BAY OF PLENTY WINS TITLE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 95, 16 January 1939, Page 14

BAY OF PLENTY WINS TITLE

Idle Along Yachting Championship

SIX PROTESTS IN FINAL RACE

Wellington Outsailed In

Light Breezes

Dominion Special Service.

NELSON, January 14

Bv winning the fourth race for the New Zealand Idle Along yachting championships Rose Marie (Bay of Plenty) gained an unassailable position for the title. With 22 points, Rose Marie had only to finish in the final event to win. Tornado (Wellington) had gained 16 points, Mayfair (Nelson) 14, Marita (Canterbury) 12, and Vagabond (Marlborough) 9. Sailing a splendid .race, Rose Marie also won the final event in the afternoon from Tornado, with Marita third, Mayfair fourth, and Vagabond fifth.

However, that result was subject to the hearing six protests beenuss of an occurrence at the'first leeward murk, when all the boats in a bunched line converged, giving the four boats on the windward no room to respond when tbe leeward boat luffed. Every boat was contacted by another and each one protested. The final result was in doubt pending the conclusion of a long sitting of the committee. Final points were announced as follows : Bay of Plenty 22, Nelson 19, Canterbury 18, Wellington 16, Marlborough 16.

For the morning race there was a very light south-westerly breeze. The boats sailed a three-point course over 11 miles. Rose Marie’s skipper sailed a wonderful race, first having to displace the early leader. Tornado, then tackle and outsail Marita. While Rose Marie and Tornado were having a luffing match at the end of the second round, Marita sailed up under their lee and began the final lap 30 seconds ahead of Rose Marie and 42 seconds ahead of Tornado.

The Canterbury boat held her lead throughout the run to tlie third leeward mark. 'When the two tellers turned for the beat to the finishing line, Marita held a very favourable position. However, the Bay of Plenty boat was sailed a magnificent race to get through Marita’s weather and win by 19see. There was an exciting few seconds when both, within a few yards of each other, were blanketed by the auxiliary schooner Huia, which was anchored in the stream. However, Rose Marie got. the wind first and carried on to tlie finishing line in fine style. Tornado lost her chances on the final run to leeward mark, and was third, followed by Mayfair and Vagabond. Rose Marie Again. The afternoon race was sailed in a light north-west breeze, and honours again went to Rose Marie. The Nelson boat, Mayfair, led over the first lap from Rose .Marie, Marita, Tornado and Vagabond. 'On the second lap Tornado out-sailed all except Rose Marie, which began the last round 38 seconds ahead of Tornado, and held exactly that advantage till the finish, the course being covered in Ihr. 22min. ssec. Every Boat Protests. After tlie race two protests were entered'by Nelson and one by every other ‘boat in the race. The first run was. to the first leeward mark and because it was a short run all the boats reached th,e point together. In the mix-up which followed every boat was contacted toy another, which gave rise to the protests. It had not been intended that the boats should have a fun for the first leg of the race. When the course was fixed by the Committee the wind was from the south, but by starting time it had changed to the north and therefore made a short run of What had been intended as a beat.

The outcome of the protests was the disqualification of Hose Marie (Bay of Plenty), Tornado (Wellington) and Vagabond (Marlborough), thus giving Marita (Canterbury) and Mayfair (Nelson), the third and fourth boats, first and second points respectively.

GREY CUP WON BY MANON

Handicap Decision

ROYAL PORT NICHOLSON CLUB RACES

The Grey Cup for centreboarders, sailed in a moderate north-west wind by tlie Itoyal Port Nicholson Yacht Club on Saturday, was won by Manon on handicap after an interesting race. Advance finished first, with June not far behind, but with the fresh breez, the long-handicap boats were able to claim precedence. Innocence started well, but found conditions somewhat heavy, and withdrew with a broken crosstree in the first round. Results and times were:— Manan (21), 4.51.45, 4.30.45, 1. Elaine (13), 4.50.44, 4.37.44, 2. Advance (2), 4.45.30, 4.43.30, 3. Also started: Dauntless (21), 5.4.40, 43.40, 2; June (2), 4.46,50, 4.44.50, 5; Jean (8), 4.54.42, 5.36.42, 6; Wairere (23), 5.10.45, 4.47.45, 7; Ranui (20), 5.9.5, 4.49.5, 8. The Keel Yachts. The keelers raced as one class on Saturday. 11 starting. The race was won by Wylo on handicap, after coming home second. The fleet returning in a bunch made a particularly fine sight. Astral, the scratch boat though nell back in the actual results, showed up well under her own rig. Atalanta, first boat home, sailed a good race; Wylo, Viola, Astral and Kotiri crossed the line in close succession. Times and results were:—Wylo (15), 5.25.1; 5.10.1. 1; Isca (23), 5.34.10; 5 11.10, 2: Atalauta (10), 5.22.16, 5.12, 16, 3. , .... Also started.—Viola, Astra), Kotin, Argo, Maranui, Avalon, Yvonne and Seabird.