YACHTING -By “Bowsprit”

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1940, Page 9

YACHTING -By “Bowsprit”

With the weather in a more settled state last weekend, the Whangarei Cruising Club held races for four different classes. The A and B classes went to Taurikura, the Star class around Limestone Island, and the seven-footers to one of the first beacons in Long Reach. All the races started from the Town Wharf and, as the boats manoeuvred for the start, a gay spectacle was witnessed. The “sevens” were first away, the Sea Foam taking the lead, which she increased throughout the race to win by a big margin. Next were the Star class. When the last flag was down there was not much difference in time as they crossed the line. The Tainiu, Tere and Tiki gradually drew ahead of the other boats, and, as they rounded Kissing Point, the order was: Tiki, Tainui and, Tere. with the remainder of the field bunched further behind. Distances between the boats were increased considerably, and as they crossed the finishing line the Tiki was well ahead, with the Tainui in second place. On corrected times the placings were: Tiki 1, Penguin 2, Tainui .1. In Company. With seven starters in the A class and two in the B class, there was not any too much room to gain the best position. The two classes sailed together, although there were two different i-aces. The order of crossing the line was as follows: Sunola, Waialae, Scud, Kotiro, Wairangi, Sceptre, Macushla. Mclita and Ngairc. The Kotiro soon had a spinnaker set, which she held to little advantage, and gained nothing on the Waialae, who had taken tiro lead from the Bluff Point. As the boats came into Long Reach the Waialae, Kotiro and Wairangi hold the leading positions, with the remainder fighting for positions a little further behind. A Squall. As the race continued down the harbour the three leading boats increased their distances. Spinnakers were set on most boats, but as a squall was encountered at the Onerahi flashlight they were soon lowered away. The Kotiro was seen to be having trouble with her spinnaker as the block on the end of the boom carried away, but as experience was close at hand the flapping sail was soon back on deck. For the remainder of the race positions did not vary, and the Waialae crossed the line with three minutes in hand from the Kotiro, who in turn was three minutes ahead of the Wairangi. Next came a bunch of four who crossed the line in the short time of three seconds; they were Scud, Melita, Sceptre and Ngaire. On corrected times the placings were: Scud 2, Waialae 2. Wairangi 3, with the Sceptre first in the B class. The Waialae’s time for the distance of approximately 17 miles was half a minute under two hours. Empty-Handed. After tea a party set off to catch all the fish in the harbour, but returned with nothing to show for their evening’s toil. One bright, young lad thought he had hooked a shark, but when he got his line to the surface he found that he had caught about three other fishing lines. On Sunday the boats left for home rather early because of the race which was being held at Onerahi for the B •and Star class. The race was held under hard sailing conditions around the Onerahi course.

There was a field of seven bdjfts, all of whom had reefed their mainsails. The Tiki and Sceptre fought it out right to the finish, the Sceptre being first in by five seconds. During the race the Tiki gave the onlookers several thrills when she was planing off the wind. On corrected times the Tiki was first and the Tainui was second. As the breeze held till about 6 o’clock the boats had no trouble in getting home against the tide. When the Melita left Onerahi she was seen to be having a lot of trouble as the skipper piloted her gracefully on to the mud.