ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19549, 31 January 1927, Page 13

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

iJINE SCENE IN HARBOUR. (FRESH BREEZE FOH RACING. large yachts in action. TWENTY-FOUR MILES CONTEST. Two hundred yachting craft spread out -in racing formation over the bine waters <] ie " Waitemata, white clouds that chast'l each other across a lead-blue sky and a fresh easterly breeze that filled out every sail and broke the surface of the "harbour into ceaseless motion—this was the sight that called -Auckland to the ■water's edgo ou Saturday. Three things -man will always turn to watch. a jnagnificer.t horse, a beautiful woman and a ship under sail. Each personifies in its own way the affinity of grace, beauty and •poetry, arid front all three have poets and -painters gleaned inspiration. Neither poet, nor painter would have lacked material on the Waitemata on Saturday. The conditions for Auckland's great Anniversary Day Regatta, one of the great picturesque events of the year, tyrere truly ideal. Before a moderate wind, blowing straight up the harbour, no helmsman could afford to relax for an instant his eagle watch and guiding hand; the possibility of being becalmed inside "North Head, of drifting .n .ie at a snail's pace, was non-existent; it was a day of speeds, quick decisions, constant preparedness and lightning activity. The Olympian event of the day was the 24-mile lace for the big yachts. With their dazzling spread of sad towering' cbove smaller craft, the seven giant yachts heeled round suddenly at the bark of the starting gun and left the mark in closely-packed formation, lliere was a murmur of admiration, then the buzz of excited whispering and a gasp from every •throat as the boats rapidly converged. A crash seonted certain. Crews rushed to and fro frantically pulling on the ropes, hoarse warning voices called out from decks that were but a foot apart, topsail brushed topsail with but half-an-inch to spare; but the crash never came. Good seamanship mastered the situation and down the harbour they went, beating from tack to tack against a wind that sang in't-he rigging. A Magnificent Panorama. The return of the big yachts to the finishing base was rendered picturesque by a freshening of the wind, which filled out the spinnakers as the boats came round the Bastion light for the final run to the flagship Rira. The billowing expans?, of canvas made a magnificent sight, exciting the beholders to admiration. At this time practically every competitor was racing and the white sails stretched in one long line from Grakei to Chelsea, a , panorama of great beauty. When the ! clouds parted for a moment the sun 1 struck every sail like a searchlight pick- ■ ing out the wings of giant seabirds at night. It was an effect worthy of the iinest seascape in oils. From the flagship the timekeepers carefully ticked off the hours, minutes and i seconds the vessels were away. The Ariki, looking a Vanus of the sea as she I swept past the flagged buoy with her sails filled to bursting, had scarcely a competitor within sight, and although her handicap prevented her from winning the |-race, her speed was unapproachable. Eleven minutes later the Nga Toa came iii, followed a minute later by the Prize and the Ha were close together, and then 1 tihe Victory. A Day of Youth. Regatta Day this year was predominantly a day of youth. Young men and -youths manned the yachts and launches as I young men and youths have done for generations before them,, and to those old j salts whose racing days are done it must j have been cheering to watch those bronzed sturdy youngsters handling thencraft with all the deftness of yore. They I .were keeping alive a great tradition, provi ing by their eagerness that although 1 steam and oil may sweep the windjammer from the sea, neither modern science nor | the desire for slothful ease will ever destroy the real fascination of yachting. In two of the races to-day's generation joined with that of our grandfathers, at least two members of the competing crews fc&ch boasting >ver 75 years o? age. , Even the fair sex .was represented in on? I- of th*N otcws—-a flagvart bv?*ch A custom f- for racing yachtsman. She seemed to bo quite useful, however, and leaned her weight with the best of them. Speedboats in Disgraco, The big disappointment of the day was the poor showing of the speedboats. The true-blue yachtsman, who turns up his nose at "these new-fangled carrion," as one sailing man contemptuously described them, fairly revelled in the fiasco and ; gaily seized hold of the nearest "told you , so" argument. In the championship event only four boats crosesd the line. Ivotuku, the .Wanganui ciaft from which great results were expected, started to misfire after she had travelled a few yards and broke down before completing the first round. Before the race was over one of the Auckland boats. Miss Cheltenham, provided the spectators with the greatest thrill of the day. Going round ono of the turns she came down heavily on a wave, sprang a leak and was rushed to the shore by her disgusted crew. The frail craft commenced to sink as she approached the tsheerlegs and those on board beat a hasty "retreat to a near-by launch. Miss Chci- . tenham settled down by the stern, but was eventually secured and removed for repairs. With only two competitors left in the race the event held out very little further interest, and when Bonzo rushed home before Flo*wing Junior the victory was won without the waving of flags or frantic cheering. With the exception of the sinking of Miss Cheltenham the day was not. cver--1 urdened with misfortunes. The yacht aiem provided one minor excitement, her throat halyard parting just as she was I makma; a good start. A little later Desert | Gold fouled Shirley and both ran into tlm j flag-ship, their rigging becoming ev.tr-ngled ] in her bowsprit. However, no -'.arnr>,ge'-it?- > sued from either mishap. During a Squall. ; At o.'-0 p.m. an extraordinary centre "temps occurred. Black clouds, which had gathered ominously in the east, suddenly bore down on the harbour with all the iury o: a violent squall, catching scores of smaii craft racing for home. In an instant all was confusion; some of the tiny boats seemed to he lifted right ou; of the water were, blown hither and thither like so many leaves before the wind. Most of the Crews were caught unawares, with the re- i suit that spinnakers were sent flying sky- I ward before it was possible to lower away. > ome boats were blown right out of their course and failed to finish; others came m •with their peaks, and throats dropped—the picture of dejection. All was over i;ti ten minutes, but while it lasted the squall completely obscured the harbour and played havoc with the events in progress. The regatta arrangements were carried out expeditiously and without a hitch, •thanks to the excellent, organisation prepared with great foresight bv the committee under the chairmanship of Mr. W. P. imdean anrj the supervision of the secretary, Mr. J. C. Hewson. The system of recording and compiling; .results avas the J.3£i word in «efScienc.v_