YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1945, Page 7

YACHTING

WELLINGTON'S WIN

The Wellington representative. Tornado, sailed by C. Stutter, had a fairly easy win in the first Idle Along race, and Canterbury, after a hard struggle, came in first in the Tauranga event when the New Zealand Idle Along anfl Tauranga yachting championships were started at Evans Bay yesterday afternoon. '

The moderate southerly wind gave the yachtsmen a good chance to show what they could do. and the crew of the Tornado sailed a splendid race. The Idle Alongs sailed "three up."

Wellington soon led the field of six after they had started from Point Jerningham and she rounded Red Shoal Buoy fully three minutes before the next boat. South Canterbury. Canterbury and Nelson were then separated by a few seconds, and on the run down to Jerningham they reduced the distance between them and South Canterbury to less than a minute. Wellington had increased its lead to three and a half minutes by the time the Jerningham buoy was rounded.

Drawing away from the rest of the boats Wellington crossed the finishing line three minutes 57 seconds ahead of South Canterbury, with Kelson and Canterbury close behind in that order. Bay of Plenty was another three minutes behind and Hawke's Bay was well back. The Wellington boat Houdini, .Tnr. (\V. flayrnan) had the misfortune to have tier peak carried away on the first beat to windward in the Tauranga race. She was out in front at. the time but the repair job took fifteen minutes, and from then on she was outdistanced.

Auckland (\Y. Ross) took the lead and was closely followed by Canterbury, with Nelson, Bay of Plenty, and South Canterbury sailing in that order. Canterbury put in a number of challenges, but Auckland kept fairly well ahead until the last beat to windward. Canterbury then came up, and in a thrilling finish won with 25 seconds to spare. Nelson was third and was followed by Bay of Plenty and Wellington. South Canterbury was disqualified for rounding a mark incorrectly.

Details of times and placings in both races are as follows: —

Idle Alongs.—Wellington, 4.54.3-1, 1; South Canterbury, 4.55.37, 2; Nelson, 4.59.57, 3; Canterbury, 5.0.34, 4: Bay of Plenty, 5.3.59, 5; Hawke's Bay, 5.23.22, 0. Race started at 2.30 p.m.

Taurangas.—Canterbury, 3.47.30, 1; Auckland, 3.45.5. 2; Nelson. 3.53.30. 3; Bay of Plenty. 3.56.15, 4; Wellington, 3.58.15, 5. Race started jU 2.30 p.m.

Further races were held today.