UNDER FULL SAIL

Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 6

UNDER FULL SAIL

THRILLING RACING BURKES-ST. LEONARDS REGATTA From the point of view of the competitors the Burkes-St. Leonards regatta on Saturday was jt most successful function. The organisation and control of the racing was excellent; there was a full-sail north-easterly breeze for the sailing craft, making for fast times and keen competition; while the seas were not sufficiently rough to prevent the running of the rowing races on the programme. Handicapper* had done commendable work, so that there were some line finishes. Furthermore, the entries for most events were good. Unfortunately for the spectators, however, though the weather was ideal for an outing, the yacht races on the programme were sent away in rather close proximity to one another. With varying lengths of courses and numbers of rounds to be made, the majority of the sailing craft became bunched together. ft was almost an impossibility to distinguish the competitors in any one race, especially when they had proceeded some distance from the wharves, where most of the visitors had gathered. Hoiyever, on such a perfect day the opportunity to enjoy the outing was sufficient inducement for a great number of persons to patronise the regatta—a commemoration of 60 years’ service by the Burkes-St. Leonards Regatta Committee.

Even the model yachtsmen were provided for on the comprehensive programme. They found conditions too boisterous for their frail craft on the open waters of the harbour, so they adjourned to the sheltered Burkes Lagoon for their sport. Of primary importance in the yachting events were those for allcomers and the Jellicoe class boats. The former resolved itself into a chapter of mistakes. Rounding thie first buoy .on the beat after the gun, Miti mistook a mark, and would have been out of the race had not another competitor waved her on. Then Dawn actually, rounded a pile much too near home after the run before the wind. Finally, when the first tw.o boats had actually completed the course, they carried on in blissful ignorance of this fact, fully content to continue for another round. Irene, of Southland, proved her allround superiority by heading a field of nine starters in the Jellicoe class, making good use of her handicap. Sailed by A. Fraser. a n d E. Jackson, she gave a' fine display. Eileen, which actually crossed the line first, was unplaced. Some' hard-fought struggles were seen in the rowing events. The principal race of the day—the senior fours —drew only three entries. It was a fine finish, however, with Otago gaining the decision over the final half-mile by .a narrow margin.

Motor boats compsting were few. There were two races for these craft, but two and four respectively came forward to contest the issue. It was a disappointing feature of the regatta, in the face of the splendid sailing, entries. With good prize-money offered, power boat owners should make a greater effort to patronise regattas. The course for yachts and motorboats was from the flagship off St. Leonards, south to a pile off Burke’s Lagoon, then up to Bain’s Point, and back oyer the starting line, a distance of two miles, windward and leeward. For all-comcrs’ yachts the course was further up arid down the harbour, the distance being four miles. They traversed the course twice, while the under 18ft class travelled four miles, the Z class the same distance, and the X class six miles. Rowing races were run over a course of one JBile before the wind. Motor boat events were run under the Mark Foy system, while yachts sailed under sealed handicaps. Heading a body of officials responsible for excellent organisation and running of the events was the president of the Regatta Committee, Mr A. Ilobb. Associated with him were Messrs A. Grant, G. Currie, and M. Bachop (yacht handicappers), Mr J. W. Barton (motor boats), Messrs G. A. Wiseman and J. Jackson (yacht judges), and Messrs C. Smith and J. D. Cameron (motor boats). Messrs E. V. Fairbairn (starter), W. B. Robinson (umpire), P. J. Priest, J. Turnbull, T. Porter, W, G. Glengarry, and J. Solomon (judges) controlled the rowing events. Mr F. Henderson represented the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and Mr S. G. Styche the New Zealand Rowing Association. Results;— YACHTS. ALL-COMERS’ HANDICAP. First prize, £5, Dawson Cup, and miniature; second, £1 and coil yacht line. Kaiora (Ifisec), lb 15min 23seo ... 1 Shadow (7sec), Ih 22min 2' Vera (16sec), Ih 23sec 45min ... 3 Other starters were: Dawn (scr), Foam (Msec), Lark (20sec), and Miti (4miu). Dawn led the field all the way from the gun, and had made up a lot of her handicap by the completion of the first four miles. Unfortunately for her chances her crew mistook the buoy, ran short, and chose to withdraw rather than return. The time lost would have proved too great to regain. She was in a fine position for a win, but her withdrawal paved the way for victory for Kaiora, who lost only 2sec of her handicap to Shadow. At the completion of the first round the placing? were Dawn, Shadow (Imin behind), and Kaiora (Hmin behind). At the finish the order was Shadow, Kaiora (2min 23see away), and Vera (Imin 23sec behind Kaiora). 18FT AND UNDER. (X and Z Class Excluded.)', First prize, £3; second, £l. Rascal (13sec), SOmin 30sec ... ... 1 Toroa (Msec), 51min lOsec ... 2 Pegety (7sec), 56min 40sec , 3 Eight boats started, the others being Aotea (Msec), Harlequin (9seo), Lady Luck (scr), Starlight (4sec), Sunbeam (7sec). TAKAPUNA (Z) CLASS. (Skipper to be under 21 years.) First prize, £2; second, 15s. Oakie (Isec), Ih Imin lOsec 1 Buna (scr), Ih Imin 35sec 2 Val (3sec, W. R. M'Cormacki, Ih 2rain 35sec 3 These were the only starters. The race was a close one for the greater part of the first round, but Val gradually dropped to the roar. Oalkie and Runa “ tagged ” each other all the way, and at the finish, which was a close one, Oakie had made some time, on the final run to the post.

14FT JELLICOE (X) CLASS. First prize, £4-; second, £2. Irene (Bsec), 59min 14sec ... ... 1 Winifred (9sec), Ih 4min 34sec ... 2 Val (3sec, T. M’Lean), Ih 4min

41seo ... 3 Evelyn (4sec), Ih 4min 42sec 4 Heather (Bsec) was fifth, with Lynotte (2sec) next. Other starters were Betty (6sec), Colleen (7sec), and Eileen (scr). The winner was the Southland entry, sailed by A. Fraser and E. Jackson as joint skippers. She -was very fast before the wind, and kept very close to Eileen for the first round. She showed the field a clean pair of heels all the way) making especially good time on the run. Winifred, which finished second, was 4'min 29sec away. Betty and Colleen retired. MOTOR BOATS. • 8 M.P.H. AND UNDER. First prize, £2 10s; second, £l. Rena (Imin), 39min Ifisec ... ... 1 Tui 111. (lOmin), 39min 24se« ... 2 Marina. (4sec), 39min 65sec ... ... 3 Jean (Imin) and Matai (7min 30eec) were the other starters. OVER 8 M.P.H. First prize, £4; second, £1 10s. Sadie K. (smin), 48min 40seo ... 1 Sylvia (21min), 49min 37sec 2 These were the only starters. Sadie K. proved too good for her opponent, despite the lead, and emerged an easy winner. ROWING. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. First prize, trophy valued at £2 2s fid; second, trophy valued at 17s fid. Otago Rowing Club (L. J. Davidson. str, A. M. Lysaght bow) 1 Port Chalmers R.C.I. (P. Rae, J. Abernethy) ... 2 Queen’s Drive R.C. (L. Olsen, A. Cook) >.i 3 Time, 7min Bseo. Won by two and a-half lengths, with three lengths between second and third. YOUTHS’FOURS. First prize, trophy valued at £2 2s fid; second, trophy valued at 17s fid. Port Chalmers R.O. No. 1 (G. Hoekins str, J.- Ellis 3, L. Neilson 2, A. Caldwell bow) ... 1 Queen’s Drive R.C. (R. Matthewson, D. Collier, M. Sutherland,, J. Paris) 2 North End R.C. (F. Hodge, FCanny, R. Little, A. Birtles) ... 3 Time, fimin 29sec. Won by 3ft, with the next boat three lengths away. MAIDEN FOURS. First prize, trophy valued at £2 10a; second, trophy valued at £l. North End R.C. (D. M. Poynter str, M. Hogg 3, E. Megget 2, A. Rawlings bow) 1 Queen’s Drive R.C. No. 1 (D. Sutherland, M. Paris, A. Craig, A. Cook) ... • • ••• 2 Otago R.C. No. 1 (J. A. Irvine, R. I. Laing, K. A. Moore, I. Baird) 3 Time not taken. Won by two lengths; two and a-half lengths. SENIOR FOURS. First prize, trophy valued at £4-ss; second, trophy valued at £1 10s. Otago R.C. (J. P. Vallis str, L. J. Davidson 3, W. P. Binnie 2, C. W. J. Brown bow) 1 North End R.C. (F. Eggers, D. - M'Callum, M. Butterfield, F. Hogg) - ... ... , * Port Chalmers R.C. (G. Mitchell, N. Rae, A. Alcock, J. Abernethy)' ... 3 Time, fimin 17sec. ‘ , Wen by one and a-half lengths, with three-quarters of a length between second and third. YOUTHS’ DOUBLE SCULLS. First prize, trophy valued at £1 10s; second, trophy valued at 15s. Port Chalmers No. 1 (G. Hoskins str, L. Neilson how) ... ... 1 Port Chalmers No. 2 (A. Caldwell, W. Simpson) " Queen’s Drive R.O. (R. Mathewson, M. Sutherland) 3 No time was taken. One and a-half lengths separated the first two boats home, while the third was three lengths away. JUNIOR FOURS. First prize, trophy valued at £3 ss; second, trophy valued at £1 ss.

North End R.C. (B. Anderson str, I). (Robins 3, J. Grubb 2, S. • Brown bow) 1 Port Chalmers R.C. (A. Alcodk, J. Wheeler, R. Hill, J. Abernethy) 2 Otago R.C. (A. M. Lysaght, T. W. S. Love, W. L. Buxton) 3 No time was taken. Won by three lengths, one length. MODEL YACHTS BOYS 16 YEARS AND UNDER. First prize, trophy; second, trophy. Sylvia (Isles) 1 Waitiri (Allan) 2 OVER 2FT TO 3FT. First and second prizes, trophies. Belle (I. Bagley) 1 Belle (T. Robb) 2 Eleanor (Williams) 3 2FT AND UNDER. First and second prizes, trophies Doris (K. Facer) 1 I T PnKKi -f