YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 16

YACHT RACING.

LAST SATURDAYS EVENTS. MAWHIU'S GOOD PERFORMANCE CLOSE FINISHES RECORDED.

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A feature of Iho Takapuna Boating 1 Club's races on Satunjuy was the good i showing of the Alawhili, owned and sailed i by Mr. Scott Wtlsbn. She was the only representative of class M in a general liaudicap tor classes .\|, V and S, and duly upheld the reputation ol the M. boats. I'ruin an excellent start, all tho boats gut away together, and belorc the first mark was reached Mawlnti drew dear of her rivals. Ihe speedy \ -class boat, Drone, ir.ado a desperate effort to catch Muwhiti, but tho further the boats went the distance between them mcieased. When the tirst round of the course was completed, Mawhiti had a lead of 3in 29s from Drone. In the second round Mawhiti further :n----creased her lead, and finally beat Drone across the finishing lino by 7m. The oilier two V-boats. Magic and Leveret, wfctt ooth beaten by the 16-lootor, Mistral, which also .-.ailed a good iace and was well n.nulled by Mr. A. H illetts. Mawhiti's .•>kippei will be leaving on a visit to Loudon within I lie next few days, and during his absence Mawhiti will be raced by her crew. When the race for classes 'J', X and Y started, it was thought that a very keen struggle would lie fought between Marie. Linnet anil Kismet. All got awav together and there was little between them until tho first mark was leached. Here Kismet had a slight, lead from Mane and Linnet. Kismet and Marie continued on port for the heat up I lie harbour lo tho Watchman mark, but Linnet threw round on to starboard and stood across the harbour. Her move was a very unwise one, as she was badly beaten by the rest of the competitors, ineluding the V-hoat Romp, which had started 2m late. On the completion of the. firsl round. Kismet had a lead of llni 25s from Linnet The second round saw Linnet still a long way astern of her rivals, but a fairly flattened sheet instead of an eased one probably had a great deal to do with Linnet's poor performance in the final stages of the race.

Good Handicapping. Tiio handicapping in the race for H, L and N classes was execptionaly good and Messrs. It. Lidgard and J. J. Mackay are to bo congratulated in bringing about such a close finish on corrected times. Spray won the race by one second only from Marie, which gained second place by two seconds from Awatere. In this race Colox bad the misfortune to split her mainsail just before gunfire, and was about to return to her moorings in Bayswater when the Speedwell (Mr J. Patrick), which was stretching her' new sail, hove in sight. Mr. Patrick offered f'elox tho use of a trysail, which was gladlv accepted. No time was lost in bending the sail, and although 45 minutes late. Celox started in the race and did tho trip to Awaroa Briy in good time. Tho loan of the Speedwell's sail was greatly appreciated by the owners and crew of f'elox. The 22-footer, Lovelight. which was sailing exceptionally well, being ahead of all the L class boats, had the misfortune to have spinnacker trouble at Brown's Tsland, tho boom going ono side and the spinnaker the other. This brought Lnrelight up standing until she could clear the spinnaker. Meanwhile Marie. 'Venus and Wairere passed her. and when she got going again she was unable to head her rivals. Although the 20-footer, Wairere, did not carry a spinnaker she held her own with tho rest of the fleet. On Saturday the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will hold a general handicap for A and F> classes, and also a race for class M. Both events will start and finish off King's Wharf. A new •course for easterly or westerly winds for

tho big classes has been adopted bv the squadron. Instead of going up the harbour to the Rona Buoy, with a westerly wind, the boats will make a leg from the red light in Rangitoto Channel to the beacon below Rnngitoto wharf and back, continuing the present course out to Saltworks Ruov and back, via the Bastion light beacon. The committee is at present considering the question of leasing the whole of the top floor of the building, where the club is now situated. A special meeting will be held on Thursday. December 8, to deal with the matter. Races, for Small Classes. The 26-footer, Starloeh, which has not raced for a number of years, made her reappearance on Saturday as a competitor in the Takapuna Boating Club's race to Aw a roa Bay. She is now owned by a crew of youths, most of whom gained their experience in 12ft. Gin. "flatties." Ariki was launched on Saturday and towed to her moorings in Mechanics' Bay. She will be a competitor in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's general handicap for the Hardie Trophy on Saturday afternoon. Races for all small classes will be held by the Tarnaki Yacht Club on Saturday. All events will start and finish off Kohiinarama. Entries will close to-day. The new M class boat, Maratea, was out sail-stretching on Saturday and looked a picture as she made her way up and trlown tho harbour. She appears to be I fuller forward than most of the boats of her class, and is painted black with a gold streak. In all probability she will be a competitor in tho Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's race for class M on Saturday afternoon. Speedwell has been fitted with a new suit of sails and was out sail-stretching during the week. Last season she did very little racing, but this year her owners hope to race her fairly often. The yachts Thelma, Little jini, Mo,ma. Waione and Prize visited Kawakawa last week-end. Rawene and Heartsease went to Onetangi. The VVaiheke annual regatta will be held at Cowes Bay on January 2. The programme will include races for keel yachts, mullet boats, open boats, launches and outboard motors. Tho officials in charge of the regatta will be: Judge and j starter, Mr. E. Day; timekeeper, Mr. T. Weir; handicappers: launches, Messrs. E. Day and VV. E. Utting; yachts, Messrs. G. Honour, A. Hudson and T. McKay. Mr. VV. 'J. Connell is the treasurer and Mr. T. Weir, secretary. Jottings From Manukau.

The weather conditions on Saturday were rather severe for the Manukau Yacht and Motor-boat Club's opening races. In spite of the strong south-west breeze, however, there were no mishaps. In the race for launches, the speed boat, Rosita, made a wonderful showing in the heavy weather, completing the courso in 30 minutes. She mot with slight engine trouble in the first round and would have probably won the race but for this mishap. In smooth water Rosita should be quite capable of greatly increasing her speed. She is a great attraction on the Manukau. The 14ft. Y class boat, Cupid, sailed a splendid race in the first round, but she did not do so well in the second round. Had sho maintained her pace throughout, she would have been among the placed boats. The Sea Gnome has joined the club and sho will be seen fighting her old battles over again with Cupid. On Saturday the Yacht Club will hold races for yachts and launches. The following programme has been drawn up fot the 1927-28 season:—December 3, harbour races, yachts and launches; December 10, cruising races, yachts and launches; December 17, haitiour races, yachts and launches; January 14, harbour races, yachts and launches; January 22, annual picnic; January 28, cruising races, yaffils and launches; February 4, outing to Ponsonby Cruising Club: February 11, open yacht championships; February 11, open speed-boat championships; February 11, harbour races, yachts and launches; February 11, Takapuna class boys' races; February 19, vice-president's and donors' fishing trip; February 25, open 18ft and under yacht championship, open 14ft and under yacht championship; March 10, Cruising race, yachts and motor-boats; March 31, harbour races, yachts and launches.