THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7552, 3 February 1886, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —Allow me to reply to the remarks of your reporter re the Rotomahana's gig in the late regatta. He states that some feeling was expressed at the Rotomahana's gig being allowed to enter against the heavy gign of the sailing crafts. In reply, tho race was open to all bona fide gigs of merchant vessels, and to be run for publio money, therefore I had a perfect right to enter. I had not the slightest intention of doing so until requested by some of the members of the Regatta Committee a few days before the regatta. I have reason to believe that at least two of the gigs that competed are lighter built than the Rotomahana's; and to compensate for any difference in weight, the Hermione was allowed to pull six oars, Vanduara and Douglas five oars each, against tho Rotomahana with four, whioh I considered a very fair handicap. To prove so I offered to exchange boats with the chief officer of the Hermione, which offer he declined. Your reporter makes a mistake when he etates that the Rotomahana gig was built for racing purposes. The boat was built over nine years ago by Mr. John Mnnroe, of Wbangarei Heads, to the erder of Captain McGregor as an ordinary steamer's boat, and subsequently sold to Mr. Fraaer for the Rotomahana, and has been used as such ever since. He also states that I should be oontent with the many laurels I have won, and allow others a chance to obtain a victory. If by the laurels I have won be means the money prizes, my share has been nil; the money won has always been divided amongst the orew, my share as coxswain has been the sport. If we have been successful in the past, that does not imply that we shall always be so; and, if at any future time we are unsuccessful, I trust my orew will accept their defeat with the same oheerful spirit that they have secured their victories, and not introduce any ill-feeling jnto a friendly competition. We have always raced to win, if we possibly could, and, if we have hurt the feelings of anyone, we trust to be forgiven, and hope our opponents will have better luck next time.—l am, &c, Alex. Fabquhar, S.b. Rotomahana.