YACHTING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 14

YACHTING NOTES.

THE ANNIVERSARY REGATTA. STEAMER RANGITOTO SECURED/ Hr spindrift. ' The question of securing a flagship for the Aniversary Regatta was discussed at a meeting of the Regatta committee this week. Mr. J. H. Frater, chairman of the flagship and site committee stater] that the Union Steam Ship Company could not see its way to grant the use of the Tofua as flagship. In view, of this ho had secured the steamer Rangitoto, whirl! recently arrived from England, and he suggested that she could be used by the ' committee to make three or four excursion trips on regatta day. This would give the public an excellent opportunity of following the various races besides giving them an outing on the harbour. Mr Frater also suggested that in case the Calliope Dock site might be required the committee should make application for it for regatta day. The meeting heartily approved of Mr Frater's idea and the flagship committee was given power to charter the Rangitotr It was also resolved to apply for tho use of the dock site. • Moana's Good Performance. • A feature of tho Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's general handicap last Saturday was the performance of tho Moana which sailed a splendid race from start to finish. A very hard southerly wind was blowing when the race started and with the exception of Itaweno all tho competitors were reefed, some having two tucks in and others one. The conditions, however, wero to Moana's liking, especially in the short seaway. . When the boats reached Orakei a verv severe squall struck them, but they ail saw it coming and were prepared for it. After it had passed over the Wind fell light and all the boats shook out to whole sail. These conditions prevailed for about an hour when tho wind again freshened and the boats got "more than they were looking for." lorangi alwavs had a good lead from her smaller rivals, but there was not very much between Rawene, Prizo and Moana. . On tho first time out for the Saltworks buoy, Moana headed Rawene and caught up on Prizo, finally passing the last-named before reaching the channel-mark for the second time. Beating back to tho Bastion, Prize hung on too long before going about and was caught on the wrong tacK by Rawene. This of course put Prize out of the race and she hauled down her flag. Moana was now more than holding her lead up and finished next to lorangi - Lady WUnia also did well on the day. When the boats crossed the finishing lino they wero well flattened out by tho hard breeze. Through a clerical error Rawene was placed third instead of lorangi. Moana defeated Lady Wilma, for first prize by lm 41s. t Akarana Club's Races. The hard southerly wind that prevailed last Saturday somewhat marred the races held by the Akarana Yacht Club. Verv good entries had been received for ail events, but only a few of the boats in the various classes got away to time, the majority being late, while a fair number failed to put in an appearance. -On the day however, the showing was a good one • which speaks well for the sporting spirit of the competitors. Li the race for the 16ft. and 18fL boats to Awaroa Bay three competitors braved the elements, tho 16 footer Namu, with her youthful crow, leading the way across tho finishing lino and adding a welldeserved win to her credit. She got a bit of a dusting coming home on Sunday, but camo through it all right. Sheila once again demonstrated her qualities in" a "blow" _ beating both tho Viper and Ngaio which were giving her a' fair amount of time. Viper mat with a mishap to her tiller on the second round and gavo up, but even before the mishap she was unable to foot it with Sheila. Tho new 22-footer Huia was doing well in her class until her headsails got out of hand which cost her some minutes and in the meantime was passed by Ngaru 11. The latter sailed a much better race than usual and secured a long over-duo win. The southerly wind caused a somewhat unpleasant roll at Awaroa Bay, but with one or two exceptions all tho boats remained in the bay overnight, tho crews attending the club's dance ashore at Gordon's Hall. It was still bio win"; pretty fresh on Sunday morning tho wind having shifted to about south-west and all the boats made an' early start for homo. NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD. REGATTA IN FEBRUARY. The annual meeting to make arrangements for the Northcote and Birkenhead regatta was largely attended. Mr. A. V. Tyer presided. The outgoing committee was congratulated on the success of last season's function. The credit balance brought forward was £38. It vas intimated that the date allocated for the fixture was Saturday, February 7. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Sir James Gunson; vice-patron, Mr. E. Davis;, president, Mr. M. H. Walsh; secretary, Mr. N. J. Campbell; assistant-secretary, Mr. F. 0. Devlin; treasurer, Mr. A. Patterson; committee— Messrs. A. V. Tver (chairman), Tims. Boyd, K. Bovd, C. Bowman, B. Ellis, A. Clare, A. Hurley, W. Hurlev, A. W. Millar, S. L. Miller, B. Mayall, H. Mo. Laughlin, Jesse Reed, S. Dickson, J. Taylor, A. Clark, J. T. Fearnley, G. F. Lepper, G. O'Leary and A. Stilwell. TAKAPUNA BOATING CLUB. The Takapuna Boating Club will hos two races this afternoon. The entries and handicaps arc as follow." Open race, to start at 2 p.m..—Muru, scr. ; Pixie, 4m. ; Sea Crest, 4m.; Sea Dawn, 4m.; Swallow, 13m. ; Playmate, 14m. Class Z, to start at 2.30 Winsome, scr. ; Toi, 305.; Sport, lm. 30s. ; Lai Lai, lm. 455.