SYDNEY-AUCKLANDYACHT RACE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 2

SYDNEY-AUCKLANDYACHT RACE

(From Our Own ,Corresuondent) SYDNEY, 22nd February. A proposal has been made to inaugurate an ocean yacht race between Australia and New Zealand. Nothing has yet appeared in the newspapers about it, but the project has been talked over by Mr. Ernest Davis, of Auckland, who is at present on a visit to Sydney, and Mr. .Walter Marks, owner of Culwulla 111.,' who is probably the best known man ■in yachting circles in Australia. The wonder is that the idea has never occurred to anyone before. It is agreed that it is quite feasible. The yacht Rawhiti, for instance, . has already crossed from Auckland to Sydney. There are half-a-dozen boats that might take part in such a race owned in Sydney, and possibly some might also be drawn from other parts of Australia ; whilst in Auckland there are Mr. Davis's Viking, Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield's Thelma, and Mr. E. C. Bloomfield's Ariki. It is considered that, provided the^ Weather is favourable, the trip between Auckland and Sydney could be done in from 12 to 14 days. Mr. Marks intends paying a visit to Auckland shortly, and will take the opportunity to further discuss the matter with New Zealand yachtsmen. His Gulwulla 111., it may be remarked, holds the world's record for a 10-metre racing ' yacht, in having ' cruised along, the Australian coast for 3300 miles. The chief difficulty would be arranging the starting point. If the race were to start at Sydney it would mean that the New Zealand yachts would have to conle over here'; if the start were' to be at the Auckland end, the Sydney boats Would have to go oVer there. That is, however, a detail which can no doubt be satisfactorily arranged. The event might be made an annual affair, with the starting point at Auckland and Sydney alternately.