AUCKLAND'S DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 15

AUCKLAND'S DAY

CLASS BOATS TRIUMPH /AUSTRALIANS OUTSAILED SPECTACLE ON HARBOUI! excitement of climax The triumphant cheers and whistleblasts that greeted an Auckland victory yesterday in the first race of the 18-footer world, sailing championship series were well justified. Auckland's t\l and V classes had proved themselves able —on their own day—to out- ' ga il the famous 18-footers of the New South Wales Sailing League, and that was no mean achievement. Slogging to windward in a choppy sea or running like stags before tho squalls, the best of the Auckland boats had the heels of their Sydney opponents, and the sensational finish between the Manu and the Jeanette was a fitting climax to a wee which it was obvious before was half over would be fought out between tli6 home skippers. Nest time —and when the race ended every Auckland sportsman watching felt "glad there would be a next time, a ud another after that —the tale may well be different! The Sydney skippers would be the last to wish that anyone should seem to excuse their failure yesterday, yet "it must be remembered "they were sailing their first race on a strange harbour, and in weather heavier than that to which they are accustomed in their home waters.

Reduced Sail, Eight Men , Each of the Sydney boats carried her full crew of eight men, with a sail area much the same as that of. many of their ' Auckland opponents carrying from five to seven men —and lighter men at that; the Tarce and the St. George had rigged their No. 2 suits of sails, and the Malvina was carrying her No. 3, or storm rig. Some of the Auckland boats had tied down one reef, many carried full sail, and stood up to it well; and/although the Taree and St. George seemed to have all they could carry in the earlier stages of the race, they could undoubtedly have stood ~ more canvas when wind and sea eased with the turn of the tide. The Malvina's skipper was more cautious than was justified by events, but the luck of the game often runs counter to judgment. Colourful Scene Grey skies and sullen seas notwithstanding, it was a day of life and colour for those who watched the gleaming hulls and sharp triangles of canvas in swiftly changing pattern as they jockeyed for places at the starting line, and swung away in a closepacked bunch at the crack of the gun, with the spectator fleet of crowded launches fanning out in pursuit.

Some of the Auckland contenders had made slight changes in their rig to put them on a closer footing with their Sydney rivals —there was the Manaia, for instance, with her special bowsprit—but as it happened the Si's and V's needed no extra gadgets yesterday. The Australians, neat in Vhevr uniform jerseys, contrasted sharply with the Auckland crews in their heterogeneous attire of oilskins of all sorts and, sizes, football jerseys of all colours and designs, and assorted headgear from sou'-westers to a battered bowler hat. It may be said with truth that clothes don't make the winner of yacht races; but still . High Excitement

Excitement ran high as the - fleet snored away close-hauled from the starting line for the weather mark, and all eyes were anxiously fixed upon the three Sydney cracks, their highpeaked mainsails setting in sweet curves and their sharp, flaring bows slicing through the steep little seas running down from the west over the flood tide. The St. George seemed to find the conditions more to her liking than either of her compatriots, and from a good start she drew into the lead, with the rest of the fleet pounding grimly behind. The capsize of the St. George at the first mark, through her long boom catching the crest of a sea as she gvbed round, ended all but absurdly optimistic hopes of an Australian victory. The Malvina was obviously undercanvassed and the champion Taree could: not foot .it with the Jeanette, Manu and Vaalelo in the prevailing conditions. It was no day for the cunning that the old racing skipper can bring out with success in a tight corner, nor for the split seconds that crews can save in handling sails and sheets and so win races.

Running before the wind it was the same story. The Auckland boats, lifting gallantly to'the pull of ballooning spinnakers—which were not always as smartly set as they might have been—planed excitingly, their bows thrust high in flurries of spray. Boat after boat passed the Australians on this point of sailing, and it seemed that the fine forward sections and sharp straight stems of-the visiting craft preventfcl them from lifting on the crests of the seas. Judgment Wins

_ Until almost the end it seemed that "ie race must go to a good boat, well Mud on day, and J. Fair Mfl his Jeanette would have well de*?ry,ed to win. It was a moment's hjtting-up when victory seemed certain that robbed the Ponsonby skipper of toe winner's gun. The Mann, a little to leeward of him bnt sailing fast, stood on just a little farther under the Aorthcote shore, out of the tide, and thereby saved the day. Chamberlin's judgment in this enabled him, when the leg to the finishing line was done, to come about smartly round the lee buov and shoot across the line a few seconds ahead of the Jeanette —a thrilling finish that brought gasps of surprise from the watching crowds. Auckland has yet to see what the "vdney trio can do in more favourable conditions, when 'the big mainsails and ringtails can be set and the battle will «e of "wits and skill in handling. The ""me fleet bad things all its own way yesterday, but to-morrow —is still tomorrow."

INVITATION RACE THE HANDICAPS DECLARED The Point Chevalier Sailing Club j? a s announced the following handicaps the Australian and local boats in *ne invitation race to be held this 1 a fternoon:— Taree, Malvina, St. George, RipI Vaalele. Jeanette. scr; Manene, Manaia. , lm; Hawk. 3m; Jewel, j?, 'ns. Surprise. sm; Tango. 7in; "larianne, Tiare, 10m. In the event of a light breeze it is Probable that the handicaps will be > halved. Interest in the contest is not confined J 0 Auckland, for pal-ties of yachtsmen nave arrived from Wellington, Christen ure]i and Duiiedin to watch the series of races.