AQUATICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 7

AQUATICS

The Mercer regatta takes place to-day. Ponsonby annual regatta takes place on Saturday afternoon next. The first races of the season of flie Now Zealand Yacht Squadron are sot down for December 14. North Shore Yacht Club's first races of the season take place at the North Shore this afternoon. A model race has been added to the programme of the Ponsonby Regatta. The weather has been very unfavourable for yachting this month owing to strong winds and heavy seas. Volunteer and Ida visited Waiwera last Saturday and Sunday, and coming home got the full strength of the heavy squalls. Ida was more fortunate than Volunteer, as she left about an hour ahead, and thus missed the extreme sea, which the latter met with coming through the passage. Mr. H. H. Hayr, well known in local sporting circles, has placed an order with Bailey and Lowe for a 40ft oil launch, which is now in course of building. The launch is to have a house on deck and the interior fittings will be thoroughly up to date. Ponsonby Sailing Club hold a general meeting on Thursday evening next, the principal business to bo discussed being the registering of the club. Parnell Sailing Club inaugurated the season last Saturday by a series of races, which were very interesting. The entries, however, were hardly so numerous as might be expected, but I hope that an improvement in the matter will be apparent at the next series, which arc set down, for January 25. Perhaps the most interesting race at Parnell last Saturday was the model race, which was fought out between Master dagger's Tutley and Mr. W. A. Reed's Edna, the former winning after a good race. Thelma went down to Station Bay on Sunday and got a raro "dusting" coming back at night, meeting with the heaviest of the squalls which prevailed. ■ _ Ladye Wilma was out on Saturday for her first cruise of the season.

North Shore Rowing Club hold trial fours List Saturday at Cheltenham Beach; and those present had a very enjoyable outing. The weather has not been at all favourable lor rowing lately, but a number of crews from the various clubs venture out for practice work both morning and evening. Spray, the new yacht built by Messrs. Bailey and Lowe for Mr. Emtage, of Malmrangi, is giving her owner every satisfaction. The yacht will come up to compete in the Ponsonby regatta, next week. Ponsonby Cruising Club's opening cruise, which took placo at Howick last Saturday, was a great success. There were about 200 members present and the fleet numbered 13 yachts. The club gave a first-class smoke concert in the evening, to which the residents of Howick were invited. Mr. Passmoro (the patron) addressed the members and said that it was his first outing with the club and that ho was more than pleased with it and lie would allow his trophy to be won outright instead of at intervals. Messrs. Logan Bros.' yacht Myrtle, whici; they sent away to Honolulu some month') ago, has turned out to be very fast, she being described by the Honolulu paper as "the New Zealand flyer." The little yacht has won each race in which she was engaged, and the builders are to bo congratulated upon adding one more laurel to their record as designers and builders of fast yachts. Messrs. Bailey and Lowe have now in hand two oil launches for pleasure purposes to the order of local residents, both being 28ft in length. NEW YACHT FOR HONOLULU. Messrs. Bailey and Lowe have just completed the 3-rater for Prince Kalanianaole, which that gentleman ordered during his recent visit to Auckland, and if possible she will be a competitor at the Ponsonby regatta next Saturday. The yacht is diagonal built, with two skins, and everything used in her construction is local material, The planking is all of one length, and is beautifully finished off, the hull being polished. She is fitted with a polo mast, ail the spars being of kauri timber. She has the appearance of being very fast, and should uphold the reputation of our local yacht builders. She is fitted with a complete suit of sails, by, Messrs. Ross and Ansenno.

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA. The committee of the Anniversary Regatta, which is to be held on January 29 next, are working energetically to ensure its success. A vigorous canvass of the city and suburbs will be commenced this week for funds to carry out the details. The preliminary programme, which comprises 26 events/appears in another part of this issue, but will probably be amended before the night of entry. _

NORTH SHORE YACHT CLUB._ The first races of the season of the North Shore Yacht Club will be held at the North Shore this afternoon, and, as there is every prospect of fine wind and weather, some interesting races may be anticipated. All races will start and finish between the end of Calliope Dock wharf and a marked boat moored duo south of it. Owing to the big gun practice from the fort at the North Head, the courses of all races have been altered, and competitors should bear this in mind. The following are the entries and handicaps :—■ Yachts exceeding 25ft 1.w.1.: Ladye V\'ilma being the only entrant, there will be no race. Yachts not exceeding 25ft overall or 20ft waterline (limit boat to start at a-quarter past two p.m.). Entries and handicaps: Kotare, scratch; Rcwi, 5m.: Moa, 6m.; Icarus, 10m.; Shelia, 10m. : Colleen, 14m. Course: From starting-line off Calliope Dock wharf, round first buoy round North Head, keeping outside Sandspit buoy, thence round markboat in Hobson's Ray, thence round iron hulk Occident off Queen-street Wharf, thence inside Calliope Dock buoy to start-ing-line, twice round ; 14 miles. Yachts not exceeding 20ft overall (limit boat to start at twenty-five minutes to three p.m.). Entries and handicaps: Clarice, scratch; Seahorse, scratch; Boomerang-, 2m.; Paua, 10m. Course, same as last race, once round, seven, miles.

Yachts not exceeding 25ft 1.w.1. (limit boat to start at ten minutes to three p.m.). Entries and handicaps: Tangaroa, scratch; Isafrail, 6m.; Ofa, 6m.; Irish Lily, 6m.; Mavis, 6m.; TJira, Bm.; Ehoa, 10m. Course same a;, first race, twice round. Yachts, 26ft linear rating and under (to start at five minutes past three p.m.). Time allowance foi difference in rating. Entries: Speedwell, Matua, Bona, Alma. Course, same, as first race.

MERCER REGATTA. Tin? Mercer Regatta takes plaeo to-day, and '!> - committee have been working hard to make the aquatic carnival on th& Waikato River as successful as possible. Special trains have been arranged tar visitors, and it is anticipated that there will bo a largo assemblage on the occasion. The outrigger • vents are certaip to bring out some exciting contests, and the entries clearly prove that there is greater activity in rowing circles than for many years past. Except the North Shore Club, all the others: will row in boats built by Edwards and Son, of Princes Bridge, Melbourne, and no one of them is more than a year old, so that in this respect all competitors meet on an equal footing. I fully expect the outrigger racing to bo more interesting than ever known before in Auckland rowing, and it is difficult to pick the winners. However, I believe from all I can learn that West End, who have had such phenomenal success for some years past, will prove victors in several events. Auckland, who did not compete in regattas last year, have some likely crews, while Waitemata reckon they have one or two certainties on. North Shore have had difficulty with their crews, I am told, and can hardly expect to win. St. George's have been keeping quiet, but reckon they have a surprise or two on. As Mercer has one of the finest rowing courses in the North Island, the trip to see the outrigger rowing should be well worth the journey.

PONSONBY REGATTA. . An enthusiastic and hard-working committee have been doing yeoman service for the above function, and given fine weather next Saturday the outing should prove one of the most successful ever given by Ponsonby. Everything points to p most successful regatta. The Northern Company's fine steamer Wakatere will be the flagship on the occasion.

The entries received last night constitute a record, and the committee are to be congatulated on the large fields. For the firstclass yacht race there are seven entries, this being the largest number in this class ever received. There arc eight yachts engaged in the second-class race, while 11 boats areentered for another yacht race. _ In the rowing races there are also splendid entries. In the light-weight maiden race seven crews have entered; three crews in the junior gigs (open), four in the senior race, six in the heavy-weight maiden race,'three in. the light-weight junior race, and three in tho sfcumip race. Pour entries have been received for the model yacht race. A total of £32 10s was received as entry money. The following are the entries: — First-class Handicap Yacht Race: Ladye Wilnia, Moana, Kotiri, Ida, Rarero, Thetis, Halcyon. Second-class Handicap Yacht Race: Corirma, Hilary, Undine, Mabel, Huia, Peri, Aginora, Masher. Yachts, 26ft and under, linear rating: Speedwell, Bona, Eulalie, Matua, Miro. Patiki Class: Boomerang, Bronzewing, Eka, Kangaroo. Yachts,.26ft and under and over 22ft overall, centreboard and tuck stern, handicap: Italy, Spray, Flora, Kotiro, Brothers, Shamrook, Duchess, Cicily, Koneno, Pastime, Ofa. Yachts, 22ft and under, centreboard or otherwise, tuck stern, handicap: Merlin, Klito, Seahorse, Welcome Jack, Needle Fish, Venture, Mascotte, Ruru. Yachts, one and a-half rating (handicap): Vanora, Princess, Kiatere, Alma, Clarice, Rose, Wishbone. Maiden Fours (under lOst): Waitemata Boating Club (two crews), North Shore Rowing Club, Auckland Rowing Club, St. George's Rowing Club, West End Rowing Club (two crews). Junior Gigs (open): West End Rowing Club, Auckland Rowing Club, Waitemata Beating Ohib. * Senior Gigs (open): Auckland Rowing dub, West End Rowing Club (two crews), St. George's Rowing Club. Ladies' Pair-oar Race: Waitemata Boating Club. Maiden Gigs (open): Waitemata Boating Club, North Shore Rowing Club, Auckland Rowing Club, West End Rowing Club (two crews), St. George's Rowing Club. Junior Gigs (under lOst): West End Rowing Club (two crews), Waitemata Boating Club, St. George's Rowing Club. Stump Outrigger Race: W. J. Lovett (Auckland Rowing Club), 0. Thomson (St. George's Rowing Club), T. Richards (St. George's Rowing Club). Model Yacht Race: Tatters, Tutty, Edna, Aemejif, Winnie, Fairy Bell. Post entries will be received for this race up till the day. ___________ k?NX.