ACROSS THE STRAIT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1074, 13 March 1911, Page 6

ACROSS THE STRAIT.

» IN THE YACHT NGAIRA. [By Osk of tiik Crew.] "To Ho! Jty hearties! All aboard for Port Underwood!" The speaker was engaged in some nautical operation with a rope- as the writer, not without a little trepidation, climbed aboard a trim little yacht anchored in the Boat Harbour. The occasion was the first ocean race of the Fort Nicholson Yacht Club to Fort Underwood and back, Time, 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 1011. In a very few minutes the dinghy was brought on board and lashed down, stores stowed, and everything ready for the start at 2 p.m. Hoisting sail, we leave the kindly shelter of the Boat Harbour, and, together with live other white-winged craft, arc manoeuvring for a start.

The Start. "Bang!" goes the gun, and oft we speed down the harbour, amidst the parting cheers of about a hundred spectators. The wind is fresh from (lie south-east, so wo have a fair wind until the entrance is reached, when a zig-zag course is made for the Heads, which are gained alwut 4 p.m. Now for a trip across the breezy Strait. Another hour sees us olf Sinclair Head, a well-known promontory past Island Bay, near which are the. "Red Rocks," familiar to many shooting enthusiasts. Here we say "An Revoir!' to the North Island, and encounter the first of tho tide "rip," which quickly finds the weak spots in some of the crew, who hereabouts pay their toll to the Sea God! A big southerly swell is rolling through the Strait, but tho tide is still flowing north, consequently, the "rip' is not severe. Three other yachts aro nbreasi of us, but some distance out, whilst two of tho fastest are now far ahead._ Wo aro now heading W.S.W., which will bring us somewhere near the White Bluffs, Cloudv Bay. This is considerably to the south of Port Underwood, but the tide is still running strongly through tho Strait in a northerly direction, consequently wo have to allow a wide margin for leeway. The wind does not increase, so we hoid on to all sail in tho hope of catching up with the others, some of which arc reefed. Darkness sets in as we approach the coast, and about 8.30 p.m., the night looking a bit "dirty, a couple of reefs aro taken in. We are now near the entrance to Port Underwood, but the greatest diligence on the part of all hands cannot enable us to make out the land. Dark clouds cover the stare like a pall, and even rest on the hill tops, so, greatly to our regret, wo decide to stand up to windward, and she'tor for the night in Cloudy Bay. _ Shortlv afterwards a light flares up in the surrounding darkness from the Siren, which has also failed to effect an entrance, and signals that she is bound home. The glimpse wo get of her is suggestive of a scene on a North Sea nsmmj ground. The tumbling sea and light on the tossing sail make a very pretty night study.

A Night in Cloudy Bay. Helm's a-lec and staysail's a-wcathcr, and. here wo are plugging m and out from the Wairaw light at a snail s pace. The wind has shifted round to the east a bit, consequently a fair sea is running in tho bnv. There- is nothing for it, however, but to wait for the dawn sitting in tho cockpit of our littlp craft, and now and again standing ■ about on tho opposite tack. . . Our skipner is a man of many stories, ami relates" a few of them to pass, the long night hours. One that I think will bear repenting was of a certain boy on a sailinp vessel who was given the wheel one fino night, and a star to steer by. He took the star all right, hut, unfortunately, it was a moving one, so, alter a iimc'hc called the skipper up on deck and said, "Pleas?, sir, will you find me another star, as I've passed tlio last •Vboul 2 a.m. the sky cleared a little to the. south, and some welcome stars twinkled out. As dawn approached the course was altered to about due north, and Port Underwood was reached about 7 a.m.. a big easterly swell following us in ami a bright sun smiling at us over a bank of clouds. Mr. Jackson s launch, the Taniwha. met us at the entrance, and escorted us in to the anchorage, where we found the Whilo Heather and Viking waiting. Hot soup was served on arrival, and didn't we enjoy it!

Return Journey. After breakfast, and a slight rest, tho return was commenced at 11.45 a.m. on Sundav. The white-winged fleet of four (including the launch), looked very pretty leaving the rather wild-looking entrance,, and rising gently to the easterly swell. Our objective was now Cape Terawhiti— the rest of the fleet took a more southerly course, however. Relying on a strong and long ebb tide, we were very soon fairly across, and at fi.45 p.m. were onco more o£E Sinclair Head, having been little more than twenty-four hours away from it. The tide coming across was most peculiar. There was practically a double ebb tide, running in our favour that is, until well across, when it was against us, and made a very nasty lobule indeed. _ The long spell "of southerly weather is tho only possible explanation of it, it being well known that such weather usually "upsets tho tides in Cook Strait. Another hour made it 7.15 p.m., at which time wo nearcd Pencarrow lighthouse, and tho trip was practically over. A free sheet and a run down tho entrance, round the point to the left, and wo were homo onco more, with the winner, Viking, two minutes behind us. Thus ended one of tho most enjoyablo of excursions, so far as tho writer is concerned—tho only thing ho wants now is another one. *