Webb), 12.3.55 p.m. .. 3 Treasure finished fourth. There were 12 starters. Beryl Stacey Trophy The race for the Beryl Stacey Trophy, for boats exceeding 12ft 9in in length, was started at 10.10 a.m., eight boats crossing the line. As in the other race, the boats had to contend with light and flukey airs at first, but picked up a fresh northeasterly in the concluding stages. The result was:— Avenger (R. Priddy), 17!min, 12.18.0 p.m. 1 Manihi (F. Dobby, Jun.), 22Jmin, 12.20.25 p.m. .. .. .. 2 Snark (E, Sinclair), 13min, 12.22.52 p.m. 3 Race for 18-footers In the afternoon the race for the Whitford Cup, for 18-footers, was held and attracted considerable interest, as, in addition to boats from Canterbury clubs, the Mako, from Greymouth, was a competitor. She was sailed by W. Tisslman, the Canterbury Sanders Cup skipper, but retired through her spinnaker jamming and carrying her well past the lee mark. The start was at 2.50 p.m. The Kaiapoi boat Dottrell took the lead soon after the start and held it throughout. The result was:— Dottrell (C. Banks), 4.26.36 p.m. .. 1 Malay (I. Treleaven), 4.29.30 p.m. .. 2 Hakari (I. Newton), 4.31.20 p.m. .. 3 Marlene. Snark, and Mako were the other starters. The Canterbury Yacht and Motor-Boat Club held a race for Idle Along class boats for the Priddy Cup in the morning, the start being at 10 a.m. The result was:— Muritai (N. Payne), limin, 12.4.4 pan. 1 Result, lOmin, 12.5.10 p.m. .. .2 Kawe, scr, 12.5.50 p.m. .. ..3 Lolita (scr). Aloha (2min), and Onwego (scr) were the other starters.