Yachting

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 72, 26 March 1938, Page 23

Yachting

RACING AT PORT NICHOLSON

Last weekend provided excel] E.P.N.Y.C. sailed three races, Ai; handicaps and Jean the centrebi

Argo, Ailsa, Astral, and Nanette all got away on time, the first-named securing the weather berth, but rounding Halsxvell .second to Ailsa with Astral and Nanette close behind. Astral and Nanette hoisted spinnakers for the run to the Pinnacle Buoy, the former drawing away from Argo, but she could not catch Ailsa, Nanette lying fourth. This order round the buoys .was unchanged to the finishing line, although Argo, after making a short board to the westward, weathered Astral when they converged. When the tracks crossed again Astral was well ahead and gaining. Her improvement at this stage was due partly to the lifts she got close in under Halswell and partly, it is asserted, to the efficient hiking of Nigel "Sanders Cup" Blair, racing in keelers for the first time in twelve years, and, saith rumour, finding it somewhat tame. Meanwhile, Ailsa had put in a long board over towards Eastbourne and was first round Somes Island buoy by nine minutes, with Argo another five minutes in the van. On corrected times Ailsa maintained first place, Nanette being placed second, and Astral third. ,

Maranui was again first home in the B class keelers' race, securing second place on handicap to Wylo, the second boat to finish, with Seabird in third position. "Wylo led Seabird and Maranui round Jerningham, but the order at Datum Point was the same as at the finish, Isca and Yvonne bringing up the rear.

Vanguard was first across the line in the A class centreboarders, ahead of Jean and Advance by two and five minutes respectively after remaining in third place until the second time round Coromandel, when she was lying first. Jean sailed excellently with but three up holding first place until the second windward stay when Vanguard and Advance headed her, but on the run to the finishing line she beat Advance for second place after the snap hook on the latter's spinnaker had straightened out. Impudence could do no better than fourth as she carried her Genoa and had no intermediate headsail. On the first lead to Jerningham her "kite" guy broke and Vanguard was the only boat to hold her spinnaker to the buoy. On handicap times the order was: Jean, June, Vanguard.

The championship points have been worked out to date, Vanguard leading with 52, Kitty 41, Impudence 39, Jean 37, and Advance 36. Two races remain to be sailed and as first and second places carry 14 and 11 points respectively there is still hope for these last-named, though it is unlikely there will be much 'change in the positions. The aggregate points show Jean ahead with 46, Vanguard 43, and Wellesley 42.

The Idle Along class championship points are: Vampire 40, Lonesome 36, Riptide 31, Belvedere and Pegaway 30 each. On aggregate the showing is: Lonesome 39, Belvedere 37, Vampire 35, Pegaway 30, Riptide 26. In this class the first place carries 13 points, second 10, third 8, fourth 6, and down consecutively, the eighth boat receiving 2 points lor starting and finishing.

NIGEL BLAIR FINDS KEELERS TAME

lent sailing weather and tl!§ "* Isa and Wylo winning" the keelers' carders';

[the lines of last year's. AlthougS Easter is late this year indications\are that there will be a good attendance of visiting yachts. Advice has been received from Wanganui that possibly three Idle Alongs will be making the trip, and three Auckland four teen-foot-ers have been entered. No doubt Wellington yachtsmen will also turn up in their usual large numbers. The programme, as in the past, consists of a morning and an afternoon race on each of the four days for all classes. The classes are:—First -class (14-footers): Idle Alongs, Z and Q class, and the Taurangas. All the championship races are to be sailed on the Sunday afternoon, with the exception of the 14-foot open championship on the Saturday morning and the Wellington provincial monotype championship on the Monday. Special courses will be used fot the championships, avoiding as much as possible the strong tides in the channel.

PAREMATA NOTES

The Faremata Boating Club is now finalising its arrangements for its Easter Regatta, which will be run along