YACHT RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9480, 9 April 1894, Page 6

YACHT RACES.

m On Saturday afternoon two interesting yacht ; races took place in the harbour under > the auspices of the Auckland Yacht > Clud, ; and proved very successful. In the race' for the smaller .yachts much of the 'interest was lessened owing to the absence of Webster's yacht Ngaru, leaving only two boats to compete—the Yvonne and The - absence of the Ngaru is ■ explained -by. the fact that ' she could not get away from her moorings at the North Shore in time owing to the low state of * the tide. ;r The race between 1 the; two remaining boats was a keenly-fought one,'; but the,Yvonne• proved the. winner by some three minutes; notwithstanding that she had to give the Gloriana nearly six minutes' time allowance. \ • In the race for the larger yachts there were ;five- starters, ■';■ but the event was wholly in-the Volunteer's hands from 5 the start, and, she'.'camel in an, easy winner, not.withstanding that she carried away her top-: mast when off: Brown's Island on the home ; run:Tv*Vv;-'v'.? - '::K^^ Mr. George Goldie officiated as starter, and Mr. R. S. Reynolds as judge, and there were also present, Mr. W. ;A. NlacCormack (the secretary) and several i members of the club.: The . day ' was; a, fine' one for 4 sailing, % there being J a good % breeze from the south-south-west, which gave e run down, and a ; beat up for the competing yachts. The courre, which ; is said to be about i fifteen miles, wan as, follows:—From Queen-street ; Wharf r round ;' a mark buoy off Rangitoto Reef; thence round a buoy off Brown's Island beacon ';! thence to finish off the \ Queen-street Wharf, \ between same and a mark boat, keeping outside all fairway marks \ and buoys \ and Bean, Rock lighthouse; all marks to be luffed round. :• :i; Promptly to the appointed time, Mr Goldie sent the, Yvonne and Gloriana away, the latter having decidedly the best of the start As ; the r boats ran down the |harbour, the Yvonne set her large spinnaker; and made up a good deal of ground though going to leeward somewhat. '§ By the time the North Head waa reached, the Yvonne had assumed a decided , lead, as she rouuded "the Head a little more than two minutes ahead: of her rival. On re-appearing the positions ; were the same, though the Yvonne, was still gaining. On the beat up the harbour there was no change, and : s the race finished by the Yvonne rounding the mark boat at 7m. 455. ahead. As she had to allow the Gloriana sm. 49a., she thus takes the prize. The race for the larger yachts : was a sealed handicap, the handicaps not- being known until after the race was concluded. They, were as follow Volunteer, scratch; Aorere, : 7m.; .Tawera, * 13m.; Matangi, 15m.; Kestrel, '20m.; r Merry Duchess, 30m. The latter did not show .up. The boats were got off with a" good. start, the Kestrel being the first to get away, closely followed by the Matangi, both having ; spinnakers tet. The Volunteer and Tawera came next, and the Aorere a long way behind. As the boats worked down the harbour the . Kestrel appeared to have too much canvas on, and had to luff up two or three times, thus losing a good deal of ground,'•' and the Volunteer assumed the lead, and having the windward position, the Matangi being next, but a long way to leeward. Rounding the North Head the Tawera had taken': third place, followed by the Kestrel, the Aorere being still in the rear. ; On the run down to .the reef the Aorere had improved her place somewhat, as she was close on the heels of the Kestrel on the return journey. Reappearing round the Head the' Volunteer, was still. a .long \ way a-head, and when off Brown's Island carried away her topmast, which took a considerable time to get cleared up. ' On the beat up, the harbour the Aorerel assumed third place, and the ; 'boats' finished : as follows :—Volunteer, sh. 4m. ••Matangi;sh. 20m.'205. ; Aorere, sh. 22m. V 555.; Kestrel, sh! 30m. % 20s. ; Tawera, sh. 35m." 15s. The Volunteer is thus j; the winner by about six minutes. .,; " :.: i. - >.:■ Mr. R. Logan, the owner of the Gloriana, ; not buing "satisfied; as to the length of the course; measured it yesterday, and finds that the distance is twenty miles, and not fifteen. If this is so, the Yvonne will have to give the race to the Gloriana. " ' « ~:.-, ',