YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 13

YACHTING.

[Br Mainshmt.]

FIXTUBES FOE THE SEASON. Saturday, March 12.—Ocean Eace, for all lead keel yachts belonging to the club. The very light southerly breeze which prevailed last Saturday afternoon died away and left some of the yachts which were racing to drift home. All the races wero started off with a good fresh breeze from the south. Only three yachts started in the second-class race on Saturday last, viz., Janet, lolanthe, and White Heather. What little wind there was took tho yachts along in good style, and when Halswell buoy was reached it was seen that Janet was in the lead, followed by lolanthe and White Heather. On the run to Korokoro lolanthe came up to first place,'through Janet keeping too for out to windward of the buoy. On the first board from Korokoro Janet came to the front again, and arrived homo first, but lolanthe took first placo on timo allowance. .

In the second-class B race, first place was secured by Lizzie, which won easily. Nanoya camo home second, and the old "Tai third. The Viking came to tho starting-line 12 minutes late. Ka'wene defeated May for first place in the thirdclass race. Nikau, with her handicap of 18min. in the fourth-class yacht race, arrived home first, just lmin. ahead of the scratch boat, Warehou. Tuna camo up about Gmin. later and secured third place. The Te Aro Sailing Club held a ladies' race on Saturday, which proved a great success. Tho raco resulted in a wim for Ijotus, with Rival about lmiu.' behind. 'J!he committee could not have wished for a better day on which to sail a ladies' race'. ' Mr. Palmer's "flyer" Waione w<jn the launch event last Saturday with a few minutes to spare. Puriri secured second place, and Scotia third. Messrs. E. Ward and J. Barnard have disposed of tho scow Winfred to a Bona Ba t v resident.' During tho coming winter it is their intention to go in for another boat. Sunday was not a very nice day for yachting. The yachts just got across to Point Haswell with the very light breeze which prevailed. On tho other liand, it was an ideal day for tho launches, which skimmed through the calm water at a great pace. The New Zealand Power Boat Associasecond picnic of the season was held last Saturday afternoon at Hollier's Creek, Auckland, the weather being unfavourable for an'excursion outside of the harbour. Tho outing proved a .most enjoyable one. Some twenty-five fine launches left the wharf at 2 o'clock with a large paTty of members and friends. After landing, afternoon tea was provided, and prizes won in the recent races wore presented to the winners. A sweepstake raco for yachts of 20ft was held at Auckland last Saturday

afternoon, tiie stake being .fcl ss. per boat. _ The following were tho starters, all being from scratch except Mei, which had an allowance of imin. from the others —Seahorse, EUen, Decia, Eileen, llawhiti, and Mei. Tho course was from off the end of Queen Street wharf, round tho black buoy in Rangitoto Channel, tlienco round a mark boat off Chelsea, finishing at the starting line. An excellent start was made at 2.26 p.m., all the entrants putting in an appearance and making a pretty picture as they got away. Shortly after the start Eileen retired from tho contest, owing to an accident to tho mainsail. It was blowing a strong breezo from the east-north-east, with a heavy sea running, and all of tho boats woro reel'od down pretty closely. On the beat down tho harDour Rawhiti assumed tho load and rounded tho Rangitoto_ mark about smin. ahead of Seahorse, JJccima boing third, Mei being some distance away fourth. There was very little change in tho positions on the beat down the harbour, and tho result was as follows:—Kawhiti, 1; Decima, 2; Seahorse, 3. Mei did not completo tho course. Rawhiti is thoreforo the winner of the swoepstake and the championship flag presented by Mr. J, JBoonstra lor this class of boat. Mr. Broome was starter and Mr. J. Boonstra judge..

Sydney files to hand give an interesting account of tho Sayonara'B trial spin in connection with tho Northcote Cup. The jo}lowing is tho account as given by the Sydney Morning Horald" :— I n view of the presonce in the field of tno Sayonara, the cup defendor, a special course was laid at Brighton, Melßourne, last week, when two races were held under the auspices of tho Brighton' Yacht Club. Tho big boatV time for' tho 12 miles (ih, ,49 rain. 55sec.), showed that it must-havo boen a good'deal short of that distance. Tho north and south sides were so short that the Sayonara's crew hardly had tirao to get extras set before they had to come off again, and vice versa. Mri W. Parker was absent from the Sayonara's crew. The starters were:—A Sr ?? : Swara. ficr -i Joker, 15min. 48sec„, Valhalla, 18min. 48sec.Ada, ISmin. 6sec.; Thetis, 20min.; Fancy, 21 in in.; -Ilia Orn, 25min. 12scc.; Waterwitch, 30min.; Cooee, 32min. Sfiscc. Sayonara came out in the fine fresh souther-westerly with its awkward sea under jib, staysail, and full mainsail, and also sported her new jibheaded topsail, which sat beautifully. The boats were started to windward: tno defender had har -jib topsail hoisted in stops m readiness for the reach from the southeast to the south-west mark, but before the start the stops broke, and this necessitated its being hauled down and bunched on the end of the nose-pole. Turning to the south-west buoy,-with tin, wind pretty well abeam, the jib topsail was run up, after a good deal of delay in freeing it irom its lashings at the 'end of the bowsprit. Even then it never got properly set. The sheet, which looked to nave been led to weather of the stay, could not bo got down. However, the slackness allowed it to draw well enough, in marked contrast to the other sails—jib and staysail were both too flat, while the main sheet was hard enough in for windward work. As the boat came:round the southwest mark for the run, the spinnaker was got out to windward; but tooK some time to set, as. the end of the boom swung forward, and got jammed under the nosepole. Once drawing; however, the Sayonara slipped along at a-great pace; but for the jibe, at the north-west buoy, Mr. Allee, both in this round and tho next, stood a' long way. too far; off his mark, and left himself a lot of unnecessary ground to make up afterwards. . For tho beat in-the second round the jib topsail was bunched on the end: of. the nosepole again, and the . Sayonara. had another inshore passage. The defender wants knowing to be kept straight' under these conditions, and Me. Allee,. the skipper, found her very difficult to manager. Taken all in all, though,-the race showed, the crew to be in far better form . than when . they . last raced in a breeae of win three weeks ago; but it also told plainly that i both Mr. Allee and -Ms men can still do with no end of-work under racing conditions in tho heavier weather.

Culwulla 111 left Hobcirt last, Sunday on-a .return trip to. Melbourne.' She was given' a hearty send-off as she left the harbour.

' MODEL YACHTING.

(By Bobstay.)

Entries 'for- the General, Handicap, to bo decided to-day, are: Champion,Ngaira,Flirt, Waitangi,.. Zel, 'Vigilant,,. 'Rona, Siriftshine, Herald;- and-Si' Jones's schooner. ' ' 1 ■ E. Topp has received a. challenge from A. H. Nixon for a race for the championship. ' A. H.. Nixon owns Flirt, and E. ,I'opp the Champion. ■ . On Saturday lost Flirt,. Waitangi, and S. Jones's schooner were out for a cruise. Flirt went to Miramar Wharf, Waitangi proceeded to Shag Point, and the schooner to Shelly Bay. Ngaira is being done up in view of today's race. She is a slim and smart looking mo'del, and should give a good account of herself: