SLOW SAILING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 8

SLOW SAILING.

. 4 ANNIVERSARY DAY REGATTA. PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB'S CONTESTS. A haze on tho far horizon gave a sure indication to-day that the doldrums extended all over the harbour. Though the "white wings" of graceful craft were displayed to the full, and every inch of their pinions soared aloft to the merry sound of the tackle, yet would mainsheet and jib only bulge lazily. Only the gantlest of a westerly air, veering lound to nor'-west and slightly freshening as the morning advanced, was available to drive the craft forward. Tho blue-green waters of the harbour were crystalline with myriad points of silver, which danced on tho wavelets; overall was a- well-nigh cloudless blue, and warm opulent sunshine. Petone and Day's Bay were shrouded in a grey languorous haze and the smoke " from ship's funnels just tumbled away to the east. It was in truth a reversal of nearly all previous experiences of Anniversary Day regattas. Too often in the past had a tyrannous nor'-wester taken possession, making an angry sea and drenching spray. "Accidents were numerous—masts, bobstays, mainsheets, and gaffs would be carried away, and the sport ultimately languished. But not for long. Within the past two or threeyears here has been a notable revival of yachting on the waters of Port Nicholson, and no better evidence of this could be wanted than the picturesque sight of a flotilla, under full sail, as was presented off Point Jerningham this morning. The scene was impressive even to a longshoreman, and afc one stage no fewer than twenty craft of various sizes were counted off the point. Here and there a, slim sixteenfooter, by so careful a disposition, of canvas that a maximum pressure to the square inch was obtained, would skim ahead from the rank and file to remind tho onlooker that it was a face, and net a mere stately procession. Under such conditions of wind and sea the annual regatta of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club was held to-day. The entries are believed to constitute a record, and interest in the sailing was keen, both ashore and afloat. The races started from an imaginary line drawn from the stem of the Poherua (moored at the Clyde-quay wharf) to the outer end of the King's Wharf, and were, with one exception, got off promptly to the minute. The exception was the half-decked centre-board boats race, which was originally set down for 11 a.m. Six fourteen-tooters from Petone, however, got becalmed in the vicinity of Ngahauranga, and were unable to reach the starting line in time. The event was postponed till 11.45. Officials for the regatta were :— Com- ~ moclore, C. J. Ward; starters, judges, and timekeepers, K. Little and H. Perrin: hon. handicapper, T. Highet,; committee, 0. Freyberg, J. Kelly, S. E. Forbes, W. Scott, W. Highet; hon. racing secretary, A. M. Holmes; hon. measurers, B. Nathan and A. M. Holmes; hon. secretary, F. 0. Tattle. The first boats to crawl home were those engaged in the handicap race for half-decked centreboard craft. The race was ivon by Hamill Brothers' Redwing (llmin), which btarted with eleven others at 11.45, and crossed the finishing line at 1.9.20 p.m. L. M'Gregor's Nan (2min) was second, at 1.0.30 p.m., and Beaumont and Mason's Winifred (18min) third e>t 1.23.20 p.m. The finishing times of the others were:— Lotus (2min), 1.18.15; Kaitare (ser), 1.10.16; Rhuna (&cr), 1.42; Hinau (lOmin), 1.46.45; Gil Bias (which arrived three minutes late at the start), 1.42.50; Valeta (llmin), 1.28.10; Petrel (4min), 1.13.51. The first prize was £2, the second £1, the third 10s. Other results up to the time of going to press were: — • > lourth-elass yachts (handicap). Firat prize £3, second £2, third £I.— Mr. J3. i White's Warehou (scr), 1; Mr. D. Keir's Spray (14min), 2; Hartley Bros.' Tom Wilford (6min), 3. These were the only competitors. Winner's time, 2hr 26min 27sec. Firet Class Yacht Race Handicap.— Kelly and Salmonda lolanthe (llmin). 1; Forbes and Bartholomew's Muritai (7min), 2; H. Chisholm'e Svcen (6min), 3. A close finish. I

The groundsman to the Wellington Cricket Association, J. V. Saunders, was presented to-day with a silver-mounted pipfe by the Wellington Wednesday Association in recognition of the splendid wickets prepared at the Basin Reserve for the Wellington Wednesday-Canter-bury Thursday annual cricket fixture, which began this morning. Many enquiries are (report* the Christchurch Press) being made at the Christchurch office of the Labour Department regpa'ding the coming into operation of the provisions of tho Workers' Dwellings Act Amendment Act of last session, under which a worker on depositing £10 can have a house erected in any part of tho city he chooses, subject, of course, to tho department being satisfied on certain essential points. So far the regulations under the amending Act have not been gazetted, but it is expected that this will be dono soon. ■

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