AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11605, 20 March 1901, Page 6

AQUATICS.

ROYAL SYDNEY YACHT SQUADRON. WIN FOR AOMA. THE Sydney Daily Telegraph of tho 11th inst. says:—A spanking north-oast wind and a fairly good sea outside fairly tried the woatherly qualities of tho competitors in, the annual race for the Gascoigne Cup on Saturday. Of the five entrants, Janet did not face tho music, and this left Isea and the three 30-footers, Aoma, Heather, and Petrel, to battle it out. The last-named trio made short work of the scratch boat, and for the second year in succession Aoma won 'the cup. Mr. Dixson's craft owed her success in a largo measure to the excellent treatment she received outside in the capable hands of Stan. Stevens. Heather and Petrel weso well sailed also, and the 30-foot "cruisers" fairly surprised the .cognoscenti by their good behaviour in a seaway. The conditions of the cup are that it must be won three times in succession by the same yacht, so that Aoma has now a really good chance of annexing this muchdiscussed challenge trophy. The course was from Farm Cove round a flagboat off Long Reef, thence round Fort Denison, Shark Island, and back to Farm Cove. The club steamer, Sir William Wallace, followed the race, with a number of members and their friends on board. Messrs. A. G. Milson and A. Minnett were the officials in charge. Result: —

Aoma, A. Dixson, 12m., £12 and cup ... 1 Heather, Dr. Gordon Craig, 12m., £4- ... 2 Petrel, S. M. Dempster, 12m., £1 ' ... 3 Other starter: Isea, W. M. Marks, scratch. Janet, as- previously mentioned, did not start. The 30-footers received their allowance at tho start, and all three, as well as Isea, came to the- post with reefed mainsails. Aoma was the first to cross the line, and Heather and Petrel close up". These three stuck to the eastern shore on the beat down the harbour, and Aoma always had a slight advantage of her rivals. The scratch boat was - interfered with by a steamer before reaching Bradley's, and this, coupled with the fact that she was sailing badly, loft her further astern at the south reef. Once outside the breeze was steadier, and before reaching the Long Reef mark the whole of the yachts had shaken out their reefs. A fairly long board to clear Blue Fish and then short tacks were worked in-shorc, with the result that Aoma drew slightly further ahead, though the 30-footers made a great race all the way. Isea, on the other hand, was not half as comfortable in the/ sea. . Squaring away at the Long Reef mark the times were: Aoma, 4-h. 38m.; Heather, 4h. 39m. 505.; Petrel, ,41). 40m. 525.; Isea, 4h. 55m. The last-named, it will be seen, was 17m. behind tho leading boat. Running back to port, Aoma got away from Heather, and the iattei in turn increased her lead from Petrel, tho first-named having lm. 475. to spare at the buoy, where Heather was Ira. 435. in front of Petrel. Isea did not round the island. Over the remainder of the course Aoma increased her advantage, and Petrel picked Heather up considerably. Times at the finish wore: Aoma, 6h. 29m. 305.; Heather, 6h. 33m. 205.; and Petrel, 6h. 33m. 595. Comparing times, therefore, Apxas- secures her second leading for the cup with 3m. 50s. to spare from Heather, which beat Petrel by 39b. .