YACHTING — By “Bowsprit"

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1940, Page 8

YACHTING By “Bowsprit"

All yachts that left the basin on Saturday were compelled to reef to the last line of points.

The Melita and Waialae used their trisails.

The Melita was first .away, and carried on until she reached the Heads.

The remainder of the boats, preferring to take thing easy, only went as far as Port Whangarei. Although not far from home, these boats spent a very enjoyable night about this locality. Early in the evening a water fight was staged by two well known yachtsmen, ‘-Sol” and “Sluggy.” This provided amusement for approximately 25 yachties, the fight ended in a draw with one ducking each.

On Sunday weather conditions were much the same, but the yachts moved on to Limestone Island. Among these were: Waialae, Sunola, Macushla, Ben Bolt* Sceptre, Charm, Raven, Tiki and Penguin. Perhaps the most notable sailing during the week-end was that of the seven-footers, who in spite of the hard breeze, sailed to Onerahi.

The Saint, sailed by Bob Haig’-i, ventured across the channel to Limestone Island.

!» Later on Sunday afternoon the Melita returned from the Heads and pulled in at Onerahi for the night. On Sunday night- on 'Limestone Island the, boys started a camp fire and had a pipi supper, all the time discussing conditions for the regatta on the morrow.

The wind dropped considerably on

Monday, although rather squally at times during the morning. All boats made their way to Onerahi, the Ponty, Kotiro and some of the smaller boats coming straight from Whangarei. A large crowd gathered along the waterfront to watch the racing throughout the day. Championship honours were as follows: A class, Ponty; B class, Sceptre; Star class, Tiki. The 7-footers’ race was .abandoned owing to adverse conditions. A considerable number of accidents occurred, the most spectacular of which happened to the Melita during the morning race. While she was rounding Wellington buoy the main sheet became entangled with the top hamper of the buoy. An anxious moment was experienced by the crew, until the main sheet parted, thus freeing them in the nick of time.

The crew of the Melita claim they were doing a little mine-sweeping. When all the yacht racing was over, an exhibition of amateur acquaplaning was given by members of the crews off the Waialae and My Girl. At about 4.15 on Monday the boats set off for home, it was a dead slog against the tide. When the top end of the harbour was reached the tide was extremely low, and a considerable amount of skill was needed to sail the bigger boats into the basin.

Although there was no race for the launches on Monday, there were quits a number present, doing what they •could to help the regatta.