CRUISING CLUB'S REGATTA.

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1922, Page 4

CRUISING CLUB'S REGATTA.

SPORT AT PARUA BAY

?Jhe first club races under the auspices o? the Whangarei Cruising Club, held at Parua Bay yesterday, proved to be'a marked success, and if similar aquatic functions are held under its aegis in the future the club will become a strong one in membership and popularity. Parua Bay is an ideal place for a regatta, well sheltered from all winds except a southerly, and it has the distinct advantage over Onerahi of providing a racing course which can be seen easily throughout the whole distance l.y people ashore near the wharf. The coiirse is about three miljs round, and being triangular it affor Is opportunity to yachts to show their worth under vaiious conditions. Yesterday the conditions were fine, despite the threatfning aspect in the early morning, which doubtless had an effect upon the attendance of the public. The Cruising C!uVs feet Avas well represented, the following craft being observed in the Bay:—The launches Elsie, September Morn, Jcun I, Ma\*is, Ranoni, Jean 11, Hinenioa, Iviakoa, Whati, Bluebird, W .d----thyme, Te Whara, Reo, Brothers, Texact,, and Hazel, the auxiliaries Hoha and Mizpah, and the sailers Seahorse, Sea Urchin, Scout 11, Ranger and Alice C. A race for the higher speed boats of the unit drew entries of Mr W, Dadley's September Morn, Messrs Harrison's Jean I, Mr Fi Reynold's Hinemoa, and Mr W. Reynold's Texaco. The handicaps were—Hinemoa scr., Texaco lmin, Jean I 2niins, September Morn 2mins.. From the outset it was clear that Hiner.ioa and Texaco had the race between them, and it was not long before the Jean I and the September Morn, which latter certainly did not show the turn «•£ speed expected of her, pulled out, leav- ' ing the two faster launches to contest the race, the latter having taken, the le.ul before the end of one round. Hinemoa appeared to slacken up and Texaco Avon easih r .

Four entries of the seven-foot midget sailers Avere received, and an interestin.; once-round race between Mr H. A. Kighet's Firefly, Mr H. Pickmere's Ilalcvon, Mr S. E. Blake's Mascot, sailed by Mr L. Pearson, and Mr J. W. Crompton's Cheerio, resulted, after a pretty start, in Firefly winning by 18 seconds from Halcyon which was 50 S'.;c-on-'.s ahead of Cheerio. A race for launches under eight knots drew entries from Mr A. Wilkinson *"s Bluebird, scr., Mr T. L. Drummond's Ts Whara, scr., Mr S. E. Blake's Wild-

thyme 4min, Commodore A. R. Pickmeic's Kiakoa lmin, Vice-Commodore .T. H. Walker's Whati lmin, and Mr J. Palmer's Alberta. In this racj the handicapping proved faulty, as Albsrta increased the lead throughout, showing Imore speed than was of her, auc 1 the others could well hnv? beon

sent away off the same handicap. When t ! i. half distance hit o .en coverethe order had not changed. Then Alberta drew furher ahead and Te Whara overtook Wildthvme, otherwise there was no t'hange in the relative positions. Alberta won easily by l.lOseconds fro;ii Kiiikoa, wit 1 Whati SSmins later th-.rd, while Wild ' yme also completed course lmin behind the Whati. Early in the day a sailing race took kee between footer sailing boats, Mr A. Miller's Alice C. and Mr R. Patter son's Ranger, which had 14mins start, being the only starters. The course was once round, with fair wind and slog against a steady breeze and Alice C. won by ssmins. Later on the best race of the day took place between four sailing boa'.a. Mr R. Cutforth's new "flattie," the Sea Urchin, scr., Mr A. Miller's Alics C.. scr., Mr Ewen's Scout 11, 2min=, aud Mi R. Patterson's Ranger, Simlns. I The start, effected by Captain W. R. Patterson, was splendid, and at the first buov Sea Urchin, Alice C., and Scout II rounded in that order within twu lengths, Ranger being well back. When Alice C. got her spinnaker set, which she did slowly, she drew ahead, Scout and Ranger havng 'no spinnakers, fallirg back. At the second buoy Alice Crounded about 14secs ahead of S3&. Crchin. Then happened a fine bit of sailing by Mr R. Patterson who saiiel Rfinger, the last boat round the last buoy. In the slog home he held out «(11 out, almost to Peach Point, andthen with two short boards he gained leeway and won the race by Jmin from Alice C., with Sea Urchin third. A dinghy race for boys attracted four entries and the event was won by K. Reed, with S. Palmer second. The executive of the Club is to i>e congratulated upon the success of Its efforts, and further occasion's such as yesterday's will be welcomed by all keen upon aquatic sport.