FINE SAILING

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 10

FINE SAILING

Wellington Yacht Wins

At Nelson

IDLE ALONG CONTESTS

Second Race Annulled After False Finish Signal

Dominion Special Service.

NELSON, January 12.

Tlie first event of the 1939 New Zealand Idle Along yachting championship, sailed at Nelson this morning, resulted in one of the finest races ever witnessed on the harbour. A masterly display of sailing resulted in a win for the Wellington boat. Tornado, with Rose Marie (Bay of Plenty) second, and Mayfair (Nelson) third.'

There was a light southerly brAze, each boat carrying a crew of tS'ik At the starting time a light shower of rain fell, but the sky soon cleared and the race finished in bright sunshine. It was sailed over a two-point course of 8J- miles with the start into the wind. An interested crowd watched the race from the wharf.

The chief point of interest was the changing fortunes of the Nelson, Taurauga and Wellington Iwats. Mayfair was the early leader, but before the end of the first lap Rose Marie had taken first place from Tornado and Mayfair. With spinnakers set, the three leaders ran down to tae leeward mark with Rose Marie just ahead of Tornado.

On the final beat to the finishing line the Wellington and Tanranga boats began a private battle in the centre of the course, and it was then that Mayfair’s skipper left them to tack out to the Boulder Bank. These tactics put Nelson in the lead again, but Mayfair s skipper, having the advantage of local knowledge of the harbour, was closely watched by the visitors, and before he could make the most of his advantage the other two boats followed his tactics, and it was not long before the three were together and had equal chances. At that stage Marita and Vagabond were in hopeless positions. On the last half of the beat to the finishing line Tornado was sailed a clever race by her skipper, C. Stutter, who outmanoeuvred and outsailed Rose Marie and Mayfair to win in convincing manner.

The following points were gained: — Tornado 6, Rose Marie 5, Mayfair 4. Marita 3,

Mistake by Officials.

The second race, in the afternoon, was annulled because of a mistake by officials in signalling the finish before the final leg of the race had beeu covered. Marita (Canterbury) was the boat affected by the mistake, a protest to the committee resulting in a decision to resail the event in the morning.

The race began in a very light and patchy northerly, the-first round of the 10-miie course taking an hour. It appeared that the time limit would expire before the course was completed, bur with one round coveted a southerly of almost gale force arose suddenly, resulting in an exciting contest. Running before the wind on the third lap, Marita provided the thrill of the day when, with spinnaker set, she caught a gale gust and was carried along planing for more than half a mile to gain a great advantage. Tornado was set a hard task and decided to set the spinnaker, the Wellington boat also running in spectacular fashion. Tornado, cleverly sailed on the beat, had almost caught Marita when the false finish signal was given, Marita withdrawing. Wellington went on to win from Rose Marie, with Mayfair third, but Canterbury’s protest against the wrong finish signal was upheld by the committee and the race is to be resailed tomorrow. No points were awarded.