YACHT AND MOTOR BOAT CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 15477, 27 April 1914, Page 4

YACHT AND MOTOR BOAT CLUB

The race for the championship of Otago Harbor was resailed on Saturday. The weather conditions were ideal. A nice fall-sail breeze was blowing from the northeast, and this, together with a smooth sea, made the conditons very nearly equal to sail the competitors. All three boats which contested the first race put in an appearance, and turned out in firstrate condition. Some half-hour previous to the starting time Kellett had Myro halfround the course, evidently judging tha weather conditions, so that he could strike the happy medium as to the canvas to be carried—a most wise precaution. Ths course having previously been logged, the distance was found to be 10.8 -nautical miles. A large number of enthusiastic and very much interested spectators were gathered together under the lee of all the shelters, and their interest was evident from the fact that the various boats were being timed continually during the race.

At 3 o'clock sharp the officials .cot the three boats away to an excellent start. Myro, in the lead, was closely followed by Waimana, which came down to the line with a big turn of speed, and quickly reduced the distance between the two boats, until Myro's crew, by excellent spinnaker work, got going. Tucana was only about two boats' lengths behind Waimana, and setting her spinnaker smartly, quickly drew into second place, and these positions were maintained until after turning the Stuart street buoy. After turning the buoy Myro and Waimana held over towards t&e Peninsula, while Tucana made a board en the starboard tack, after which she also cast over to the Peninsula .and dropped into third place. Short boards alongside the "half-tide" wall was the order of the day, and Myro continued to foot the distance and leave the othe* two in no uncertain fashion. She turned the Challis buoy with a good lead, followed by Waimana, and then Tucana- On tlhe ran back Tucana overhauled Waimana., and pulled in Myro, which in turn opened out from Waimana- About a quarter of a mile further on Tucana shook out the one reef ehe had rolled up previous to the start, and while doing so Waimana passed her. Meanwhile Myro, with every stitch drawing to perfection, made the pace very hot. Turning the Rattray street buoy, Myro led Waimana by 1-iniin, and Kellett, sailing her with consummate skill, made short work of the distance to ;he turning buoy. The times of rounding this mark were as follow : —Myro, 4h Imin 103eo ; Waimana, 4h 2min 30sec; Tucana, 4h 3min.

The second round was a repetition of the previous one, except that Waimana- gained somewhat on Myro, while Tucana, in spite of excellent handling, seemed to be entirely out of form, and consequently dropped behind, and even on the run, where ©he generally shines, made little of it. Myro and Waimana continued to sail a very fine race, until Myro eventually crossed the line winner of the race and champion of Otago Harbor for 1914. Kellett sailed Myro with excellent judgment, and made no mistakes, while his crew handled the light sails in smart and seamanlike manner. Webber, of Waimana, as usual,.gave nothing away, and was vreß backed up by his crew. Tucana sailed a disappointing race, in spite of the strenuous efforts of her crew, and Skipper Davis seemed unable to get her going. The committee made no mistake this time in having few officials, ViceCommodore Moller, Rear-Commodore Sundstrum, and a host of minor officials all being in attendance, and all the arrangements were carried out in businesslike style. Some of the older members present characterised the race as being one of the finest sailed on the harbor within recent years. Corrected finishing time 4h 57min losec, 1; Waimana, 4h S7min 42sec, 2; Tucana, 5h smin 54sec, 3. The handicaps were as follows : —Tucana scr, Myro 4min SOssc, Waimana 4min 40sec.