SAILING MATCH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6779, 11 February 1884, Page 4

SAILING MATCH.

Notwithstanding the cloudy Bky and the very boisterous weather on Saturday afternoon four of the boats of the Hawke's Ray Sailing Club turned out to compete in the third and final heat of the handicap. The boats were rather late in getting to the starting point, owing no doubt to the chariness of some of the captains to venture out and the scarcity of "live ballast," and at 3 o'clock the Revenge, Comet, Osprey, and Wave Queen were the only boats that had put in an appearance. There was a nasty quick jobble on, and as none of tho boats were reefed down the crews had a very lively time of it. Owing to the roughness of the weather preventing the small boat being stationed at the starting point it was agreed by the captains of the variou-3 boats to effect a flying start. At 3.45 a Btart was made, the Wave Queen and tho Revenge having a slight lead, and a, good race to the first buoy ensued between these two boats, the Oaprey lying third, and the Comet last. The Queen was first round the buoy, -with the Revenge a few yards astern, both travelling well, and the bailing-cut men performing excellent service. The Comet was now observed to be in distress, her jib having carried away, and by the time she had been again "dressed," she was far away to leeward. The Osprey was also making slow work of it, notwithstanding the efforts of two of her bare-legged sailors aloft, who tried in vain to set her gaff-topsail. The Queen, with the wind right astern, was soon round the next buoy, after rounding which a long tack had to be made to reach the win-ning-post. The boats were heeling well over to it, and the buckets were again in great requisition, for the "green" seas were like a needy friend, "not to be shaken off." After a very rough beat the starting point was reached by the Wave Queen first, about 200 yards ahead of the Revenge, the Osprey and Comet far astern.