YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 18

YACHTING

(By

“Nereus.”)

The dumber of competitors in tho two races tor first and second-class yachts last Saturday was t very disappointing. Only four boats got off tne mark in each event, "mis was no doubt duo to the fact that the championship and aggregate cups rested bebetween two yaeiits in each class. The Kotiri II won tire Aggregate Cup, and in the first-class division the Marangi and the Kotiri II tied for the Championship Cup. A final sail-oif between these boats is to take place to-day. The race should prove very interesting. Both yachts will be handicapped, and the course will be from the Clyde Quay Wharf, down to the Southern Blinker Light, up to Somes Rock, and back toi the starting point. A second-class race (a resail from January 20), and a general handicap for 14-footers (a resail from November 25) also, figure on the programme of the R.P.N.Y.C. for to-day. Both the Irex and the Spook were in the running for the Jieretaunga Yacht Club’s Aggregate Cup. .Last Sunday, however, the Irex was driven ashore during the southerly, and she shashed her mast. As.it is not probable that the Irex, will sail again this season, the destination of the uup is uncertain.

“Mainsheet’/ writes: —There is not much doing" in Evans Bay nowadays, tho weather being against pleasure cruising, and there being no races till to-day week, when the boys’ race (in. which the boys will sail the keel yachts) will take place. This race was started some time ago, but had to l>e abandoned ,on account of the lack of wind. Last weak-end tlhe Viking broke away from her moorings in the heavy gale of wind that sprang up, and crashed into the Waimoa, tearing out the later’s mast and doing other damage, whilst the Viking lost her bowsprit, and, rnfter clearing the Waimea, went shore down by the Patent Slip. There will be no races to-day for the Evans Bay boats.

Although no boats have, at the time of writing, laid up for the winter, it will probably not be very long now before tho bay will look qute bare of boats, although the slips will, when the weather permits, bo a hive of activity, with most o-n-ners and crews preparing for the next season.