RECORD CROWD SEES VARIED PROGRAMME

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1949, Page 4

RECORD CROWD SEES VARIED PROGRAMME

REGATTA DAY AT RUSSELL . ..

RUSSELL, Wed. (Sp.).—Picturesque Bay of Islands is never so attractive as when there is a combination of three circumstances—the blue sky of a summer day, the scarlet splash of pohutukawa bloom along the cliffs and bays, the white triangles of a score of trim sailers on Regatta Day. Yesterday was Regatta Day and all roads —including the searoads—led to Russell.

With perfect weather, that even included a gentle north-westerly air to give the boats heeling-room, the day was the most successful yet. Well over 1000 people came across the bay in the continuous shuttle service run by commercial passenger launches from Paihia.

An “excursion special” train from Whangarei was sardine-packed with nearly 700 passengers. Four or five special buses made the run from Whangarei by way of the scenic drive past Helena Bay and the Ngaiotonga bush. These must have carried at least 150 people. In addition, .there were the ordinary regular services and, of course, hundreds of motor cars, caravans, cycles and every other conceivable form of transportation, not excepting Maori horses and “Shanks’ pony.” Finally, the yachts and pleasure launches themselves brought a not inconsiderable quota, adding to the multitude that crowded every vantage point on the wharf, foreshore, boats and buildings. The regatta was livelier to watch than in previous post-war years, the committee staging four yacht races and four speedboat events, besides a full programme of regular and novelty events. Flagship for the day was Mr J. L. Wilson’s Lady Gay, which carried Mr C. S. Tewsley, former commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at Auckland. For the speedboat events, the flagship was the naval patrol vessel P. 1183, commanded by Lieutenant W. J. Brown, RNZN. THE BIG KEELERS The 13 keelers that took part in the race, plus 12 more keelers from the city, formed the nucleus of the yachts lying at Russell. The big event of the regatta, the keelers’ two-lap 12-knot run for the T. R. Clow Challenge Cup, attracted 15 starters, and they made a spectacular sight as the race began. The winner. Little Jim, was successful twice previously—in 1925 and 1947. Last .year’s winner, Reliance, was not at Russell this year. In second place was Waiomo, which had won the big ocean race the day before. Fastest time, 2hr 20min, was made by lorangi, winner on several occasions in the past. The finish was exciting in its closeness, only 11 minutes separating the first from the ninth. Eight of them were within seven minutes of each other. Yachtsmen haci nothing but praise for the handicapping.

Thirteen finished the course. The two low-markers, Ariki (off scratch) and Rawhiti (3min), -while running together, mistook the Brampton Reef mark and had to be disqualified. Four entries contested the event for centreboard yachts of the Russell class. Loloma, a 15-footer from Opua; won, and was followed by Warrior (14ft), Rahiri (14ft), and Maia (18ft). These three were all Russell boats. Eleven starters went away in the open sailing race for 12-16 fodters. Whangarei boats (Aloha, Ben Bolt and Bluebird) filled the places. In a sonsolation event, Whangarei scored again with Aloha, Bluebird and AriesA THOSE BATHING BELLES! Highlight of the day for many, to judge from the density of the crowd and the warmth of its attention, was the bathing-beauty contest for the annual title of Miss Aotearoa. Seven lovely young ladies paraded in the smartest of bathing outfits. Of course, the event not being ■ a fashion parade, no marks were awarded for their costumes and the girls had to depend on what is euphemistically described as “general form” (15 points maximum), deportment and posture (5 points) and make-up (5 points). New Zealanders apparently like such entertainment and the applause, including “wolf calls,” was plentiful. Judges were Lieutenant i.. J. Brown, RNZN, Messrs A. A. Stewart and C. R. Kerr, both of Russell, and Miss A. Sutcliffe, of Kawakawa. Their task was so difficult that four of the likeliest contestants had to parade once more before a decision could be reached. Results:

YACHTS Keel yachts. 12 miles, for £lO and challenge cup—Little Jim (lorn) 1. Waiomo (15.30) 2, Victory (12 3. Tamatea (10.30) 4. Also started: Arlki (scr), Rawhitl (3), lorangi (5). Tawera (6). Nga Toa (7), Prize (10.30) Ngatarlnga (11). Arohia (12) Kotiri (18.30) Ngatiawa (21), class yachts, centreboard, 3 miles —Loloma (Mr I. Cl fford. Opua) 1, Warrior (Mr D. S. Brooker, Russell) 2, Rahiri (Mr C Boucher, Russell) 3, Mala (Dr W. V. Tothlll, Russell) 4. Four starters. Open sailing race 12-16 footers, 3 miles Aloha (Mr K. Gwyn, Whangarei) 7m, 1, Ben Bolt (Mr B. O’Donoghue, Whangarei) 4m, 2; Bluebird (Mr E. Ryan, Whangarei) scr, 3. Eleven starters. Special consolation yacht race, 3 miles —Aloha (6m) 1, Bluebird (scr) 2, Aries (Mr G Palmer, Whangarei) scr, 3. Three St Tuck' stern yachts. 12 miles—'Thermopylae (Mr C. E. Spanhake, Paihia) 1, Maui (Mr K. W. Lidale. Auckland) 2. Two starters. LAUNCHES Open launch race, 3 miles—Valencia (Mr E V. Ralls, Whangarei) 1, Tasman (Mr M. Brook, Auckland) 2. Two startelprivale or hire launches (visitors), 4 miles—Tasman (Mr M. Brook Auckland) 1, Aroha (Mr J. Lane, Opua) 2. rive starters. SPEEDB OATS Open speedboat race, 4 miles—Little Toot (Mr F. Tapper, Whangarei) 1, Elec-

tron (Mr D. Williams. Whakapara) 2, Thumper (Mr W. Rayner, Dargaville) 3. Five starters. Special speedboat championship Thumper 1, Satan (Mr C. Dix, Whangarei) 2, Miss Bev (Mr R. Maynell, Raupo Ferry, N.W.) 3. Four starters. 1.15 speedboat special—Little Toot 1, Satan 2. Four starters. Speedboat sweepstakes—Satan 1, Electron 2, Thumper 3. DINGHIES Boys’ rowing race, single sculls, dinghies—Y. Voorthuysen (Russell) 1, G. Thompson 2, M. Davidson (Kaikohe) 3. Open dinghy race—Marie Lane (Opua) 1, Joan Lane (Opua) 2, B. Ellis 3. Women’s dinghy race—Joan Lane (Opua) 1. Marie Lane (Opua) 2, Rose Kennedy (Kerikeri) 3. SWIMMING Primary schools—Boys, 25 yds—Graham Robin (Palmerston North) 1, C. Knowles (Russell) 2. Girls, 25yds—Janet Morrison r Whangarei) 1, Claire Blomfield (Russell) 2. .' Secondary schools—Boys 'soyds—G. Tupp (Whangarei) 1, B. Morrison (Whangarei) 2. Girls 50yds—Joyce Houlihan (Whangarei) 1, Alison Jones (Whangarei) 2. Men, open 50yds—Ian Chichester (Auckland) l, M. Jones (Whangarei) 2. Women, open, 50yds: Joyce Houlihan (Whangarei) 1, Myra Lane (Opua) 2. DIVING Men, open.—Paul Newberry (Whangarei) 1, lan Chichester (Auckland) 2. Boys—G. Tupp (Whangarei) 1, N. Campi (Whangarei) 2. Girls.—Anne Houlihan (Whangarei) 1, Joyce Houlihan (Whangarei) 2. NOVELTY. EVENTS Bathing Beauty Contest, for "Miss Aotearoa” sash and trophy.—Miss Joan Parker (Kamo) 1, Miss Valerie McCullough (Maungakaramea) 2. Miss Connolly (Hamilton) 3. Seven entrants. Greasy Boom—Peter Knowles (Russell) and Terry Burling (Kai-etu) were the only successful competitors out of 26 entrants.