YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 81, 30 December 1925, Page 6

YACHTING

(By

“Nereus.")

AUCKLAND AFFAIRS.

The ocean yacht race from Auckland to Russell was decided on Saturday morning. The Prize was the first keeler home, aud the Waitere II? was the first centre-board yacht to reach Russell (says the Herald). The boats got away from Auckland on Thursday evening with a light south-westerly breeze, and they kept pretty well together to Tiritiri passage, where spinnakers were taken down. The breeze was falling light off the land, and daylight saw all the yachts a few miles off' Rodney Point. The Ngahau was now in the lead about two miles ahead of tho Prize. For about three hours all the boats were becalmed. A light breeze from the north-east then sprang up. but. as several boats were too close under the Hon, they lost the wind after leaving Tutukaka. The Prize soon dropped the others and had a fresh northerly breeze ■with a fair amount of sea to Cape Brett, where the wind fell light. The weather was now rainy, and the visibility was low. A light north-westerly with calms prevailed from Robinson’s to land. The Prize finished with a light southwesterly breeze shortly after seven o’clock on Sat'urdiy morning. It wns not for over five hours before the other keelers showed up, their finishing times being Little Jim, 12h 31m 455; Delville, 12h 38m; Ngahau, 12h 48m 15s; Lady Wilma, lh 21m 30s; Heartsease, 3h 3m. Corrected times place the Prize first, with Delville second and Ngahau third. The Waitere 11. was the first centreboard yacht home, and she was timed nt 3h 29m 445. the Starlight being second at 3h 50m 21s. The other boats were then off Cape Brett, and were expected to reach Russell on Sunday morning. , ' 1 ’ . ’ '• 'r ' ' » " The stately American yacht Kaiintioa. now lying at anchorage at Auckland, Ims been brilliantly illuminated each evening since Christinas Eve, and the striking picture she has presented has been much admired (states the Herald). Christmas is alwavs a joyous festival with the Americans, who decorate their homes with holly and shaded lights, and hang huge holiy wreaths in the front windows. -Although far from his home port, tho owner of the Kaimiloa. Mr. M. R. Kcihim, is keeping up the traditions of his country. It is his custom to keep the lights of the deck cabin on the yacht burning until late In the evening, so that the sheen of the vessel is outlined, but since the oegiuning of the festive season festoons of electric bulbs have been hun t ’. Red and white bulbs are strung closely from the end of the jib-boom to the foremast head, and from masthead to masthead, and then down to the stern. The outline of the hull is picked out with similar lights along the top of the bulwarks on both sides of the schooner, from the stern to the end of the jibboom.