AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11243, 12 December 1899, Page 3

AQUATICS.

PONSONBY REGATTA. A meeting of the Ponsonby Regatta Committco was hold in the Ponsonby Club Hotel last night. There was a full attendance, and Mr. T. Masefield presided. It was decided to alter the race for yachts Class D to a handicap race for 30-footers and under. The time for receiving entries for the various events was extended until ten o'clock tonight. Various details in connection with the carrying out of the regatta were arranged, and committees formed to have everything attended to. The following entries were received:— Open Handicap Yacht Race: Ida, Thetis, Theinia, Rainbow. Bona-fido Cruisers' Yacht Race: Isafrael, Yum Yum, Rogue, Gloriana, Huia. Yachts, Class D: Kotiri. Patikis: Eka, Bronzowing, Zoo, Rita, Rambler, Boomerang. Yachts, 25ft overall: Blue Bell, Pastime, Ofa, Manola, Konene, Malioo. Yachts, 22ft and under, centreboard or otherwise: Anita, Seahorse, Wolcome Jack, Yachts, one and a-half rating: Alma, Make Maile, Myra, Bellbird. Maiden Gigs (under lOst): West End, St. George's, Auckland. Junior Gigs (open): West End, Auckland. Senior Gigs: West End (two crews), St. George's (two crews). Maiden Gigs (open): West End, Auckland. Junior Gigs (under lOst): West End, St. George's, Auckland. Stump Outriggers: R. W. Rees (West End), W. J. Lovett (Auckland), A. G. Fookes (Auckland), G. 0. Waddy (St. George's). SYDNEY YACHTING. The following is an account of the general handicap race of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, sailed on tho 2nd inst., in which the Auckland-built yachts Aoma (Logan Brothers) and Meteor (C. Bailey, jun.)_ were competitors, taken from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 4th inst.: — The general handicap race on Saturday last for all yachts of the squadron was, so far as the presont season has gono, a record one. Tho breeze was, generally speaking, all round the compass, more especially on the northern half; the wind was from east to north, and thence finished up with a hard squall from the north-west, under which, after a somcfwhat tedious race, the fleet, with one exception, finished, excellent time being made over the latter portion of the course, viz., from off Athol round the pilelight and back to the finish. During this poriod sail was shortened somewhat, especially on the work down to the pile, where the squalls were found rather heavy. Anyhow, with good handling the yachts came through in good style, Aoma, for tho second time this season, being the winner. On this occasion sho beat the Meteor by 3m. 255. outside of her time allowance, Isea- and White Wings filling the next positions. The yachts entered, with their respective timo allowances, were:—White Wings, scratch; Isca, 11m.; Meteor, 17in.; Aoma, 19m.; Actißa, 21m.; and Fairlio, 36m. The course was about 17£ miles. Times were given at the start, hence Fairlio was first despatched, tho rest of tho fleet following as their respective times expired. When the first craft got away the wind was well up the channel, and tho tide about slack, with a tendency to flow, tho latter being the case before the scratch craft crossed the line. The limit boat, therefore, in tho light breeze, had only got a short lead when her opponents, with a strong breeze, were after her, disputing her lead fathom by fathom until opening tho South Reef, where .she, through tho previous light condition, remained hung up. Meteor overhauled Aoma off Lning's Point, both in the lighter breeze passing Actiea; the trio overhauled Fairlio, which shortly after retired, Both l6ea and White Wings had closed up somewhat before reaching tho buoy at Manly; Aoma again secured the lead, tho timet? being: Aoma, 4h. 18m. 405.; Meteor, 4h. 20m. 365.; Isea, 4h. 26m. 365.; Actffla, 4h. 27m, 385.; White Wings, 4h. 36m. Bs. For the run back to Shark Island spinnakers, etc., were soon aloft, but the breeze flying about between N.E. and N.W., made it rather difficult to know what to do, the result being that "Jibe, oh" was the order perhaps more than Oncte before ireaching Shark Island, where the rounding times wore as follow:— Aoma, 4h. 54m. 575.; Meteor, 4h. 57m. 275.: Isoa sh. lm. 495.; Actaea, sm. 4m. 295.; and White Wings. Leading up to Fort Denison, jib-topsails and balloon foresails wore in evidence on the larger yachts; tho positions were maintained to the Fort, where it was found the breeze had almost died out. Then somo ominous clouds of dust were to be seen, rising from tho north-west, and Meteor shortly after assumed the lead, but in a few minutes tho squall burst upon them, and away they tore towards the pile light. Aoma, after passing Bradley's Head, kept tho western shore aboard, and by bo doing benefited considerably. All upper canvas, excepting Acttea's, was taken in, the latter craft carrying on as usual. About half-way to the rounding mark the wind chopped somewhat, which apparently gave Aoma a slant, and the only alteration over the rest of the course was that White Wings came up considerably, passing both Act-tea and Meteor. Isea passed the latter, and the flagboat was passed as follows:—Aoma, 61). 42m. 225.; Isea, 6h. 43m. 355.; White Wings, 6h. 44m. Is.; Meteor, 6h. 45m, 47a.; and Actaea, 6b. 46m. 355. Thus Aoma wins the first prize, beating Isea by lm. 135., which in turn secures the second prize with 265. to spare from White Wings. The latter, however, obtains the third, prize by lm. 465. from Meteor, the fifth craft arriving 48s. later. The yachts wore in charge of their owners.

SYDNEY AMATEUR SAILING CLUB. Tha first two events of the Sydney amateurs' series of scratch races wore contested on the 2nd inßt. These were for boats 16ft and 20ft rating respectively. Although the number of entries was small— in each event—this class of racing is euro to produce good results, and eventually lead to the building of several new craft. The course for both oyents was from Farm Cove, round the lightship, Sow and Pigs, Shark Island, thenco round Fort Denison, Shark Island, and finishing across starting-line. Following are the particulars:— rating: The entries were as follows:—Mercia, Laurel, and Topaz. Morcia and Laurel got away-well together at tho start, Topaz being some 10 minutes late. On the thrash down the harbour Laurel sailed splendidly, and at Bradley's had opened out a fair lead. From here she stood over to the eastern shore, _ which completely spoiled her chance. Mercia in the meantime worked the opposite side of the harbour, and at the lightship had nearly 7m. to spare from her opponent. Spinnakers were set for the run to - Shark Island, ovet which part of the course Mercia increased her lead. The times taken at Fort Denison wero:—Mercia, _4h. 54m. 10s.; Laurel, sh. 2m. 50s. lie "latter here retired, leaving Mercia to finish,' which she did at 6h. Bm. 255. ' Mercia was built by Logan . Brothers, and Laurel by O. Bailey, jun., of Auckland. ;