RACE ACROSS THE TASMAN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 5

RACE ACROSS THE TASMAN

t TWO YACHTS LEAVE AUCKLAND FINISHING LINE AT HOBART (PRESS association telegram.) AUCKLAND, January Ik The third contest for the trans-Tas-man Cup, presented by the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, from Auckland to Hobart, started to-night. There was little breeze at the starting time, 7 p.m., but the 36ft cutter yacht Wayfarer, with a leading jib set. crossed, tho line at four minutes past seven. The other competitor, the 41ft staysail schooner Aurora Star, was just leaving her moorings inside the wall. Against the strong flood tide she had some difficulty m making the starting line, and with the breeze freshening from the south, the Wayfarer with her escort of other craft, was making good progress on the long trip to Hobart. The Wayfarer rounded North Head at 7,45 p.m., and eased her sheet for the run cut to Tiritiri and up the coast. Meanwhile the Aurora Star had. made the starting lino, and crossed at 7hr 48min 15scc. Keeping to the Orakei shore, out of the tide, she made good progress down the harbour, also accompanied by many craft, and as she rounded the North Head in the gathering dusk, the Wayfarer could be distinguished off Rangitoto beacon. The. breeze was driving both boats at about three knots when they disappeared in the darkness. If the present conditions hold., it will be a long journey for the boats before they round North Cape. The finishing line is at the entrance to Hobart, on the Derwent river, a distance of 1530 miles, and with ordinary conditions in the Tasman, the boats should make the passage in about 12 or 13 days. In addition to the trans-Tasman Cup, the Hobart Regatta Committee has given £3O prize money. A previous competitor in this event, Mr J. W. Wray’s Ngataki, was provisionally entered, but, did not start. The starters, and their handicaps, were;— Aurora Star, scr; Wayfarer, 44hr 37min 3sec. The complement of the crews was as follows:—Aurora Star, H. E. Terry. J. Terry, E. Hayes, J. W. Kelly, and J. O’Brien; Wayfarer, K. G. Reid, D. Reid, A. H. Milburne, and S. W intcrburnc. The boats have been given distinguishing tetters, and as they have been requested to display them at all landfalls and when passing other ships, it is quite likely lhatMheir progress across the Tasman will be known from time to time. The letters allocated are—Aurora Star A, Wayfarer R.