MARRED BY WEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 2

MARRED BY WEATHER

CENTENNIAL REGATTA AT PCRT CHALMERS SKILFUL SAILING IN STIFF BREEZE ROWING RACES YESTERDAY Seldom indeed do the elements smile on the Port Chalmers regatta run by the Otago Annual Regatta Committee. and the Centennial fixture held ou Saturday was no exception. Rowing events had to bo cancelled early because of the stiff south-westerly blowing, and were rowed yesterday morning. Yachts were few, many entrants deciding to stay at homo rather than endure'the long slog back after tlio regatta. As a result tlio fleets participating were reduced, five being the ‘biggest number of entrants in any race. Motor boats, for much the same reason, did not give the patronage expected. Another disappointment was that Miss Otago and Mercury could not appear because of the unfavourable conditions. ' . Some thrills were given those able to obtain a vantage point on the wharf, for a capsize added to the excitement of retaining hats and seeking shelter from the frequent rain showers. It was a day calling for real seamanship by yacht crews, and the choppy seas and stiff breeze tested them to the utmost. Broken gear caused quite a few withdrawals.

Some keen racing was experienced among the small fleets, the yacht hamlicappers having done excellent work. Interest centred naturally on the Jellicoe class, where Wampa made the most of a good handicap to head the fleet over the mark at the finish, while Evelyn just managed to sneak through on a puff to beat Lynetto for second place. An indication of the strength of tho wind and choppiness of the sea can be gleaned from tho fact that of four starters in the all-comers’ yacht race only two —Miti and Shadow—finished in that order, the other entrants striking trouble and withdrawing. Only one speed boat—the Komuri—finished in tho race for her class. She took the Sir Henry Segrave Cup for fastest time. Restless and Matangi were successful in the remaining two races for powered craft. Motor boats provided some keen racing, and the Mark Foy starts in all races gave spectators an opportunity of seeing good! finishes. Tho rowing events were decided in perfect conditions yesterday morning. All tho races attracted good entries, crews from Invercargill, Bluff, and Oamaru also being present. The premier club of tho regatta was Port Chalmers, which won three races, was second in two, and third! in two. Queen’s Drive also won three races, and in addition gained a second place, while North End gained one first, three seconds, and two thirds. The Awarua Boating Club representatives did fairly well, and gained two firsts and two seconds, and the Otago Rowing Club won the major race of the series, the senior fours, and also secured two seconds. Invercargill Railway had a string of four thirds, while Invercargill Rowing Club gained a second and a third. The Oamaru representatives succeeded in gaining only one place, a third, and the University Club, which started in one race, was the only dub which did not succeed in gaining a place. Events were all of one mile, except the senior fours, which were over a mile and a-half. Tho officials controlling the various events were :—Rowing : Judges— Messrs J. Coltlioroe, G. Hogan, T. E. Mackie. and A. Watson; umpire, Mr W. Robinson; starter, Mr E. V. Fairbairn; New Zealand Rowing Association representative, Mr _F. Brough. Yachting and motor-boating: Judges, Messrs A. Wiseman and J. Carrington ; starters—Messrs G. Currie, C. J. Hook, and N. Trnern; handicappers and timekeepers—Messrs G. Currie. A. Grant, C. Smith (yachts), and J. Barton (motor boats) ; Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association representative, Mr W, G Hewitt. Results:— ■ YACHTS. TAKAPUNA Z CLASS. (Skipper to be under 19.) Oakie (L. A. Todd!, 2min), Hi 25m 45s ... 1 Tere (J. S. Wilson, Smin), Hi 36m 30s 2 Yal started, hut capsized. Her skipper righted her, baled out. and started off again, but again misfortune overtook him—ho capsized! and withdraw. Oakio won easily. UNDER 18FT CLASS. Raimi (A Cameron, smin), 54min 9sec ... 1 Annette (C. L. Booth, 7min), 55min 52soc 2 Those were the only boats to finish. Taroa (12min) broke her mast and withdrew, similarly Starlight (16min) with a broken gooseneck. Koneke also failed to complete tho course. JELLICOE X CLASS. Wampa (W. R. M'Cormack, 6min) 46min 35sec 1 Evelyn (R.'F. Todd, 2min) 47min 2 Lynetto (C. J. Pettit, scr) 47min 6sec 3 Ripple was the only other boat to finish, Avenger capsizing. The _handicappers brought a fine finish in this race, all three placed boats going over tho finish within a few seconds of each other. Evelyn just beat Lynette over tho mark to oust her from second place. Val, Colleen, and Eileen, which had started down the harbour under headsails, failed to reach tho line in time to start. ALL-COMERS. Miti (Carey and Goodie, 4inin) Hi 21min 34sec 1 Shadow (L. R. Ward, scr) Hi 35min Only boats to finish. Foam (lOinin) retiree], while Thermopylae- (Sinifi) carried away some gear. MOTOR BOATS. 8 M.P.H. AND UNDER. Matangi (D. Cough, scr) 30m in 30s?c 1 Old Faithful (J. T, Knewstubh, 4min SOsec) 31min 35sec 2 Shamrock was the remaining starter. OVER 8 M.P.H. Restless (L. Hogg. SJmin) 21min 1 Stella (W. J. Williams, 7-Jmin) 21 min 20see 2 Power Chief (G. Morrison, llmin) 21 min 32scc 3 Sadie K. and Komuri also started. SPEED BOATS. Komuri (A. P. Johnstone, 7min) 31 min 35see 1 Static, a fast outboard, was forced lo ictire.

ROWING. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. Port Chalmers Rowing Club (A. Alcock str, W. Smith; 1 Otago Rowing Club (J. Marshall str, C. Johnson) 2 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (W. Eunsou str, N. Marshall) ... 3 Also started: North End Rowing Club, Queen’s Drive Boating Club Nos. 1 and 2. * North End and Invercargill look the lead at the start, but Port Chalmers, on the bank course, went to the front at the half-mile, with Otago rowing into second place at the entrance to the wharves. In a hard finish Port Chalmers won from Otago by a length and a-half, with Invercargill half a length back. Time, 7min 36sec. MAIDEN FOURS. Awarua Boating Club (J. Dawson str, H. Raymond, R. Smith, C. west) 1 North End Boating Club (W. Clark str, D. Connor, C. Baddock, I). Calder) ... ' 2 Invercargill Rowing Club (A. M'Ewau str, R. Tinnock, F. M'Ewau, P. Mason) 3 Also started; Port Chalmers Rowing Club, Oamaru Boating Club, Queen’s Drive Boating Club No. 1, Otago University Rowing Club. Invercargill and Awarua were, first away, the latter taking the lead after a quarter of a mile, with North End and Queen’s Drive in handy positions. Nearing the wharves, Awarua increased its lead, North End going into second place. Awarua won by three lengths from North End, with Invercargill close up third. Time, 6min 53sec. Youths’ double sculls. Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 1 L. Nelson str, J. Nelson)- 1 Queen’s Drive Boating Club (M. Sutherland str. J. Fitzgerald) ... 2 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (G. Hicks str, B. Mac Kay) ... ... 3 Also started: North End Boating Club, Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 2, Invercargill Rowing Club. Port Chalmers No. 1 took the lead at the gun, with Invercargill and Queen’s Drive following. At the entrance to the basin Queen’s Drive challenged the loaders, who rowed well to win by a length and a-half. Time, 7niin 57sec. JUNIOR FOURS. Port Chalmers Rowing Club (G. Hoskings str, H. Robertson, W. , Erridge. H. Reeves) ... 1 Awarua Boating Club (A. Ramsay str, J. Whaitiri, C. Denny, J. Cooper) ••• 2 Oamaru Boating Club (11. Whitaker str, R. Hammill, H. Kilgour, A. Robertson) 3 Also started: Invercargill Railway Rowing Club, Queen’s Drive Boating Club. ’Port Chalmers took the lead early and came away to win by four lengths from Awarua. Oamaru hung on well to finish third. Time, 6m in 44sec. SENIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. North End Boating Club (F. W. Jiggers str, D. M'Callum) 1 Otago Rowing Club (L. Davidson str, A. Lysaght) 2 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (W. Little str, W. Eunson) ... ... 3 Also started: Port Chalmers Rowing Club. All the crews kept to the bank side of the course. North End taking the lead early, with the other, three crews close up. Otago went-into second place at the half-mile, and at the wharves challenged the leaders. North End went on to win by a length, however, with Railway dose up third. Time, 7min 12sec. 'YOUTHS’ FOURS. Queen’s Drive Boating Club No. 1 -(H. Broadlcv str, M. Sutherland, G. Wilson, D. Gray) 1 Invercargill Rowing Club (Jl. Boniface str, N. M'Ewan, J. Stewart, R. M'Ewau) 2 Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 1 (L. Nelson str, J. Nelson, D. Gramond, O. Glengarry) 3 Also started; North End Boating Club No. 1 and No. 2, Queen’s Drive Boating Club No. 2, Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 2, Awarua Boating Club, Oamaru Boating Club. Invercargill had a slight lead at the gun and maintained it until the halfway mark, when Queen’s Drive No. 1 went into the lead and went on to win by three lengths from Invercargill, with Port Chalmers two lengths back. Oamaru and Awarua had seat trouble. Time, 6min 51sec. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS. Queen’s Drive Boating Club No. 2 (D. Densem str, J. Donaldson) ... 1 North End Boating Club (C. Butterfield str, D. Connor) * 2 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (A. M'Cullooh str, H. Pickford) 3 Also started: Oamaru Boating Club’s No. 1 and No. 2, Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 1 and No. 2, Otago Rowing Club, Queen’s Drive Boating Club No. 1. Invercargill Railway was first away, but all the crews were well bunched until the halfway mark, when Queen’s Drive No 2 went to the front, with North End and Railway drawing out from the rest of the field. Queen’s Drive, sculling well, staved off all challenges to win by three lengths. Time, 7min 20sec. SENIOR FOURS. Otago Rowing Club (J, Marshall st, C. Johnson, A. Lysaght, K. Barclay) 1 Port Chalmers Ro\ving Club (A. Alcock str, J. Solomon, W. Smith, G. Mitchell) 2 North End Boating. Club (B. Anderson str. D. M'Callum, F. \V. Eggers, S. Brown) 3 Also started; Invercargill Rowing Club. Awarua Boating Chib, Queen’s Drive Boating Club. From a good start North End took the lead from Otago, Port Chalmers, and Awarua. With a-quarter of a mile gone Otago had passed North End. and had a lead of one length, with Port Chalmers still in a handy position. Approaching the wharves. North End and Port Chalmers were fighting hard for second place. A good finish saw Otago win by a length from Port Chalmers, with North End three lengths back. Time, 9min 32sec. YOUTHS’ PAIRS. Queen’s Drive Boating Club (H. Broadley st., M, Sutherland) ... 1 Awarua Boating Club (A. Budd str, A. Low) 2 Port Chalmers, Rowing Club No. 1 (L. Nelson str, J. Nelson) t North End Boating Club (B. Spence str, F. Canny) ' Also started: Invercargill Railway Rowing Club, Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 2. Invercargill Rowing Club, Otago Rowing Club. In an oven start Invercargill was first to show out. but Queen’s Drive took the lead about halfway, and went on to win hv length from Awarua, Port

Chalmers and North End being a similar distance back. Time, 7min 37sec. SENIOR PAIRS. Awarya Boating Club (A. Morrison str, E Lindquist) ... 1 Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 2 (\V Smith str, H. Robertson) and North End Boating Club (B. An'derson str, D. M'Callum), dead heat 2 Also started: Otago Rowing Club, Invercargill Rowing Club, Port Chalmers Rowing Club No. 1, Port Chalmers No. 1 jumped into the load at the start and held it for the greater part of the race. Nearing the wharves Awarua and North End. rowing nock and neck, caught Port Chalmers, Awarua going on to win by a narrow margin from North End and Port Chalmers No. 2, who dead-hcatcd. Time. Cm in 48scc.