YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19230, 20 January 1926, Page 13

YACHT RACING.

LAST SATURDAY'S CONTESTS. LIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS. MANY BOATS IN TROUBLE. BY SPINDRUT. The weather last Saturday was rather 'light for racing and many boats that took part in the Akarana Yacht Club's events did not finish. When the races were started a northerly wind was blowing. This, however, held only until about 4 o'clock, when the breeze almost fell away to a calm.

The tide was then running in strongly and many smaller boats which had rounded the starter's launch were unable to make headway. In the meantime the slower boats caught up on tho leaders, but they also met with the same fate as the others when they made the turn at King's Wharf on completion of the first round. For some timo all were more or less becalmed, but tho breeze eventually freshened again from the ncrth and the boats that persisted were able to finish.

In the Rangitoto Channel the wind was even lighter and one by one the larger boats gave up. Of tho five yachts that started in the race for keel yachts only Scout comploted the course. In the mullet-boat classes eight out of 17 boats retired on account of the unfavourable weather. Generally speaking, the entries were exceptionally good, especially in the race for 16ft.. and 18ft. boats, which brought out 22 competitors. The M. and V. Glasses. The meeting of tho M. and V. boats always causes interest among the followers of these classes, and Saturday's race was no exception to the rule. Early in tho race Matarere, Mystic and Magic drew away from their opponents and although the conditions suited the square-bilge boats with their big spread of canvas they were unable to head Matarere. which led on both rounds of tho courso and carried off tho first prize. The other patikis, Marere, Mollie and Mawhiti, however, wero beaten round the courso by Mystic, Magic, Drone, Wild Wavo and several other 18ft. flatties.

In tho race for 14-footers, Sea Gnome had a big lead from Cupid in the first round, but in the second Cupid completely outsailed her and won rather easily.

For tho first time this season the three star boats put in an appearance and a more interesting race has not yet been witnessed between them. From tho start it could bo seen that Ola IV. was not going to have it all her own way. June got away first and led Ola IV. almost down to the Bastion beacon, where Ola IV. took tho lead. On rounding the beacon, however, Ola's boom touched the mark and she at onco withdrew from the race.

Juno then went into the lead and kept it until after rounding the mark off King's Wharf, when Moa passed her. From this onward the two boats hung on to one another and had a great luffing match, which took place when both a long way out of their course. Moa finally headed June and won by 345. C. Millet, the new owner of .Tune, was formerly owner of the 14-footer Sheila 11.

Cruise of the Adelaide. Mr. C. H. Palmer's motor yacht Adelaide has just returned from a three weeks' cruise in tho Hauraki Gulf. Numerous kinds of fish were caught, including hapuku, kingfish, schnapper and sharks. The sport with the sharks was particularly fine, 22 of _ them being landed. Three wero 9ft. 7in., 9ft. lOin. and 10ft. lin. in length, the remainder ranging from sft. to 7ft. Two of the large sharks contained young ones about 2ft. 6i». long. Tho sea, states one of tho crew, was covered with dorsal fins of the sharks attracted by the dead sharks hanging over the counter. Now and again a shark would swirl past the stern in an attempt to devour the bodies of the fish. Tho largest shark took about 10 minutes to a quarter of an hour to Tand with two men on the line, and then, when he was brought to the surface, was killed with a shot-gun. The shark-tail carried at the masthead of. tho launch Lady Joan is from the first mako caught this season. While away on their annual cruise the crew of the Lady Joan, who are very keen fishermen, were fishing at daybreak off fiercy Island, when Mr. F. McKay had the honour of landing the mako, after a strenuous two hours' playing on the vod. The shark tipped the scales at about 2201b., and was between 7ft. and Bft. long. Choice of the Avalon. The official announcement that the Avalon has been chosen to represent Auckland in the race for the Sanders Memorial Cup contest did not come as a surprise to anyone interested in yachting. In fact, her selection as the Auckland challenger was a foregone conclusion. Avalon has proved a good all-round boat, and will carry the full confidence of Aucklanders in her efforts to regain the cup. Forthcoming Club Events. The New Zealand Power-boat Association is going to have a big day on February 6. Tho most important event on the programme will be the New Zealand speed champibnship for tho Masport Cup. This event is causing a lot of interest, and among the competitors will be two Wanganui-owned boats. In addition to the championship two other races will be held for speed boats. The annual race for' the Burt Cup will also be decided, and provision will bo made for a race for boats filled with out-board motors. All the races will start and finish off the King's W'harf, and a special course will be laid off so that the publio will have a full view of the racing. The handicaps declared for tho Point Chevalier Sailing Club's regatta, postponed on December 12 owing to unfavourable weather, will stand. The club will receive further entries until this evening. The Richmond Cruising Club will hold its first annual regatta on Saturday. All classes will be catered for. Entries will close this evening.

In addition to sending a crew to Dunedin to compete for the Cornwell Cup, the Takapuna Club has decided to forward four of its boats South. The boats chosen are Myrth, Sport, Lailai and either Edna or Winsome. The contest for the cup will take place during Sanders Cup week. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will hold its annual race under the measurement rule for the Macky Memorial Trophy on Saturday, and also races for second-class yachts and the 18ft. M class. New Auckland Launches. A new fast V bottom runabout, built by Messrs. Collings and Bell, for Mr. R, Hoyes, was launched on Saturday. She is '22 ft, in length and has a beam of sft. The boat is painted green on the topside and white on the underbody. Her motive power is a 90 h.p. Curtiss engine which drives her at a good speed. She will be a competitor at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. An interesting speed-boat has just been completed by Messrs. Williams and Lavcock, of Ponsonby. She is 20ft. by sft., and fs built entirely of three-ply. The underbody is almost flat and the boat has a surface propeller. She is fitted with a 25 h.p'. Buick engine and her owners hope to attain a speed of over 20 miles per hour. The boat, which has been named The Spot, will be a competitor at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta,

The new V bottom launch, My Girl, built by Mr. R. Lang, for Mr. X'. Walrond, returned from an extended cruise in the Gulf on Monday. She is 30ft by Bft., and is fitted with a 90 h.p. Scripps engine. She has a flush deck and her cabin is forward. The boat is nicely fitted out and on the cruise proved very staunch in a seaway. She won the race for launches at the Waiheke regatta.