OCEAN YACHT RACE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1913, Page 2

OCEAN YACHT RACE

Three _ yachts^-the Waitangf, , Ailsa, and Matan'gi--«ompoted in the Port* Nicholson Yacht "Club's ocean race oil Saturday., The courso was across' Cook Strait to ' Port 1 Utlderwood and back; The WaifUhgi vwds the ''first' to "arrive back in Wellington harbour yestorday afternoon, but 'fh'd" , Ailsa won on time allowance. The boats, started on their long journey of' 100 miles at 2. o'clock on Saturday .afternoon. A moderate southorly, accompanied by a heavy swell, was, unfortunately^ encountered at tho start, necessitating boating .out to the Heads. The Ailsa overtook the Waitangi at Chaffer's Passage, the Matangi being a short distance behind. The Ailea maintained her lead right aorowi the Strait. The wind died away about & mile from the mark-boat at Port Underwood, and all three yachts were becalmed for a time. The Matangi's topsail was shaken to the deck by the heavy swell. After a delay of three hours, & hdrth- wester ( sprang up, and the boats resumed their voyage at & fine pace. The mark-buoy at Port Underwood was round at 7.20 o'clock on Sunday morn-ing-47 hours 20 mihutes after leaving Wellington. The Waitangi ahd Matangi rounded the buoy about fifteen minutes aftor the Ailsa. The return journey was' accomplished in six hours. The Matamji steered tho best course, the other two boats not making sufficient allowance for _the. flood tide. The handicaps and finishing times ware:~-Ailsa (l2omin), 1.34 p.m., 1; Matangi (70min), 1.45 p.m., 2; Waitangi (sor), 1.23 p.m. The three competing boats were Auck-land-built—the Matangi ahd Waitangi by Robert Logan, and the Ailsa by Lohuquet. Mr. Oscar ' Freyberg sailed tha MaUflg!, Mf. Go&. H&mill 'the Ailsa, and Mr. Aubrey L&noaster the ' Waitangi. '