OCEAN YACHT RACES

Evening Star, Issue 17319, 6 April 1920, Page 6

OCEAN YACHT RACES

BETWEEN DUNEDIN AND GAM ABU. A CLOSE RACE BACK. Tlie annual ocean yacht race to Oarnaru, held in conjunction with the Oamaru regatta, was sailed on Good Friday, the following yachts taking partAnnis, Waimana, and Matua. When the boats •crossed the line at 6.50 a very light northeasterly breeze was blowing, but before they got outside the Heads it dropped completely away, the three competitors ) being becalmed together in Pilot Bay. About 8 o’clock a light westerly sprang ut), and the boats set their spinnakers and all spare sails. The Matua and the Waimana elected to go to sea, the Annis crew deciding to take the inside passage via Moeraki. About 9.50 the wind I changed to a light north-easterly, and the Matua put on a substantial lead, Waimana and Annis following. About 11 o’clock a very fresh easterly came up, and the three boats were getting along in graceful style. After blowing for three hours the wind dropped, and the boats were becalmed again. Matua and Waimana ivere out of sight away to the east by this time. Annis continued her course close inshore, and at 9 o’clock came below Cape Wanbrow (just below Moeraki). The wind bad fallen, but later on a. light westerly came up, and she crossed the finishing line at 10.30 p.m. There was no sign at this. stage of the other two competitors, and It was not until 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the next day that the .Matua arrived and secured second place. The Waimana arrived at half-past 10 on the Saturday night. It appears that the Waimana and the Matatua were both off Moeraki when a fog became thick, and as thov could not their course they both 'put to sea until it lifted. Had these two boats taken the inshore course they would probably have .reached Oamarn at 4 o’clock on the Friday afternoon, because they were reported at sea off Oamaru at' 3 o’clock. The judgment of the crew of the Annis in keeping inshore was justified by their win. They therefore win the cup presented for the event by Otago boating enthusiasts. Four boats started in the ocean launch race to Oamaru, and all had an uneventful run. The Matarua, by some mischance, inside the danger reef between Waikonaiti and Moeraki, and her crow had a trying time. They got through safelv, however, and intend to keep clear of thus reef in future. _ The finish of th is race was very exciting, and the handicappovs are to be congratulated on their excellent judgment, which is shown by the fact that two of the boats arrived at Oamaru within ssec of each other. It was a neck-aml-neck finish, and in the last few miles each of the two boats had the load in turn. Matarua just got b»v bow ahead at the finish, and won by this small margin from Ripple, which wis second. Marie came in some minutes later, third, and Try, a short time afAcr. The yacht race in the regatta had to be postponed on the Saturday owing to the and Waimana ’still being at sea. The Annis crew put in the afternoon Intaking passengers for short sails. The committee decided to hold the postponed yacht race on Monday from Oamaru to Dunedin for 'the regatta cup. A number of the- launch races had to be abandoned on Saturday,'as a heavy fog made it impossible for the rounding’ marks to be seen. The three yachts started at 6.30 on Monday morning j n the race back from Dunedin. Waimana cleared the Mole first, with Matua and Annis close behind her. Running into a light northerly, the vessels immediately put out spinnakers and all spare sails. At 7.30 the yachts cleared Cape Wanbrow and had a good offing, the Waimana keeping inshore and the Matua and Annis steering due south. The Waimana held her lead right through to the Heads, with the Matua close behind. and the Annis an half an hour astern. When off Moeraki the boats picked up a fresh full-sail north-east breeze, and were sailing at a fast rate. Tins breeze increased to a two-reefer, but none of the boats took in any sail. Each boat a« she finished took her time, and when Port Chalmers was readied the finishing times wore adjusted. The handicaps were as follow:— Waimana sor, Matua llmin, Annis 53min. Upon each comparing finishing times and corrected times it was found that the Annis and Matua had made a *-ead heat for the cup, the Waimana being Imin later. The skippers of the first two boats decided to toes, and luck favored the captain of the Matua. whose crew therefore hold the cup. This_ ocean race was one of the most exciting that had ever been contested by the Otago boats, and the wr-v in which they finished speaks well for the work ox the hanefieappers. In a 50-mile race two boMs tied and one was a minute later. is considered bv yachtsmen that, had the Waimana steered a true compass course, she would have ™ Lhe winner by a minute or two. The thanks of the Otago Yachtsmen and launch owners are due to the Oamarn Regatta Committee for the wav they looked after the welfare of the visitors. The arrangements left nothing to lie desired.