YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1907, Page 5

YACHTING.

PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB. ' The opening races for the" season : of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club were held on Saturday, under somewhat unfavourable conditions for all the classes. There was a stiff nor'-wester blowing, necessitating the secondclass boats close.reefing. v The third class, at present comprised of a number of-half-deck centre-board, boats, was not well represented, as the heavy weather was too much for the smaller craft. ' N At 2.45.p.m. the race for third class menced, but only the Mahaki faced' the starter, and- she carried away the lashings from her gaff, which accident put her out of action. Meanwhile the harbour was dotted with yachts, all making up for the starting lino. When the gun went for the,secondclass event there was a representative, fleet. Tho' first to cross the'lino-was the' Muritai, followed closely by Taipare and Petrel; tho Janet'came next, two lengths behind, afid the Mahina brought up the rear four minutes later. All the boats-were close-roofed (the Janet .was sailing - : under • reefed mainsail alone). .The run down to the Halswell Buoy 'was exciting for those, on the yachts, and the enthusiasts aboard'the Pilot.(which lias been chartered to.follow the club races) .were eager to catch.a glimpse.of the.second : class as they beat' up to'Korp Korq; All interest upon the Pilot was centred upon the second-class-race, and as the.tug neafed the com-petitors-nil were- gazing intently, at them, ;entirely, oblivious of wind and sea.. The 'result' was a big wave swept the deck-house !of the Pilot, wetting everybody'. After that 'more caution was exercised by those aboard the tug: .Tho Muritai on the boat up from ■Halswell kept her position and was never out-pointed'throughout tho race. The.'Janet and Taipare kept well together, and those on board:the Pilot had .an. excellent view.of these boats as they plugged into.the nasty choppy sea running down from Koro Koro. The Janet, under her-mainsail, pointed-well, and the Taipare made an excellent showing. Dr. Fell's Mahina left the bunch as,soon as she rounded "Halswell and went off on tho Starboard tack 'away-up thdharbour and was lost-sight of until she was seen forging ahead like an ocean liner, haying worked the wind as only an old hand who knows the tricks can.

;. The. Muritai rounded Koro : -Koro at. 4.21, Mahiila 4.24J, Taipare 4'.26j .-' Janet 4.26J, Petrel 4.31. Janet endeavoured 'to hoist .a.spinnaker, but gave it up. Taipare and. Petrel hoisted balloon jibs and away for Halswell. On the run down Janet caught Taipare and passed her. The Mahina shortened the distance between Muritai, and the'boats rounded Harwell as follows:— Muritai 4.48, Mahina '4.50,. Jiiiiet 4.52J!, Taipare" -4.534, Petrol .4:58... The. Janet'kept a' jib on after rounding Halswell arid -left Taipare behind. The Petrel was considerably handicapped throughout the race by a damaged leach. The finishing times were:—Muritai, "shr.'9iriin. lOsec.;' Mahiiia, s)ir. 9min. 20sec.: Janet shr'. lOmiri. 50sec.;.'Tainare, shr.- 13min.-45sec.; Petrel. shr. 16rain/-23sec. With time allowance the Muritai comes first, Taipare second. Janet third, Mahina fourth, Petrel fifth. Tho Muritai, the limit boat, juiriried ahead from the,,start and ..was; never headed.' The . first?clasß'.' race .wis ''riot sailed on 'account '.of.;,a rijisunderstnhding.., v 'p,'., ; ','„„