YACHT RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23196, 16 November 1938, Page 26

YACHT RACING

OPENING OF SEASON GOOD SAILING BREEZE FIVE PRIZES TO WAIALAE

BY BHNDRIFX

Perfect weather conditions prevailed in Auckland on Saturday for the official opening of the yachting season. The westerly breeze gave the smaller classes a good test on all points of sailing, but the boats taking part in the cruising events had no beating to windward. The 14ft. Y class yacht, Mania, was the only scratch boat to secure a first prize, all the other first prize winners being boats with time allowance. In the combined club events for classes L and N, the 22-footer Waialae had a day to her liking, carrying off no fewer than five first prizes out of five starts. A similar performance was registered by the 14ft. T class boat Edna D. The 26-footer Arawa accounted for four first prizes out of four starts. As usual, the smaller classes made an excellent showing and, with one or two exceptions, all the boats that had entered in the various clubs faced the starter. . For the first time on opening day the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron held two separate races for keel yachts and, although a number of the larger vessels did not compete through being still out of commission, the racing was keen and interesting. In the contest for class A. Little Jim, Tamatea, Victory and Tawera raced on level terms until off Devonport wharf, where J Tamatea, which was carrying her usual spinnaker, lowered it' and replaced it with a big parachute spinnaker. This sail soon mako its presence felt and Tamatea drew away from both Little Jim and Victory. Tawera, however, held on to Tamatea, and the two boats ran almost level until reaching Emu Point, where Tamatea headed her rival and went to a comfortable load. Tawera then sailed a different course from Tamatea and, gybing first near the end of Waiheke, gained on her rival, but was unable to pass her. Tawera crossed the finishing line 53s after Tamatea. In the race for B and 0 classes Tangaroa, which got an excellent start, led the fleet until off Home Bay, where she was passed by Windward and a few minutes later by Tainui. The lastnamed carried a big spinnaker and, although she started lm 30s late, she was the first boat to finish in her class. Waione did not cross the line until 4m 52s after gunfire, but overhauled all the boats except Tainui. EVENTS ON THE MANUKAU SUCCESSES OF TOPSY A feature of the combined races held by the Manukau Yacht and Manukau Cruising Clubs on Saturday was the performance of the T class boat lopsj, which accounted for the first prize in both clubs. She sailed an exceptionally good race throughout the course and showed great improvement on last year's form. The M class boat Mere led the former Auckland boat Sirona home by 6m 345. Sirona threw away an excellent chance of winning by slow spinnaker work on the first round. The V class boat Marina was unfortunate to blow her spinnaker out on the second lound. The performance of Messrs. Sames Brothers' new V class Satanita on her first racing appearance was very disappointing. Satanita was handicapped by not having a spinnaker. The two Sanders Cup boats, Clyde and Aileen, wore closely watched, Clvde boating Aileen "in" by dm 2s. Tlie Y class Opah. the first 14-footer to finish, was very well handled to secure second place. The S class boat Mistral, which was sailed from Papakura to race, was not seen to advanfirst of a series of trial races to select, the crew to represent Auckland in the 1939 contest for the Cornwell Cup. for class Z boats, will be held next Saturdav afternoon, starting and finishing off' the Takapuna Boating Club's promises at Bayswater. A second, and if possible, a third race will bo held during the afternoon. Further dates will be decided by the selectors, Messrs. J. J. Mackay, T. McKnight and C. Mooro. The trials will be sailed strictly under cup conditions. All crews will sail their own boats for the first race after which the boats will bo drawn by the selectors for all subsequent trials. The Wakatere Boating Club will open its season next Saturday afternoon with races for its new Frostbite class. The most important event will be the first annual contest for the Leighton-Hill Cup, which will start at 2.30 p.m. Races will also be held for ladies. Nine boats are expected to take part m the racing and it is interesting to note that with one exception all the dinghies have been built by their owners and comply with the restrictions governing the class. The Tamaki Yacht Club will hold the annual teams' raco next Saturday between M and V class boats for Mrs. H. Schmidt's Cup and miniature. The contest between the T and Y classes for 1 the Commodore's Cup will also be decided on Saturday.