ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 12

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

STRIKING HARBOUR SCENE. - ; pleasure craft carnival. DAY OF LIGHT BREEZES. MANY BOATS TAKE FART. Hundreds of sails dotted the broad Waitemat.i yesterday •on tho occasion of the Anniversary Day Regatta, a sea. carnival that has*been very near the hearts of Aucklanders for more than 80 years. It was a typical summer day of light breezes and sky inclined to be overcast. Sailing conditions were baffling at times, but the muster of competing boats could scarcely have been better, and tlia launches, at any rate, could not have had finer -weather. It is a far cry now to the days when echooners and trading cutters competed in races round liritiri and back, while gigs, whalers and watermen's boats tried conclusions in the harbour. Half a century has passed since a race between Maori canoes, manned by 20 men apiece, was an important event in the regatta. One must go still further back to find an American whaler used as a 'flagship, Iter crew taking part in races arranged specially for whalcships' boats. Times and craft have changed, but the sea spirit remains. Yachts and sailing boats, big and little, trim launches ai d small craft with noisy cut board motors, make up the roll of competitors to-day. Yachting and launch cruising are tl.e summer pastime of thousands, and it is safe to say that the annua! regatta has never enjoyed more consistent support, year after year, than it does in these times. In Raiigitoto Channel. Yesterday's display of boats was in every way a credit to the largest city and seaport of New Zealand. It was a pity that the Aorangi, with her passengers from overseas, could not have onteied Auckland Harbour that morning instead Of the night before. Had she done so, those on board -would have enjoyed a sight of rare beauty. Rangitoto Channel as mid-day approached was sprinkled with yachts. - carrying every stitch of canvas that they could spread to catch the fitful and wavering breeze. Near at hand, on tho, iilver-grey sea, were boats with spinnakers and even water-sails wide-spread, yet moving so slowly that their bronzed crews coald have dived overboard for a swim without the least risk of being left behind. Farther off, others could be seen close-hauled, trying to take advantage of some light ail' from a different direction. The panorama, in its pale tints, was littlo less than fairly-like. When the large yachts set off on.their 24 miles course, a flood tide was running against a light breeze from the upper harbour, so progress down to North Head was very slow, One firstclass yacht, which was manoeuvring too far above the starting line, found herself almost becalmed, and crossed about 25 minutes late. After a time the breeze freshened and moved round toward the north-east, but later still it dropped, so that two classes of small boats lay helpless near the line for 10 minutes or more, unable to cros;s it and even drifting back a little on the last of the flood. Speed-Boats at Play. It was only when the body of first-class yachts had rounded North Head on the return trip that there was scything like a gocd sailing breeze. This held for the run down from Birkenhead. The large boats made a noble sight as they sailed close past the flagship, t-lie crews waving to friends aboard and exchanging shouted greetings. Among the small boats there was much interest in the three 14ft. classes, whic'n drew many entries, and in the diminutive Takapuna one-design class, which is be- ' coming immensely popular with youthful yachtsmen. The race for naval whalers drew eight entries, but with their limited sail-spread the boats took a long while to cover the allotted course. They deserved a better sailing day. Although no event had been provided this time for speed boats, these strange craft wero not altogethr out of the picture. Four of them indulged in what looked like an impromptu race, and afterwards they circled the flagship twice, getting all the attention of those aboard, as well as of several hundred people on launches'moored in a line across the mouth of Stanley Bay. The express cruising launches made a very fine sight in the early stages of their race. These large boats, with their high freeboard, give a remarkable impression of power and speed, whether they are skimming over the water, "all tint,'* or ploughing along at a more modcrate gait. The slower classes brought mat a more varied collection, arid handicaps ran as high as 16 minutes. The flagship. The races for outboard motor crift proved very entertaining, and produced nearly as much noise as contests :>or real speed-boats. There is every indication that this sport will grow even more popular in years to come- j ( The flagship yesterday was the auxiliary schooner Ronaki. "Some may have thought regretfully of earlier regattas ■with, say, a Sbaw-Savill liner filling the role, but it was appropriate that a coastal trader should be used. Seeing that races for scows and cutters are a thing of the past, it is well that the connection between coasting vessels and tho regatta should he preserved. A very capable body of officials worked hard all day aboard the Ronaki. Among the visitors were the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. O. Baildon, the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr, H. It Mackenzie, and officers from tho warships in port. An honoured member of . the committee was Cantain William Ross, who may well be styled the "father" of the regatta, with which he has been connected since the early 'seventies. AVALON WINS ROSS CUP. AN FASY VSCTORY. NAVAL WHALERS' RACE. An interesting event at the regatta was the clar.s for 14ft. Jellicoe boats. The first grize was the Ross Cup. presented by Mr. . G. Macinrloe, a miniature to be retained by winner, and £4; second, £2third. £l. A pretty start was effected in thip <'ass Qftitva March crossing the line just abetd of A-vakm. with Ron a and Nyria hmdy. AvpJon passed Qoe'-n March shortly after the 7L' B ' ,art * n<l IC « for the remainder of the E . Bourn. The finishing times were: A vol on, 4h 3m nH : J?°\r'. 4 1" Shirley. 41, 3hn 308; Queen Myr.-'b, dh 3am ?*; Desert Cold. Jm 81 *, vna - 5h 0m ugg. Uw resii.t wan: Avalon, 1: Rona, 2; BhirJcj. rf. Avalon won the flag. '' ' cr f Ava from warships in port, com?+,'n | ho r . ac .f fcr mival whaling boats. as fellows: I)i,->mede [I.. :!}, 13m aS 3u I7m C 3; rhilom;l I-.