YACHT RACE TO KAWAU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22024, 2 February 1935, Page 14

YACHT RACE TO KAWAU

SQUADRON'S ANNUAL EVENT

LIGHT WINDS DELAY BOATS

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's annual race to Kaw&u started off King's Wharf at seven o'clock last evening. The race took the form of a general handicap and brought out twenty competitors.

The entrants and handicaps were as follows: —Ariki, scr.; lorangi, Nga-Toa, lm.; Thelma, 4m; Rawene, 11m; Ida, 13m; Victory, Little Jim, 14m; Ladye Wilma, Kotiri, Altair. 19m; Windward, 21m; Waitangi, 23m; Ilex, 25m; Mahaki, 28m; Gloriana, Kotuku, Janet, Dorothy, Argo, 36m; Peri. 42m. A light southerly vrind was blowing when the race started and at gunfire all with one exception—the Eng-lish-built craft Altair—crossed the line within a few seconds of one another. Nga-Toa was first away and was very closely followed by Victory, Kotiri, Ariki, Kotuku, Rawene, Ladye Wilma, Mahaki, Windward, Thelma and Waitangi; then came lorangi, Dorothy, Janet, Little Jim, Argo, Ilex and Peri. The new yacht Altair, formerly known as the Bird o' Freedom owned by Lieutenant R. H. A. Kidston of H.M.S. Diomede,' was 6m 50;; late in crossing the line and as she went over she signalled that the carrying away of her masthead stay earlier in the day had caused her late start. The direction of tlie wind gave the yachts a lead to North Head and then a. run to their destination. Ariki slowlv worked her way into the lead, followed by Thelma and Nga Toa with lorangi, Rawene and Victory all close. Ariki was first round North Head and a few lengths astern came Nga Toa, which had meanwhile overhauled Thelma. lorangi was slowly gaining on Thelma when the yachts, passed out of sight. . At 12.30 this morning there was no sign of any of the lboats at Kawau, there being practically no wind. Numerous launches arrived at Mansion House Bay during the evening and reported that the boats were all making slow progress. It was considered unlikely that any of the competitors would arrive before davbreak.