AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 6

AQUATICS.

SYDNEY YACHTING.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph of the 4th hist, contains the following account of a yacht race in which a number of Auckland-built yachts were engaged: —

Mr. S. Hordern's Fleetwing out up a fine performance on Saturday, when she succeeded in defeating the famous Magic, after a beautiful race from start ;to finish. Favoured with a good north-easter, it was expected that the " fast oruisers" would have a chance with the more extreme racer type, but Saturday's race demonstrated clearly enough that under any conditions the latter will finish ahead. It proved, too, that Magio can sail in a fairly hard breeze, as well as in light weather, and that if the two classes are to be raced together next season, it will be necessary to institute handicap racing in the 30-rating class, to give the "cruisers" a chance. The absolute winner of Saturday's race should have been Bona, and with a freshening breeze Mr. Chinnery's craft would probably have been an easy first had she not carried away her gaff. This was really hard luck for her owner. The course measured 16 2-5 miles. Result: —

Fleetwing, 29.6 rating (S. Hordern), 16m., £10 105... ...... ... ... ... 1 Magic, 30-rating (J. 0. Fairfax), 15m. ss.* £6 6s ... ... ... ... ;,. ...2 Heather, 30.9-rating (Dr. Gordon Crais")' 13m. 10s., £3 3s ...... .„ .. 3 Other starters: Bona, 39.2-rating (J. E. Chinnery), scratch; "Aoma, 30.8-rating (A. Dixson), 13m. 235.; Cooya, 30.6-rating (A. W. Crane), 13m. 485.; Petrel, 30.4-rating (S. M. Dempster), 14m. 14s. Fleetwing crossed the line at half-past two p.m., and the others followed in accord with their handicaps—or nearly so. Fleetwing and Magio soon opened out from the others, and these two made a close race of it all the way to Manly. All chose the western shore to cut the tide, Bona all the'time drawing closer to the 30-footers. Nearing the buoy the scratch boat crossed Oooya, but the latter got a slant, and the two rounded together. Fleetwing and Magic in the meantime had sailed almost tack for tack, and the former drew away slightly as they approached the buoy, while Petrel was well ahead of the others. Squaring away at Manly, the times were: —Fleetwing, ; 3h. 43m. 175.; Magic, 3h. 44m. 35.; Petrel, '46m. 135.; Aoma, 3h. 48m. 255.; Heather, 3h. 48m. 395.; Bona- and Cooya, 3h. 50m. 495. Oi Fleetwing , was thus 465. ahead of the "green boat," but with spinnakers drawing, Magic caught her rival, and was 6s. ahead at the Shark Island jibe. Bona in the meantime had run away from Oooya, but opposite the Heads her gaff broke, and she was obliged to lower sails and retire from the contest. Petrel, Aoma, Heather, and Cooya all negotiated ".a flying jibe" at Shark 'Island, but no damage was done, fortunately, and the same order was maintained at Fort Denison, where they were timed: —Magic, 4h. 26m. 405.; Fleetwing, 4h. 26m. 555.: Petrel, 4h. 30m. 205.; Aoma, 4h. 32m. 215.; Heather, 4h. 32m. 58s; Cooya, 4h. 34m; 595. At the Fort Magic (eked shorter than Fleetwing, and both laid a course for Bradley's. Here, for some reason; the former made a short board inshore, a.nd Magic was about on top of her. A little later Magic caught the other on her wrong leg, and Fleet,wing cut it very fine before giving way. Then both stood into Taylor Bay, and Fleetwing came out to windward of her rival. Once ahead the Fife boat showed better form than her rival, and the hardening breeze ■ seemed to suit her better, too. So much so, in fact, that Fleetwing was lm. 20s. ahead at the Pile; then came Petrel, Aoma, Heather, and Cooya. Here the last-named retired, and, running back. Petrel very nearly fouled a capsized craft; and, having to haul a wind to get clear, the other two passed her at Steel Point. Magic in the meantime was slowly overhauling the boat ahead; but the distance was not far enough to enable the Summers and Payne craft to add another to her already long string of victories. At the finish the times were: — Fleet-wing, sh: 24m. 405.; Magic, sh. 25m. Is.; Heather, sh. 31m. 595.; Aoma, sh. 32m. 585.; Petrel, sh. 33m. 575. Thus Fleetwing, well handled by Mr. S. Hordern, jun., scores her maiden victory by 21s. from Magic, which defeated Heather by 6m. 585., the last-named gaining third place with 595. to spare from Aoma. S. Stevens had charge of Aoma. . ' »