R.P.N.Y.C. KEELERS

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 18

R.P.N.Y.C. KEELERS

The annual race for the R.P.N.Y. Club's major trophy, the handsome Mills Cup," was conducted last Saturday.

Conditions were ideal for a keel-boat

race, there being a fresh. north-west wind. The Ailsa, Viola, and Galatea were the only starters. The Queen Charlotte was preparing for a Sounds cruise and the Wairere I did not put in an appearance.

From a great start, with the Galatea in the lead, followed by the Viola, with the Ailsa to leeward, the fleet stormed down the harbour on the lead to Halswell, the Ailsa rapidly overhauling the Viola off Jerningham. Across Evans Bay nearing Point Halswell the Galatea was also overtaken, the order of rounding being Ailsa, Galatea, and Viola. AIV hoisted spinnakers on the run to the Pinnacles Light'with very little change between the yachts.

Nearing the southern mark the Ailsa took off her "kite," but the Galatea held on to it till almost on the buoy and thereby succeeded in closing the gap between her and the Ailsa to about twenty feet on rounding. All stood up towards Ward Island but the Ailsa, which went about early and stood up to the westward. The Galatea stood well on and when she went about succeeded in picking yp-a.^ northerly streak and put in a great board up towards Somes Island.- The' Viola was' finding the . short,1 choppy sea >not to her liking, while the . Ailsa and Galatea made good time to Korokoro Buoy.

They rounded in the same order and on the broad lead to Jerningham the fleet spread out still more. The Ailsa more than held .her lead in. spite of the Galatea's setting a leader.

The fresh breeze held throughout the race and the Ailsa came home nine minutes ahead of the Galatea, who was about eighteen minutes ahead of the Viola. The Galatea had 19| minutes handicap, so on adjusted times was an easy winner.

The second-class keelers raced a club handicap event postponed from, earlier in the season.

The start was perfect. The Romp, Arawa, Mira, and Isca went over in a bunch well up towards the wharves and sailed for Jerningham and Datum Point. The Romp, with her large area of canvas, ran in to the lead early in the race and maintained it throughout.

With only a short course the fleet were home in good time, the Romp crossing the line before .4.30 p.m. However, the handicap was too much for her and on adjusted times the Miru and the Isca took the first and second places respectively.