PONSONBY REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18340, 5 March 1923, Page 9

PONSONBY REGATTA.

NINTH ANNUAL FIXTURE.

INTERESTING FINISHES.

DOUBLE WIN FOR THE RONA.

The Ponsonby Cruising Club held its ninth annual regatta on Saturday under ideal weather conditions. A light south-south-west breeze was blowing in the early part of the afternoon, the wind increasing in strength later in the day. The scow Era was used as flagship and was well patronised by the public. The Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band enlivened the proceedings with a choice programme.

Good entries were received for the 11 events and with one or two exceptions all the boats / that had entered faced the starter.

The 14ft. one-design boat Bona added two more wins to her credit—the usual event for her class and the special race for the Hewson Memorial Cup. The latter is confined to youths under 21 and carries with it the junior championship of Auckland. In both her races the Rona was sailed by J. Gifford. The officials in charge of the racing were: Starter and judge, Mr. 0. Butler i timekeepers, Messrs. W. D. Ross and E. J. Kelly. The secretary, Mr. H. G. Carr, carried out his numerous duties in a capable manner. Details are as follows : —

The Keel Yachts. The race for keel yachts brought out Speedwell, Vanitie, Cooee, Wairiki. Maybelle, and Cynthia. Wairiki was first away and was closely followed by Maybelle, Speedwell, and Vanitie; a little later came Cooee, while Cynthia was still further away. Vanitie gradually drew away from her rivals and opened up a long lead, which she maintained for the remainder of the course. Speedwell was disabled going up the harbour, and was towed to her moorings. Wairiki led Cooee to _ within ten seconds of reaching the finishing post, when . the latter passed her. The " finishing , times were: Vanitie (2}m), 4h 12m 445; Cooee dim), 4h 19m 375; Wairiki (9m). 4h 19m 453; Maybelle (141 m). 4h 23m 265; Cynthia (22m), 4h 35m 225. Eesult: Cooee, 1; Maybelle. 2: Vanitie. 3.

The Centreboard Boats. The start of the race for the 26ft. mullet boats was an excellent one. Waitere 11. led the -way over the line, and next to her came Esma. Marere. Celox, Awatere, Starlight, Sadie, Mistletoe, and Kotare in that order. Waiter© 11. continued her lead out to the channel mark, and was still in charge when the boats returned to the harbourBy this time Starlight had replaced Esma, Marere, Awatere, and Celox, while the lastnamed had also passed Esma and Marere. The finishing times were. Waitere 11. (scr), 4h 19m 8s; Starlight (2m), 4h 22m 15s; Celox Urn), 4h 24m 575: Kotare (Sim). 4h 28m 3s; Sadie (3lm), 4h 28m 18s; Esma (101 m), 4h 20m 82s; Marere (16m). 4h 31m ss; Awatere (12& m). 4h 32m 30s: Mistletoe (14m). 4h 4(>m 20s. Result: Marere. 1, Esma, 2; Waitere 11., 3. . Another good start was effected in the race for 22-footers. which brought out ten competitors. Marie crossed the line at gunfire and next to her came Venus. Lovehght, Forest Gold. Mowai, Hilda, and Doreen in the order named, with the others a little further astern. Marie immediately set a small jib as a spinnaker and headed the fleet down the harbour and, back again, closely followed by Venus, which was sailing exceptionally well under her new suit. The finishing times were; Marie (scr). 4h 8m 13s: Venus (sm), 4h 9m 8s: Forest Gold (10m), 4h 9m 375; Ngaru 11. (4m). 4h 10m 255; Mowai (81m). 4h 11m 435; Doreen (Sim), 4h 13m 13s; Hilda (9m). 4h 13m 465: Lovelight (9m). 4h 14m 20s; Daphne (lOtm). 4h 14m 575; Rouen ißim), 4h 17m 455. Result: Forest Gold, 1; Mowai, 2; Venus. 3. . . The race for the 20ft. mullet boats saw Winifred. Lorna. Gloaming. Waiapu, and Waywvd face the starter. Winifred was first away, and once in the lead she was never overtaken. The finishing times were: Winifred (scr), 4h 18m 15s; Gloaming (7m). 4h 20m 38s; Waiapu (slm). 4h 25m lis; Wayward (9»m). 4h 28m ; Lorna (10m). 4h 30m 355. Result: Gloaming, 1; Winifred. 2; Wayward, 3.

The 18-Footers. Considerable interest was taken in the race for the 18ft. and 16ft. classes, which raced together, the competitors including the new patikts Matarere and Mawhiti Fifteen boats took part in the race, * nd after a general crowding on the line during which one or two boats collided, the fleet was despatched to a fairly even start. Milncent was first to show out, and next to her came Matarere, Mascotte, Miro, Mawhiti. Atangatai, Champagne, Ben Bolt and Wizard, with the rest close up. It was a lead to the top mark, and before the boats had gone very far Matarere took charge, with Millicent, Champagne Ben Bolt. Secret, Mawhiti, and Wizard following in the order named. On the run to the Sulphur Bay mark. Wizard worked her way into second position. Champagne was now third, and Millicent fourth. Then came Mawhiti. Secret, and Namu. Passing the tide deflector' for the first time the order was: Matarere, Wizard. Champagne, Mawhiti, Namu, Millicent, Secret. Mascotte, Atangatai, and Ben Bolt. At the flagship Matarere was leading Wizard by a little over a minute, the two boats being well ahead of the other competitors. Matarere continued her lead for the remainder of the course, followed by Wizard. The run from the Watchman mark saw very little change in the positions of the boats, but when they stood across the harbour for the tide deflector mark. Mawhiti passed Champagne, which dropped two of her crew overboard. Meanwhile, Namu also overtook Champagne, which continued in the race after picking up her two hands. The finishing times were:. Matarere (3m), 4b Kim 225; Wizard (scr). 4h 11m 21s; Mawhiti (3m). 4h 13m 445; Namu (3m). 4h 13m 60s; Champagne (4m), 4h 14m 10s; Millicent (4m), 4h 15m. 80s; Mascotte (7m). 4h 19m 80s; Atangatai (8m). 4h 19m 355; Ben Bolt (Bra), 4h 19m 475; Tiri (15m), 4h -21m 13s; Toss TJp (13m), 4h 21m 365; Dorothy (14m) 4h 23m 455: Miro (8m). 4h 26m 9s;. Phoebe (18m), 4h 28m 28s; Fleetwing (20m), 4b 28m 555. Result: Tiri, 1; Matarere, 2; Toss Up, 3.

The Open Boat Events. There were 13 competitors in the race for the T class (14ft. handicap boats). On the fall of the last flag, Omnki crossed the line, just ahead of Hapuka. Viper, Redwing, Valett and'Aotea; the 'rest being handy. Arawa worked her way into the lead up the harbour, and was closely followed by Viper, Valet Omaki," and Aotea. On the second round Arawa was replaced by both Valet and Viper. The finishing times were: Valet (scr). 4h 28m 355; Viper (sm). 4h 28m 455; Arawa <4m), 4h 29m 15s; Amaki (9m), 4h 29m 455: Aotea (18m). 4h 31m 345; Hapuka (13m), 4h 33m 17s; Redwing (6ra), 4h 33m 28s; Eileen B. (8m), 4b 34m 37a; Ola 11. '9m}, 4b 34m 40s; Rex (10m). 4h 34m 475; Rosina (15m), 4h 35m 645; lola (15m). 4h 38m Ms. Result: Aotea, 1; Hapuka. 2; Omaki. 3. Ten boats started in the race for the Y class (14ft. square bilge), the fleet being led over the line by Sea Hawk with Cunid. Sea King. Bea Gnome. Sea De'il. and Sea Mew handy. Sea Gnome quickly assumed the lead, but before she bud gone very far sho had to give place to Cupid, the latter maintaining her position for the remainder of the course, followed by Sea Gnome. The finishing times were: Cupid (scr). 4h 28m 28s; Sea Gnome (sm), 4h '29m 455; Sea Imp Him) 3h 32m 10? ; Sea De'il (2m). 4h 32m "f; Sea Spook (sm). 4h 34m 2s; Sea King (2}m), 4h 34 m 10s: Continuance (6m). 4h 34m 555; Sea Elf (10m). 4h 36m 21s; Sea Mew (6m). 4h 38m 12s: Sunray (15m) 4h 38m 555. Result: Sea Imp. 1; Sunray, 2; Sea Gnome. 3. : The race for the Takapuna one-design class brought out Winsome. Tio, Maud, and Kitty and resyltud M follows:-Winsome. 4h 10m 455. 1; Kitty 4h 13m 2s. 2; Maud. 4h 19m 225. 3. Tio did not finish.

The One-Design Class. The following boats started in the race f or the i* ft - one-design class:—lron Duke Rangi. Rona, Nyria. Betty. Joan. Desert Gold, and Resolute. From an excellent start Nyria was first away, and was still in charge on the completion of the first round the order passing the flagship being: Rona, Iron Duke Joan. Rjsolute. Betty, Desert Gold, and Rangi. Rona and Nyria were now making a close race of it, and on the turn from the Watchman to the Sulphur mark Rona drew level with Nyria. and finally passed her. Joan also replaced Iron Duke. Desert Gold, which was sailed by her new owner. Mr. T. G. Parker, gave up at the top mark. The finishing times were:—Rona. Sh 29m 13s; Nyria. 3h 29m 665: Joan. 8h 30m, 7s; Iron Duke. 3h 30m 575: Betty. 3h 32m 465; Rangi. 3h 33m 10s Result: Rona. 1; Nyria. 2: Joan. 3. The same boats started in the race for the Hewson Memorial Cup. This race, however, was confined to youths under 21, several of the older hands giving place to the younger members. Rangi got the best of the start, and close on her stern came Resolute. Betty, Iron Duke, Desert Gold. Rona, and Coan. Nyria was almost 2m late and eventually gave up Resolute passed Rangi shortly after the start, and before the first pile beacon was reached Rona sailed throrgh the fleet, and once in the lead the issue was never in doubt. The finishing times were:— Rona, 5h 3m 43p; Joan. 5h 5m 14s; Desert Gold. 5h 6m 495: Betty. 6h 7m 8s: Rangi. 6h 7m 37a: Iron Duke, 5h 8m; Resolute. 5h Urn 13s. Result: Rona. 1; Joan, 2; Desert Gold. 3.

The Launch Race. Ten boats , started and finished in the genera] handicap for launches. Daisy was first away. Kowbai. Esme. Te Akau and Countess following in that order. The finishing times were:—Esme (sm), 3h 24m s?s; Kermath (12m) 3h 28m 235; Esther G (9m). 3h 33m 235; Alwyn U4Jm), ?h 33m 335; Daisy (19Jm). 3h 37m 858;.Ny' *. (16m), 8h 40m 7s; Countess (221 m), 3h 40m 6s;,Hinemoa (17m). 3h 40m 9s; Kowhai (22} m). 3h 45m.455; Te Akau (22m). 3h 61m 355. Result: Kermath. 1; Countess. 2; Daisy. 8.