AQUATICS.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 132, 2 December 1895, Page 4

AQUATICS.

♦— — - PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB. The handicap raoea of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club for the season of 1895-96 were commenoed on Saturday afternoon, and were of an interesting oharaoter. A fine wholesail breeze from the north was blowing at the outset, but as the afternoon wore on the wind decreased considerably, leaving a naaty jobble of a sea. Two heats were got off, viz., i or first and seoond olass boats, and the course for each was from the Queen's Wharf, round the two islands, and back to the starting point. Messrs. D. Goorgeaon, J. Jamieaon, and | r. Kirker's Waitangi (scratch), and Messrs. ; G. Mcc, M. Laing. and C. W. Tanner'a ; Maritana (14 minutes), were the competitors in the first-class Race. The former got 1 the best of the start, her rival being be- ' calmed uuder the lee of the wharf for about three minutes. The champion yacht | of the colony, carrying a jib-headed topsail, ' went away like a bird, and, Bailing in fine 1 style throughout, finished an eaey winner at r 4h 23min 0 4-5 see. The Maritana, whioh only carried upper canvas a part of the way, returned at 4h 47min 50 1-5 aeo, or nearly 25 minutes after the Waitangi, whiob thus won, after oonoeding 14 minutes, by about 11 minutes. The winner was sailed by Mr. F. Gannaway, Mr. G. Martin being at the tiller of the Maritana. The starters in the Seoond-olass Race were Mr. A. H. TnrnbuH'a Rona (soratch), Meesrs. M'Lean Bros.' Mapu (Smin), Mr. J P. Maxwell's Waiwetu (12min), and Mr. J. • Black's Jennie Reid (35min). Dr. Fell's > Mahina (7raiu) had aho been entered, but > owing to the absence of her skipper she was I not raced. The Mapu and the Itona orosaed i the line together, the former having the i weather gauge. Ihe Jennio Held waa over a ) few moments afterwards. The Waiwetu was I abont two minutes late in getting away, as ! <§he waa not near the wharf when the gun was fired. 'Ihe Rona was not long in aet.uming 1 the lead, and waa never overhauled. Tho - boats finished at the following times : — 1 Rona, 5h 4min 2-lseo ; Mapu, 5h 20min 9 4-sth sec ; Waiwetn, 5h 23min 13 1 5th aec ; Jennie Keid, 5h 37min 43seo. On time allowance the Jennie Reid won by less than 'two minutes, the Rona taking seoond place, and the Waiwetu third. Both the Jennie Keid and the Waiwetn were steered a much better course than the other two boata. 'Ihe speed of the former yacht has improved since the addition waa made to her leaden keel. ,I'he Rona was Bailed by Mr. R. Turnbull, the Mapu by Mr. J. M'Lean, Jan., the Waiwetu by Mr. J. P. Maxwell, and the Jennie > Keid by Mr. J.-Blaok. A hearty oheer was given the Jennie Reid and her popnlar akipper as she returned to the wharf. Mr. A. G. Dixon aoted aa starter, handi- ; capper, and timekeeper, and was assisted by Mr. J. B. Speed (Seoretary of the Club).