YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 16

YACHT RACING.

THE RUSSELL REGATTA. ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND. OUTBOARD MOTORS A FEATURE. BY SFINDRIFT. The Russell Regatta Club has.already held its annual meeting and the committee has lost no time in going ahead with the arrangements for the annual regatta, which will be held oil Thursday, December 27. Although the programme will not be drawn up for some months hence, the committee has decided to hold the annual ocean race from Auckland to Russell as usual. This will be divided into two classes—keel and centreboard — and will start from Auckland on the afternoon of December 24. Races for keel yachts, centreboard boats, launches and outboard motor-boats will also bo included in tho programme. A feature ft the regatta will bo the races {or out boards. In addition to the open and restricted championships of New Zealand, numerous other events for Iho popular outboards will bo held, including an interprovincial relay race. This particular event should create a great deal of interest and it is hoped that the owners of outboards in tho various centres will be able to see their way clear to mako the trip to Russell, on regatta day. A measured course for both launches and outboards will be laid off and special attention will be given to the courses for the sailing events. In the past the first race for keelers lias usually started about 10 a.m., but, at the request of a number of owners, this event will not start until about 11 o'clock. For a number of years past there has been very little wind on regatta morning and it has been suggested that if the races were started an hour later the yachts would have more chance of competing under better weather conditions, as experience has shown that the breeze usually freshens at Russell in tho afternoon.

Mr. 11. Williams, who held the position of secretary last year, has resigned and his placo has been filled by Mr. C. S. Stallard. The chairman of the committee is Mr. T. Boucher, who has ably filled that office for a number of years past. The racing in class M patikis) has been very close and interesting during the 1927-28 season and, in looking up the records of the various boats, it will be found that the prizes have been fairly well distributed. On the 3, 2, 1 points system, (he new boat Maratea, built and owned by Mr. R. Goodwin, heads the list with 27 points, and Matarere, owned by Mr. N. Taylor, conies next with 23 points. Tn order to arrive at a satisfactory basis to work on. all combined races heir) on the same day have only been counted as one race.

Following is the complete table of the performances of the boats which took part in the various club events for class M:— Boat. No. Starts Ist 2nd 3rd Pfs. Maratra . . 15 1 1 27 Matarere . . 16 5 3 2 23 Marorn .. 14 2 6 0 18 Manene ..14 2 3 4 lfi Muwhiti ]5 1 0 fi 0 Mischief .. 7 0 0 1 J Maia . . 10 0 0 0 0

The Richmond Cruising Club's annual prize night and dance will fake place in the Ponsonby Hall on Monday, May 28. The Manukau Cruising Club's distribution of prizes will be held in the Orpheum Hall, Onehunga, on June 20.