THE YACHTING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18566, 26 November 1923, Page 7

THE YACHTING SEASON.

DEVONPURT CLUB.

FIRST HARBOUR RACES.

DECIDED IN HARD BREEZE..

The Devonport Yacht Club held its first series of harbour races on Saturday afternoon. A fresh south-westerly wind was blowing, accompanied by a heavy sea. which made matters very lively for all hands, especially the open boats. Prior to the start of the 18ft. class, Mawhiti got her mainsheet foul in a gybe and capsized off Stanley Bay, arid the square . bilge boat Continuance turned over off Victoria Wharf. All 'he events started and finished off the Victoria Wharf, where a large number of people assembled to witness the racing. As. usual, gre.it interest was taken in the race for the lift, one-design class, which resulted in a. win for Mr. G. Hogson's Joan by 58 seconds from Nyria, with Bona, third. The new boat, Queen March, made a poor showing-, and eventually gave up. Mr. L. M, Wood acted as judge, and Mr. W. A. Wilkinson as starter and timekeeper. The racing details arc as follows:—Classes A and B (keel yachts).—V ictory. Little Jim and lorangi were the only competitors. Moana carrying way her mainsail a few minutes before the start. On, the fall of the last flag. Little Jim crossed the line well clear of Victory, and 40 seconds later came lorangi. .Victory and Jorangi overhauled Little Jim on the lead to the first mark, and after getting round lorangi headed Victory, maintaining her lead till the finish, which was timed as follows:—lorangi (scr), 4h 13m 50s; Little Jim (17m), 4h 25m lis. Victory did not complete the course. The result was: Little Jim, 1 ; lorangi, 2.

THE CENTREBOARD BOATS. Class H (26-fcoters).—This class was sen*, away at 2.50 p.m.. Spray crossing the line sliahtlv in the lead of Mistletoe and Marere. with Starlight 2im. late Spray was still in charge when they rounded the first mark, followed by Marere. Mistletoe and Starlight, which order was kept for the remainder of the course. The finishing times were: Spray (8m). 4h 53m lis: Marere (10m). 4h 56-n 30s; Mistletoe (12m), 5h 0m ss. Starlight did not finish. The result was: Spray, i; Mistletoe, 2; Marere, 3. Classes L and N (22ft. and 20ft. mullat boats).— led the way over the line in this event, which was started at, 3 p.m.: then came Wairere, Winifred, Ngaru, Doreen, and Valeria. Gladdie was 2m and Lorna 5Jm late. A close race to the top mark saw Winifred round it first, followed by Venus, Wairere. and Valeria in that order. Passing the Victoria Wharf ort. the. broad lead to the Bastion mark, Wairero and Winifred were running on level terms, with Valeria, Venus, Doreen and Ngaru handy. After making the Bastion light Winifred and Venus headed Wairere, but when they returned to the harbour from. the channel mark. Valeria worked her way into first place, followed by Winifred and Wairere. the last-named again passing Venus. The .'Wishing times were: Valeria (scr), 5h 3m 30s; Winifred (sm), 5h 4m 35s Wairere (7m), 5h 5m 365; Doreen '7m), 5h 6m 3s• Venus dim), 5h 6m 15s. Lorna and Gladdie did not finish. The result was: Wairere, 1; Doreen. 2: Winifred, 3. Classes M and V (18-footers).—The boats in this event wero despatched at 3.5 p.m., Matarere crossing the line well ahead her rivals; Magic cam© next, and then MiHicent and Wizard. Valaise was 6m and Secret 6m 20s late. Once in the lead Matarere was % never headed. Passing the Victoria Wharf on the completion of the first round, the Matarere was leading Magic by a minute, • the latter being 45 seconds in front of Millicent. Some distance further astern came Secret. Wizard and Valaise did not complete the first round. The finishing: times were: Matarere (scr). 4h 81m 60s; Magic (scr), 4h 37m 85s; Millicent (7m), 4h 37m 50s. Secret did not complete the course. The result .was: Matarere, 1; Millicent, 2; Magic, 3. -■-.• v ■-■ Class T.— this race the officials decided to send the boats round the course once owing to the severe conditions prevailing. The last flag fell at 3.15 p.m., Viper getting well away to time, with Tui, Shell* - and Rover handy. Owing to some misunderstanding, however, Tui and Sheila came back, and after reaching the starting line, took no part in the race. Meanwhile, Valet and Omaki put in an appearance, the former being 3m and the latter 3m 15s late. By this time Viper had. opened up a very long lead, which she maintained to tk? fin-., ish, Valet being the only other competitor to complete the course. The times were: Viper (scr), 4h 5m 50s, 1: Valet (scr), 4h 12m 16s, 2. Class Y.—The starting flags were hoisted for class Y at 3.20 p.m., but no boats puS in an appearance, and the race was declared off. - - "'•'.

A WIN FOR JOAN. . Class X (14ft. one-deaign).— competitor-- in this class were sent away to a splendid .tart at 3.30 p.m. Desert Gold 'led way over the line, closely followed by Rona, Queen March. Joan. Nyria. and Iron Duke, Meteor was lm 20s late. On the lead down to the Sandspit beason. Desert Gold ':ept her ' position, but both Rona and Queen March had to give r'aco to Joan. The order rounding the beacjn was: Desert Gold. Joan, Nyria, Rona, Queen March, Iron Duke, and Meteor. On the beat acrt.es to Resolution, Desert Gold did well until ap- , proaching Orakei, where Joan worked out *,o windward of her. Further along the southern shore Nyria headed both Desert Gold and Joan, while Bona also replaced Desert Gold before they reached the mark- . boat Tangaroa. On the completion of the first round, the times were: Nyria, 4h 19m 455; 'Joan, 4h 20m 10s; Rona. 4h 20m 455; Desert Gold. 4h 21m 40b. Meanwhile Queen March, which was not carrying hex sail to advantage, gave up, and a little later Iron Duke and Meteor also retired. Nyria con-:•-tinued her lead right round the coarse until..' approaching ' the tide deflector, whera aha was passed to windward by Joan. This order was kept till the finish, which was timed as follows: Joan, 5h 0m 325. 1; Nyria, Sh lm 30s, 2; Rona, 5k 2m Is, 3; Desert Gold, 5h 5m 295.

MODEL YACHT SAILING. EVENTS AT HAMILTON. ; ; (BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COHRSSPONpENT«3 ' HAMILTON. Saturday. '_ The Hamilton Model Yacht' Club com- (l menced its 1923-S!4 season on the Hamilton Lake this afternoon. The results were: _ 2-foot Class.— Morris* Fairy, 1; J. Gil- " Allan's Opal. 2; V. Lowe's The Jap, 3. - 3-foot Class.—A. Bone's Rainbow, 1; H. Martin's Stag, 2; W. Matthews' Yank. 3. . ! 4-foot Class.— Taylor's Erin, 1; H. Martin's Ida, 2; W. Matthews' All Black* 8. . POWERBOAT ASSOCIATION. i RACE TO AWAROA BAY. The New Zealand Power-boat Association held a cruise in company to Awaroa Bay, Waiheke, on Saturday alternoon. The cruise took the form of a go-as-you-please race, under novel conditions. _ Each competitor was required to lind in the tune in which his boat -would complete the journey. For the first ten minutes after the start the boats' engines could be adjusted to the spec- desired, but after that they could not bo touched. The launch whose elapsed time was nearest to .that handed in was declared the winner. . The race started off the Kings Wharf at 245 p.m., the • competitors being: Valeka, Maroro. Wailani. Leitner, Buffalo Bill, ' Adelaide, and Ahuareka. . The boats had a rough trip down to the bay. but despite the conditions I ey reached their destination in good .'anc The result was Ahuareka first, Valeka second, and Buffalo Bill third. Iho winner was only one and a-half minutes outside her estimated time (2h 455), Valeka. (lh 45m). six cud a-half minutes; and Buffalo Bill (lh 55m), seven minutes, Mr. N. Campbell acted as starter and judge. In the evening a concert and dance was held in Gordon's Hall.

TAURANGA REGATTA. GOOD RACES EXPECTED. ' [BY TELEGRAPH.—-OWN LOKBESPONDES 1 TAURANG-A. Saturday. In connection with the forthcoming regatta, Mr. R. B. Handle, has donated • a silver cup to go to' the winner of the J4footer one-design race. Mr. E. Le Roy. of Auckland, ha? presented a flag, which is to ho awarded in connection with the ocean' yacht race, from Auckland to Tauranua. Dr. MacKnight'a launch Opal, which was purchased at Thames, has arrived here. A new fourteen-footer, of the Houa cla«°. has been launched by her owners, Messrs. Moffatt and lies. This boat is beautifully finished, and sails well. Mr, Oliver's new launch has been given a trial. and has acquitted herself creditably. Other hew boa are in commission, and with Railing craft and oarsmen from Auckland, and oarsmen from Whakatane, there fftre excellent prospects for a succ.ssful regatta. .