SATURDAY'S YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 21619, 15 January 1934, Page 2

SATURDAY'S YACHTING

TUCANA WINS NEES GUP -LAUNCH RAGE TO STELLA The cruising race for yachts for the H. F. Nees Memorial Cup is always a keenly contested event, and this'year’s race, which was held on Saturday afternoon. was no exception. The event was over the usual course from Dunedin to Broad Bay. Uncertain weather conditions caused delays and difficulties in getting some of the boats to the starting line. Dawn and Vera were particularly unfortunate. both being becalmed on their way to Dunedin. Vera was unable to complete the journey, and Dawn reached the starting post three minutes behind her time, and found it an impossible task to make up the leeway. The race was sailed under the Mark Foy system, each boat receiving her handicap allowance at the start, the first boat across the finishing line at Broad Bay being the winner. The, following were the starters and their time allowances: —R.N.V.R. whaler No. 2, 50min; - Harlequin 46,, irex 32, Starlight 34, Minnow 32, Winifred 294, Eileen 28, Tucana 3, Dawn scr. The boats got away with a light north -east breeze, which particularly suited the smaller boats, and their crews proceeded to make the most of their chances The limit boat, whaler No. 2, held the lead until clear of Turnbull’s, when she was challenged by, Irqx and Starlight, with Minnow and Winifred working out on the weather quarter, and Eileen, sailing m championship form, already driving her way into the vanguard. The beacon at Macandrew Bay was' rounded by Irex at 4.18, Starlight 4.20,' Winifred 4.21, Eileen 4.214, Minnow 4.23, Tucana 4.27, and Dawn at 4.33. Working past North-east Harbour, the:, wind failed somewhat, and the advantage -went to Winifred, but down to Raynbird’s there were only a few seconds between the four leading boats, with Tucana steadily coming up. Opening out on Broad Bay the fleet was so close together that it was impossible to forecast the winner, and as the boats raced with started sheets tor . the finishing line the excitement amongst crews and spectators was intense. •• Tucana was beginning to overshadow the smaller boats, the skippers of which resorted to every seamanlike expedient to get their craft across first, but the speed • and weather qualities of Tucana could not be denied,, and she (crossed the line a winner by a few: seconds, with Winifred, Eileen, and Starlight in a bunch on her stern.

The following are the results, with finishing times : Tucana (3min), 5h 2mm 36sec. ... 1 Winifred (29imin), 5h 2mm 42sec 2 Starlight (34miu);, sh; 2mm. 43sec 3 Eileen (28min), 5h 2min 52seo ... 4 POWER BOAT EVENT. The cruising race to Broad Bay for motor boats was also held on Saturday afternoon.. The, results were:— Stella (scr), 4h 23min llsec ... ... 1‘ Hover , (15min " 30sec), 4h 41mm t 22sec' ... .... 2 Marewa (4min 30seo), 4h 30min 58sec ••• 6 Only starters.