YACHT RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 22

YACHT RACING

ROYAL SQUADRON ALEXANDER MEMORIAL CUP MAHAKi'S GOOD PERFORMANCE! BY SPINDRIFT A feature of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's race to Te Kouma, Coromandel, on Saturday, for the T. M. Alexander Memorial Cup, was the outstanding performance of the winner, Mahaki, which had a day to her liking. She was well handled by Mr. E. G. Wilson, who took no chances of losing the wind at any stage of the race. A light westerly breeze was blowing and on the run down the harbour Mahaki kept pace with the larger yachts. While the wind held Mahaki carried on, but as soon as it showed signs of falling or changing direction the order to gybe was given and by the time Te Kouma was reached no fewer than eight gybes had been made. Victory led the fleet of 20 boats to the Sandspit and, although she was passed by Ngatoa, she regained the lead and held it until reaching Brown's Island. Ariki overhauled Victory and Ngatoa at this stage and once in charge was never headed. , Meanwhile, Mahaki was gradually gaining on the larger boats, passing Moana near Motuihi. Off Surfdale, Mahaki, which had been keeping fairly close to the Waiheke shore, altered her course to mid-channel, where she passed lorangi and Tama tea and drew level with Victory. Further down the gulf lorangi, Victory, Tamatea and Moana passed Mahaki, but near Muddy Bay the last-named boat sailed through the ice of Victory, Tamatea and Moana. Ariki, lorangi and Ngatoa were now well in the lead and when Ruth's Passage was reached Victory, Tamatea and Moana again passed Mahaki. Crossing the gulf the larger boats drew away from the smaller craft and about a mile from Te Kouma Little Jim replaced Mahaki. The latter vessel, however, was well within her time allowance and crossed the finishing line an easy winner. BOATS CHANGE HANDS SALE OF THE ASTRA CLASS E KEEL YACHT The 22ft. E class keel yacht Astra, lately owned by Messrs. A. D. Jacobs and C. Aley, has been sold by Mr. A. Donovan to Mr. J. Holland, of Devonport. Messrs. F. Sands and J. Andrews have sold their 22ft. L class boat Varuna to Mr. P. Smith, formerly owner of the 18-footer Manutere. The new owner of the latter craft is Mr. R. Col lings. The well-known 22ft. L class boat Hetty, formerly owned by Mr. C. Webster, has been purchased by Mr. M. Power, of I'onsonby. The 24ft. launch Waimana, lately owned by Messrs. C. H. Bristo and H. V. Hamilton, has been sold by Mr. L. R. Matthews to Mr. H. R. Heath, of Russell, Bay of Islands. The Waimana has been shipped to her destination. ANNUAL KEGATT A PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB The Ponsonby Cruising Club will hold its annual regatta on Saturday afternoon. The auxiliary scow Rahiri nil! be flagship and will be moored off the Western Reclamation wall. Races will he held for all classes. The prizes tor classes C to Y will be £4 first, £2 second, and £1 third; Z class, £2, £'l and 10s. Championship flags will be awarded to the first boat to finish in each class. The prizes won in the ocean race from Auckland to Whangarei last December .will he presented to the winners, Corona, first, and Celox, second, at a social gathering to be held in the Ponsonby Cruising Club's boathouse on Saturday evening. The Devon port Yacht Club will hold a cruising race for keel yachts on Saturday afternoon, starting off Devon port Wharf at 2..'10 p.m. The destination will he announced later. CLOSE FINISHES VICTORIA CLUB'S REGATTA The Victoria Cruising Club was favoured with ideal weather conditions for its annual regatta on Saturday afternoon. The racing was very keen and some close finishes were recorded, especially in the race for class Z, when eight boats finished within 47 seconds of one another. Jn the contest for the Silver Fern class the result on time allowance was a dead-heat between Electra and Silver Fern. The 26-t'ooters Corona and Starlight also divided the first prize on corrected times. The V class 18-footer Jrina. winner of the inter-club contest for the Clare Rose Bowl in 19.37, again accounted for the trophy on behalf of the Point Chevalier Sailing Club. Riptide, the runner-up, finished lm 57s astern of Irina. In the contest last year Riptide gained seventh position, finishing 6m 57s behind the winner. The 22-footer Macushla, which is sailing exceptionally well at present, proved too good for Tamariki and the other L class boats.