YACETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6255, 3 December 1881, Page 6

YACETING.

OPENING OF THE VICTORIAN YACHTING SEASON. Yaciit-ownkks and members of the abo ve club turned out in full force on Saturday. November 14, to do honour to their opening day. The programme for the afternoon con" sisted of a series of evolutions under the directions of the commodore of the club (Mr. C. G. Millar), but owing to the want of wind, the manoeuvres were greatly impeded, and consequently were not of such an imposing character as they would otherwise have been. The commodore hoisted his pennant on board the steam yacht Cushie Doo. His Excellency the Governor (accompanied by Lord Hervey Phippsand Captain Le Patourel) arrived on board the flagship before she left the pier, and was received by the commodora. The Cushie Doo had also about 150 of the members' friends on board. The following yachts answered the Commodore's signal, "Prepare for evolutions," viz.: —Messrs. C. and li. Millar's schooner Redgauutlet, Captain Black; Mr. R. White's schooner May Queen, owner; Hon. \\ . J. Clarke's cutter Janet, Captain Banner; Mr. Pliipps Turnbull's cutter Taniwha, Captain Ferinaner ; Messrs. C. and E. Millar s cutter Secret, Mr. E. Hodgson ; Mr. Mackay's cutter Minnehaha, owner; Mr. F. Richardson's cutter Mischief, owner; Messrs. Reddish and Marrett's cutter Rory O'More, Mr. Marrett; Messrs. Grutaud Beaucharnp's cutter Psyche, Mr. Beauchamp ; and about twelve of lesser tonnaga. After manceuvring the yachts until 5 o'clock, the owners assembled on board the flagship. The Melbourne Age of November 12, says : —One of the attractions of the season will be a series of first-class matches, in which the Janet, Taniwha, and Secret will compete, with the view of getting the Janet and the Commodore's cutter in their best form for meeting the Sydney cracks at the anniversary regatta, to take place at the latter end of January. It will doubtless be remembered that at the banquet given by the V.Y.C. to the late Commodore, Sir. W. J. Clarke, prior to his departure for England, that gentleman expressed his intention to send the Janet to Sydney, on the condition that Commodore Millar sent one of his yachts also to compete, thereby giving the colony a double chance, and a fairer fight with the Sydney cracks. Mr. Millar has already signified his intention of sending the Secret, which, in her improved form, under the skilful piloting of Dick Sheppard, ought to give a good account of herself. The sail area of the Janet has been considerably increased from her cruising rig of last year, and her speed, especially in light wind pressures, must be increased in consequence. She lias not, however, up to the present time been fitted with what may properly be called a racing mainsail fit to compete with the Lapthorne's suit on the hitherto invincible Magic. It is to be hoped that Captain Banner will lose nc time in getting a new sail of the required size stretched in time for this important contest. The Sydney people have hitherto scouted the idea of Victoria disputing her claim to a yacht lacing premiership, and no small amount of interest will bo taken in the result of the contest between such unmistakably fast yachts as the Janet and Magic, even despite the fact of the former being built more for cruising than racing purposes. It is intended that the Hobson's Bay and Geelong Bay regatta shall be deferred to suit the return of the Victorian yachts from Sydney, and doubtless the Portland Regatta Committee will also make their annual aequatic meeting fall in with the proposed arrangements. There will be several second and third-class yacht matches, in which some new vessels will hoist their racing flags. One of these is a powerful fivetonner of the deep type, from the stocks where the Janet was built, and is expected to be a much greater surprise than that generally condemned but successful cutter lias proved herself to be. She is altogether a new departure from anything that has yet j been built :n Australia. OITIIO.N'A VETtSCS WAITANGI. The race for first-class yachts in connection with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was contested on Saturday afternoon, November 5. Two yachts were entered, viz., the Oithoua, 15 tons, and the Waitangi, 22 tons. Great interest was manifested in the proceedings, the match being for a trophy presented by the club, valued at £30, and the fact of this being the first event under the new rules of the Sydney Yacht Squadron, which are identical with those of the English Yachting Association, imbued the affair with more than ordinary interest. Under the old rules the distance to bo covered was not taken into consideration, and allowance of time was made for tonnage only, while the regulations recently adopted by the Sydney Yacht Squadron stipulate for an additional allowance according to the length of the course. The time allowance for the Oithona, being of seven tons lighter burthen than her antagonist, wassmin. 35sec., the course being 30 miles in length. The boats got away to a flying start by the 1 o'clock gun. The Oithona passed the line half-a-minute before her antagonist, and started with a lead of about 100 yards. As the wind was light, she was the favorite. The Oithona was steered by Mr. Grant; Mr. Milson sailed the Waitangi. The Oithona passed to windard of Pincligut well in the tide, while the Waitangi went to the leeward. The Oithona started with a jib-headed topsail, while the Waitangi's was a square header. Off Bradley's Head the Waitangi sent up her jib topsail, leading slightly, while the Oithona put on herbaloou foresail and jib-topsail. The former appeared to bo walking away, but off Shark Point the Oithona had improved her position considerably. Just previous to rounding the South Reef, the Oithona took in her jibtopsail, the distance having been covered in 35mins, 30secs. The Waitangi still cracked on with all her fore-and-aft canvas,and led by about a minute round the South head, when, before getting into the open, her masthead sprung, carrying away the weather-topmast shrouds. The Waitangi still pursued a stern chase with small canvas,and offßlue Fish the Oithona led by about five minutes. The Waitangi stood out to sea, and gave up at ten minutes to 3 o'clock, the race being virtually over off Manly. She ran under a mainsail and jib, the handicap of a sprung masthead no doubt forbidding any further liberties in the matter of canvas adornment. She was two miles in the rear of the Oithona, rounding the Princess at Long Reef at nine minutes to 3, with her mainsail, foresail, and jib.