AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5998, 7 February 1881, Page 5

AQUATICS.

Yacht Race: Jessie Logan* v. Toy.—A race between the Jessie Logan and the Toy, for £20, a-side took place on Saturday, and resulted in another victory for the former beat. Captain McKenzie started the race at 10.26 a.m., there being a nice breeze almost South. The Toy got two or three lengths ahead at the start, but the Jessie soon overhauled her, took the lead, and maintained it to the finish. The course was round Drunken Bay buoy, thence round the chequered buoy in Raiuitoto Channel, thence up the harbour to windward of the mooring buoy at the east end of the Queen-street AVharf. The Jessie Logan was admirably sailed by John Bell, and the way the Toy wafe handled was very creditable to Ted -Moore. It is thought that the converting the Toy into a yacht has not improved her sailing qualities, having stiffened her. ! To do so was contrary to the wish of her owner, but, according to the rules of the regatta, she would have been ineligible as an open boat, so to qualify her converted her into a yacht. "While the alteration was well in progress, a change was made in the rules which°woiild have enabled her to compete, if still an open boat. However, even now, the Jessie Logan has not much to boast of. The race occupied 2 hours 51 minutes. The Jessie Logan arrived at lh. 1/m., and the Toy 5 J minutes later. Sweepstake for 20 feet Sailing Boats. —Owing to the eapsising of the Observer, this race was not completed. The "Witch, Madge, Hattie May, Imp, Observer, and Eunice started at about 2 o'clock. The first two went away with a considerable lead towards Orakei Bay, the Witch having windward position. The Madge was the first to round the Daphne buoy, the Imp bein<* close to her ; then came the Eunice, "Witch, and Hattie .May, the Observer being last. It was noticed that the latter "boat's mainsail did not set, and was shaking, as she went down the harbour towards the buoy. It i afterwards transpired that the preparations had been made hurriedly and were not satisfactory, the mast being at least two feet too short for the huge sail, the consequence was that it was frequently found necessary to luff. When the boats were about three parts of the way across to the Sandspit buoy, it was noticed that the Observer had sunk, and they all turned back to rescue the crew, who were picked up by the Pastime, which was near at hand at the. time of the disaster. The position of the boats when they ceased racing was—Hattie May, Eunice, Imp, Witch, and Madge. The Hattie May and Eunice were to windward; the Madge and Witch were together to leeward and the Imp was just getting into the position of fifth boat in the middle. It is probable the Hattie May and Eunice would have had to jibe. Ail the boats returned, and it was expected that a fresh start would be made, but some of the boats, notably the Imp, had sufficient for the day. Alf complained that his crew had deserted, but there were abundance of efficient volunteers. However, he could not be prevailed upon to co. Mr. J. B. Graham was sailing the Observer at the time of the mishap, a position forced upon him by circumstances lathei than of his own choosing.

CONCLUDING THE REGATTA. Race for Sailing Boats about 16 feet. —The course was from the wharf round the Sandspit buoy, thence up the harbour, round the Bella Marina liulk, and round again. Four boats started, viz.: the Zip, Coy, Olga, and Imp (Perrott's). The Coy led rounding theSanspit buoy, but the Imp passed , her immediately afterwards. However, the Imp s gaffyard soon carried away, and she was thereafter out of the race. In passing the wharf coming up the harbour the Zip was about 200 yards ahead of the Olga, the Coy being a long way astern of both. The Zip afterwards increased her lead, and in the second round, she had reached the winning post at the wharf before the Olga had reached the hulk going up, thus winning by about ten minutes. A protest was handed to the starter before the race commenced, against the Zip entering, ou the ground that she had j not competed on Regatta day, he declined to have anything to. do with it. The Zip was sailed by McDougal, and the Olga by Swales. Junior Isrigger Race. —After waiting about three-quarters of an hour Captain McKenzie started the only boat that came to the point, the Auckland crew, who pulled home very leisurely. The North Shore crew sent an intimation to the captain of the Pousonby crew,- in a not very chivalrous spirit, that they would protest against Mr. Halstead, on the ground that he was a pi ofessional. Thereupon Mr. iialstead decided not to pull, and the Ponsouby crew, having lost their stroke, could not race. Mi*. Halstead is to all intents and purposes an amateur, but it appears that he rowed an all-comers race last year, and won a pnze, aud may rank, therefore, but upon purely technical grounds as a professional. He did not care to risk being declared a professional, and has expressed his determination not to j engage in any race until the rules are so altered as to admit him as an amateur, and seemf.ngly the equity of the matter is in his favour. The North Shore crew seem to have displayed the white feather altogethei. The Sculling Race.—Only three competitors started —viz., Thomas Henderson, H. I). Morpeth, and A. A. Yates. Halstead, for reasons previously stated, not taking part The course was from the eastern point of Orakei Bay to the Wharf. Morpeth had a beautiful boat, j imported from Donnelly, of Sydney,; Yates, a boat built by Mr. Harrison, at the Breakwater; and T. Henderson, who only entered to make a race, pulled in an old flat-bottom boat. Before the start two or three bets of 3 to 1 on Morpeth were made. A good start was effected at 4.59. Morpeth got away with a lead, which he maintained, Yates being close at hand. Henderson's boat filled twice, so he thought it high time to pull for the shore, and acted accordingly. The whari was reaced —Morpeth, oh. 22m. 505.; Yates, sh. 23m. 295. Mr. Yates' boat was full of water, and Mr. Morpeth's also contained a considerable quantity at the finish.