Yachting Regatta Brilliant Spectacle

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30051, 8 February 1963, Page 13

Yachting Regatta Brilliant Spectacle

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 7. The Royal regatta on Waitemata harbour today was a brilliant spectacle. More than 200 youngsters set sail in their multi-coloured tiny craft and enticed the Royal couple to spend 20 minutes longer than was scheduled at the Tamaki Yacht Club. The Duke of Edinburgh was keenly interested in the regatta and fired the gun for the start of the P-class race. Later, Mr E. A. Haynes, president of the Tamaki Yacht Club commented: “The Duke knows his yachts.”

The Queen and the Duke arrived at the yacht club at 3.15 pan. and Mr Haynes introduced them to two young “yachties.”

Mark Paterson, aged 15, who has won the inter-pro-vincial Tauranga Cup for the last two years, said the Duke asked him how much he practised. Sharon Corkin, aged 12, was also presented to the Royal couple. But she was overcome by the occasion, and said later she could not remember what the Queen and the Duke said to her. Mark is a member of the Kohimarama Yacht Club and Sharon belongs to the Takapuna Boating Club. As the Queen and the Duke walked into the yacht club building, about 200 youngsters ran to their yachts on the beach and set sail. Two races were held—one for P-class yachts and one for Sabot yachts. The tiny craft with their multi-coloured sails looked like flashing water bugs as they streaked out onto the harbour and jockeyed into position for the races. The Duke fired the gun for the start of the P-class race on his third attempt The gun

failed to fire on the first two attempts. The Royal couple appeared reluctant to leave the regatta, but finally departed at 4.10 p.m., 20 minutes behind schedule. Mr Haynes said later, that the Duke showed an incredible knowledge of the small craft and "thirsted” for more information. “He kept asking questions about the different types of sails, the size of boats and restrictions on size The Duke knows international class yachts. But there are 20 or 30 varieties here which are new to him.”

“Her Majesty was very taken with the colours of the sails,” said Mr Haynes.