DETAILS OF RACING.

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

DETAILS OF RACING.

THE HEATHER CUP EVENT. VICTORY FOR THE NGA-TOA. PROTEST AGAINST THIRD BOAT. Class A.—First-class yachts. First, prize, Heather Cup a tid miniature,, presented by Mr. H. It. Mackenzie and £25; second. £10; third, trophy presented by Donaghy Rope and Twine Co., value £5 ss. From an excellent start Nea-toa crossed the line slightly ahead of I! awene, with Prize, Victory and Moana handy. Then came Ariki, and three minutes later Heartsease. Victory made a short hitch on starboard, the others standing on port toward the southern shore. Approaching Orakei Rawene weathered Nga-toa. The order of the leading boats was now Rawene, Ngatoa, Prize, Ariki, Victory, Moana, Heartsease. On rounding the Bastion mark the boats had a broad lead to Duder's spit-buoy in Rangitoto Channel. Nga-toa was very smart with her leader, which was doing good work. Ariki was now gaining on the leaders, and before reaching North Head she caught and passed Nga-toa, and also headed Rawene in the channel. Meanwhile, Prize had the misfortune to foul the Bastion mark. She immediately hauled down her racing flag, but carried on. When they returned from the Channel mark Ariki had a nice lead from Rawene and Nga-toa, the wind having meanwhile increased in strength. It was a run up the harbour to the Rona buoy, and all carried their light sails to advantage, Rawene and Nga toa were now making a very close race of it, and it looked as if. Nga-toa would continue her lead from Rawene. But just before reaching the flagship tho latter calight and passed her. Passing the markboat on the run up the harbour the times were: Ariki, llh 32m 455; Rawene, llh 37m 255; Nga-toa, llh 37m 275; Prize, llh 38m 10s; Moana, llh 40m 20s; Victory, llh 40m 235; Heartsease, llh 48m 40s. On rounding the Rona buoy, sheets were brought aboard for the beat out to the Channel again. All the boats, with the exception of Prize and Nga-toa, worked the northern shore, Prizo and Nga-toa standing along the southern shore. Heartsease, which ripped her mainsail out in the Chancel, gave up on reaching Northcote. When the leaders passed the flagship, Au'ki was seven minutes ahead of Rawene, Ngatoa, Prize and Victory, following in that order. Off Calliope Dock a launch collided with Moana, and sprung the latter's bowsprit, which caused Moana to retire. Below Hobson Bay Prize headed Nga-toa. From this out Ariki increased her lead, and a very close race was fought out between Nga-toa, Prize and Rawene, which were always within easy distance of each other. The finishing times were:—Anm (scr), lh 40rn 7s; Nga-toa (18m), lh 51m 555; Prize (18m), lh 52m 4s; Rawene (18m), lh 52m 55; Victory (20m), lh 55m 31s. Result: Nga-toa, 1; Rawene, 2; Victory, A protest has been entered by Moana agairst Victory, for an alleged breach of the jport and starboard tack rule. This will be inquired into at the first meeting.