YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 18

YACHT RACING.

LAST SATURDAY'S CONTESTS. NGA-TOA'S GOOD SHOWING. FURTHER SUCCESS OF RONA. Bif SPINDEirr. More than usual interest wa,s taken in the Royal Now Zealand Yacht Squadron's general handicap on Saturday on, account of the new keel yacht Nga-Toa being among the competitors. The weather conditions wero ideal for yachting —a steady breeze from the north prevailing throughout the afternoon —and the course decided upon gave the boats a good test on ali points of sailing. Unlike the usual method of starting, the handicaps wore given at the start, each boat being sent away on her own according to her handicap. The object of this was to try and bring about a good finish. Some of the faster boats finished close to one another, but this would have probably happened just the same had the usual method of starting been adopted. The winner, Scout, which was on the 24m mark, led all the way and finished 6m 40s from Kotiri, with Windward third. The doings of the new boat were followed with interest from start to finish, several launches following the progress of the race. Generally speaking, Nga-Toa more than pleased the critics, doing well both on and off the wind. The conditions were certainly ideal for trying out a new boat and it now remains to be seen what she is capable of doing in a breeze. She will be a competitor in the annual ocean race from Auckland to Tauranga. Sanders C'up Contest. The second trial race for the Sanders Cup, which was sailed on Saturday, resulted in another win for Rona. The race was really a procession, Rona leading almost from the start to the finish. In view of her past performances and her two decisive wins this fseason, it should be a very easy matter for the selection committee to decide which boat shall represent Auckland in the 1927 contest. As there is little interest in the trials in Auckland this year owing to the absence of Avalon, " Spindrift " is inclined to suggest that no further trial.; should be held and that Rona's nomination as the Auckland challenger should be sent forward. In the Akarana Yacht Club's race for the Star class on Saturday Ola IV., which usually has her own way, had to lower her colours to June. The race was very interesting, and a few more close contests like Saturday's event should considerably help to popularise' the class. ■The Victoria Cruising Club will hold its first series of harbour races for all classes on Saturday. Entries will close this evening. Regatta at Russell. The Russell Regatta Club has drawn up its _ programme for the annual regatta, which will take place at Russell on Thursday, December 30. As in former years the club will hold an ocean race from Auckland to Russell for keel and centreboard boats, the race starting from Auckland on Christmas Eve. The first prize for each class is £2O, the second £5, and the third £2. The programme at the regatta includes races for keel yachts, centreboard boats, launches, speed boats and outboard motors. Great interest is being taken in the race for the outboard motors, not only in Russell, but also in Auckland. A number of new boats have been built specially to compete in the New Zealand ' championship, which will be decided on regatta day. A good programme of rowing events has also been drawn up. Races for the Star and 18ft. and under classes will be held by the Tamaki Yacht Club on Saturday. Entries for all • events will close to-day at the usual places. The well-known keel yacht Ladye Wilma has been purchased by Mr. R. Lidgard, formerly owner of Alexa and Celox. Ladye Wilma, which is at pressent hauled up in Freeman's Bay, is 40ft. overall and has a beam of 9ft. 6in. She is a Logan-built craft and is a fine roomy cruiser. No time will be lost in getting her ready for the water, and it is the intention of her owner to leave on an extended- cruise in her during the Christmast holidays. Mr. J. Lidgard has purchased Alexa from his brother and raced her on Saturday in the Akarana Yacht Club's cruising raqe to Awaroa Bay. Mr. R. Lang, of Ponsonby, has recently completed a 36ft. cruiser for Mr. D. Swallow, of Parnell. She is fitted with a high-powered Hall-Scott engine and shows a good turn of speed. A new 45ft. launch, built to the order of Mr. R. Maynell, of Devonport, has just been completed by Mr. R. Lang. She is a good type of boat and will be employed in the upper harbour service. Mr. R. B. Wilson's keel yacht Ariki, which spent last season on the hard, has been launched and put into commission. She will leave on an extended cruise to the North during the 1 holidays. CAPTAIN OF ENGLAND.WAKEFIELD MEETS MAORIS. W. W. Wakefield, who captained England in the test match against the 1924 All Blacks, is still playing splendidly, according to English reports received recently. He played for Harlequins against the Maoris at Twickenham on October 30, Harlequins winning by 11 points to 5. Incidentally, the Harlequins' team included three international representatives, in addition to Wakefield. "The pillar of the Harlequins* team was Wakefield, a heavy, speedy forward, equal to one of Taranaki's best in the palmiest days of that redoubtable province," writes the Herald's London correspondent. "His try, scored in the' second half, finished off an irresistible run from the Maoris' twenty-five, and when he had got into his steam-engine stride, it would have taken a, pack of wolves to pull him down. One Rugby enthusiast said the fullback he would like to have seen waiting for him would have been the Sid Orchard of 30 years ago, and great would have been, the collision. "As footballers go, Wakefield is well on in yeai's, and his speed, for a man of his build and age, is truly amazing. Several of the Maori backs are not too slow of foot, but they were unable to overtake him. His try was a brilliant individual effort, and well deserved the ovation of 20,000 on the historic Rugby arena." ROYAL MORKEL'S DEATH. NOTED SPRINGBOK FORWARD. The death of Royal Morkel, the famous Western Province and Springbok forward, recalls the stirring test matches of 1921, when, as one of the heaviest of the giant forwards ih the South African team, he plied his weight against the All Black packs. Morkel was 6ft. 2in. in height and weighed 16st 61b. He was particularly useful in the line-outs and for a man of his bulk was fast and active in the loose. He participated in the trials held in Johannesburg prior to the matches against the British fe.xm but did not win a place. The following season Morkel showed magnificent' form ail a member of the Western Province side which defeated the Transvaal and was one ol the outStanding forwards on the field. A member of the Somerset West Club, he played against the New Zealand military team just after the war. Last year he announced his retirement from football but later turned out again for the Somerset West Club. Morkel's death on October 22 followed an operation for appendicitis nine weeks previously. He remained in a critical condition and died after a second operation for peritonitis^