YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S RACE

Evening Star, Issue 21630, 27 January 1934, Page 17

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S RACE

CHANGEABLE winds in a race in which a change of wind left Kaiapoi, which was leading handsomely, far to leeward, Lyttelton, secured its second win in the Z class yacht racing contest yesterday afternoon. The win was due more to luck than seamanship, as Lyttelton had earlier thrown away its lead by an error in sailing into a calm under the Peninsula; but when it moved up from seventh position to first, it sailed steadily to win comfortably. The change of wind was unfortunate for Kaiapoi, which had taken the lead by judicious course setting. The Waimakariri crew has been unfortunate so far. It was leading in the first race when the strengthening wind upset the calculation and, yesterday morning, it was second to Lyttelton. Racing in its own boat, Lyttelton was favourite for the race but, in the light air at the beginning, Kaiapoi was expected to be very prominent. Plimmerton had no chance by drawing Kathleen, which is so slow that not even the best crew can bo expected to win in her, and withdrew, with Port Chalmers, in the second round. The Otago crew again failed when sailing its own boat (Pupuke), but the remaining five competitions were always close together. r The course was from the Victoria wharf to tho Kitchener street pile, across to tho Vauxhall buoy, down to the Castle beacon, round the three legs to the pile off the boat harbour, and back to the finishing line—three times round. The wind was exceedingly light from the north-east and the water was unruffled when the start was made. All the boats hoisted spinnakers for the short run to the Kitchener street pile, Porirua _ leading out from Lyttelton and Christchurch. Otago started from nearer the wharf and led a bunched field round the mark ip a dead calm. Porirua and Lyttelton were next, and as Christchurch, Invercargill, and Kaiapoi drifted round together, a foul, which was disregarded by the judges, occurred, Kaiapoi, the lee boat, being at fault; the judges probably considered that the yachts had no seaway. Invercargill, Porirua, and Lyttelton beat Otago pointlessly on the short lead, on which the local crew indulged in an_ unprofitable luffing match with Kaiapoi. Porirua was leading Lyttelton by 20sec as _ they hauled close, Invercargill, Kaiapoi, Otago, Wellington, and Christchurch rounding within 60sec. Plimmerton and Port Chalmers were already among the “also starteds.” Porirua was soon headed by Lyttelton, which kept on the port tack towards the Peninsula. The remainder stood out to port, and Kaiapoi carried on over to the oil stores, leaving the others to make short tacks in midharbour. Tho two long legs which carried Kaiapoi to near Waverley Point placed it in command, and it was followed round the Castle Beacon by the following:—Christchurch (Imin 40sec later), Invercargill (2min SOscc), Otago fSmin lOsec), Wellington (3min 20sec), Porirua (4min), and Lyttelton (4miu 25scc). Smart sail handling was noted by all the boats when they luffed un at the three legs. Kaiapoi forged ahead steadily, gliding along in the breath of wind. It increased the lead on the run to 3min 30sec from Christchurch, while Otago had dropped back to last of the prominent seven boats, being omiu 45sec behind at this mark. The wind died away completely, and, lying close into Vauxliall,' tho following fleet commenced to move up on Kaiapoi, which was lying becalmed far to windward after the north-easterly had dropped. The wind came away from a few points south of cast, and Kaiapoi’s position, obtained by good work, was converted from the windward to tire leeward. Carrying the fortunate strengthening wind. Lyttelton moved from sixth to first place. Plimmorton and Port Chalmers had to thresh on what had been a lead for the others and retired. The leading division hoisted spinnakers to chase lucky Lyttelton, and Porirua, Christchurch, and Wellington had lives when their spinnakers broke away. The change of wind and its increased force was all against Kaiapoi, and. after the lead to the Castle Beacon, it was last,

Lyttelton, however; was only Imin 15sec ahead. The field was so close that an interesting race was promised; the promise was unfulfilled, as Lyttelton cleared out, with Wellington at the head, of the others. Skilful handling was seen when all boats gybed at the three legs, but Wellington lost valuable seconds when it stayed round instead of gybing at the boat harbour pile. Lyttelton increased the gap on the lead down to Kitchener street wharf, on which course Kaiapoi was nearly over when a batten bunched the mainsail. Wellington was second round, Imin 25sec ahead of the leader, with Christchurch and Porirua on its stern. Kaiapoi, Invercargill, and Otago rounded in a bunch a minute later. On the thresh Lyttelton again outsailed its chasers, while Porirua weathered Christchurch and Wellington. Kaiapoi, Invercargill, and Otago were dropping astfern. On the lead down _ harbour, Lyttelton gained half a minute and Kaiapoi sailed into fourth berth, displacing Wellington. No boat had any chance of catching Lyttelton on the run. The only thrill -■was Christchurch’s spinnaker work. At the first attempt to break out the leading canvas Christchurch nearly capsized; the for’ard hand persevered, and displaying plenty of pace, the boat raced through on the lee to Kaiapoi for second place. The result and sailing times were;— Lyttelton (R. Henry and R. Sillars), 2h Imin 28sec • 1 Christchurch, 2h 3min oOsec ... ... 2 Porirua, 2h 4min ssec 3 Kaiapoi, 2h 4min 20sco ... ... ... 4 Wellington, 2h 4min 40sec ... ... 5 Invercargill and Otago also finished. DELEGATES CDHFEIT REMITS CONSIDERED The conference of delegates to the New Zealand Z class yachting championship was continued last evening, there being present'Messrs W. O. Martin (Otago, in the chair), L. Waddel (Wellington), L. H. Waddel (Plimmerton), B. Stirling (Porirua), C. Bank (Kaiapoj), R. S. Beveridge (Christchurch), Magnus Smith (Lyttelton), A. L. Hunter (Port Chalmers), lan Gough (Invercargill), and A. Burt (secretary). The business of the evening consisted of consideration of the remits brought forward by the various associations.— On tdie motion of Mr L. Waddel, seconded by Mr L. H. Waddel, all discussion was taken in committee. Considerable discussion took place on the Otago remit—“ That each competing port shall provide its own boat and shall sail such boat for the first race provided a competing port under special circumstances and with the consent of the New Zealand Yachting Council may borrow a boat, such boat to bo supplied by the association or club at whose port tho contest is being held.”—The remit was evcutuajly carried by a majority of'6 votes to 3. In the event of the championship being concluded this morning, it was decided to make arrangements for a special race in tho afternoon for trophies provided by the Otago Yacht Association.