Yachting.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 915, 25 January 1918, Page 18

Yachting.

(By Skipper)

The Port Nicholson Yacht Club in their endeavour to keep alive the regatta that has hitherto been a feature of Wellington's anniversary are greatly to be commended for the yachting events that were so well contested last Tuesday. The weather was all that could h& desired, a light south-easterly wind that enabled the yachts to carry all the sail they could cram on there was little or no sea. The entries, for the second-class yacht race, which started at Iβ a.m., were: Windward (scr), lolanthe (scr), Venus (Imin), Wairere No. 1 (4min), Rawene (9min) Lizzie (9min), and Muritai (lOmin). The start was a good one, Wairere clearing out with a strong lead, followed by lolanthe, Venus, and Rawene. lA.II set spinnakers on the run to Korokoro except the Lizzie and Windward. Wairere was never headed and finished first, the Rawene taking second place and the lolanthe third. The event for first-class yachts was started at 11 a.m., and the following

were the competitors: Waitangi (scr), Kotirii (19 min), Rona. (20 min), "White Heather (24 min), Atalanta (2bmin), and Viola (25min). The Waitangi, carrying all the canvas she could, lead all the way to Korokoro, closely followed by the Atalanta. On the beat to Jerningham buoy the Kotiri improved her position, followed by the Nona and Atalanta. The corrected times placed the Atalanta Ist, Rona 2nd, and Kotiri 3rd. The handicapping wasjp-ery satisfactory -in this race, as only seconds separated the second and third boats. In the third-class race there were four starters and the Ethel won, the Miru being second, and the Waimoa third. The centre-board event for boats 18ft aoad over brought out a field of four. The Irex (scr) was first, Illinois second, and Wairuna third. Under 18 feet produced six entries, and was a well-contested race. It was won by the Nan, Runa (Bmin) second, and Aotea (7£mih) third. The winner, the smallest boat in the race, well deserved her win against the boats from the north end of the harbour. x The general handicap for keel boats of all classes was won by the "White Heather, aided by a liberal handicap, the Viola, second, and the Kotiri third. -The last-named yacht was not so well handled as she has been hitherto. . The general handicap for centreboard boats was won by the Mahana, Irex second, and Aotea third. A launch race was won by Downes Bros.' Naomi (30min), S. Siever's Dolphin (33min) second, and Palmer's Waione (scr) third. There were five entries. A greasy pole in the boat harbour proved a great fund of amusement to the. spectators. The officials are to be congratulated upon the success of the endeavour to keep alive this aquatic fixture.