NARROW VICTORY

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

NARROW VICTORY

MANU'S SMART FINISH JEANETTE'M FINE RACE CAPSIZE OF THE ST. GEORGE CHAMPION IN FOURTH PLACE The first racs for the world's 18-footer sailing championship was held on the Waitemati Harbour yesterday afternoon and resulted in a sensational win for the M class boat Manu (Richmond Cruising Ciub), which defeated the V class boat Jeanette (Ponsonby CruisinjT Club) by seven seconds. Jeanette led on both rounds of the course and was about t> cross the finishing line when Manu, liandled very smartly by G. Chamberlin, threw round on starboard and passing Jeanette gained the verdict.

Vaalelo (Richmond Cruising Club) was third, Tareo (the present holder of th© world's title) fourth, and Manendi (Herne Ray Yacht Club) fifth. The three Sydney yachts, Taree, St. George and Malvina, and 20 of Auckland's smartest Li and V 18-footers took part in the race. St. George, which was leading Jeanette by 15 seconds, capsized at the first mark in gybing round it. Crowds o:f Spectators Although light misty rain was falling crowds lined every vantage point, while a Ueet of launches and a number of yachts followed the race. The course was a triangular one of about nine miles. This gave the boats a fair amount of beating and running. A fresh westerly wind, accompanied by a fairly choppy sea, was blowing when the race started, but toward the second iround the wind shifted to almost south-west and the water became much smoother. The race was timed to start at 3 p.m., but was delayed for about five minutes in order to shift a mark. All the boats were waiting for gunfire and when the signal to start was given Tarce was first away on the lee end of the line, closely followed by Jeanette, Manoa, Surprise, Marianne, Mercedes, Ponty, Lanai, Shamrock, Malvina, Manaia, Maratea, Vaalele, Limerick, Mariene, Memetu, St. George, Arline. Manu and Miracle crossed too soon and were advised to return. Manu lost no time, but Miracle was 32 seconds late in re-crossing. St. George 'Fakes the Lead

Taree, sailing faster t but not holding so well up to windward as the other boats, made a long board on port toward Chelsea. Arline, Limerick, Vaalele, Maratea, Memutu and Ponty all followed in that order. Manene was first to break tacks, throwing round to starboard, but later came back to port. Taree was sitill holding her own and some distance astern came Limerick, Arline, St. George, Jeanette and Malvina. Off Birkenhead Wharf Taree broke tack» and stood on starboard, across the harbour, where she met a number of boats, including Manu and Vaalele, which crossed to windward of her. Mnnene and Manaia worked the Ponsonby side, of the harbour and did well, Jeanette kept close to Chelsea and when she stood on starboard for the mark she almost caught St. George, which had meanwhile headed the fleet.

The times rounding the buoy just above tike Pile Beacon were:—-St. George; 3h 28m los; Jeanette, 31i 28m 30s; Vaalele, 3h 29m 15s; Manu, 3h 29m 16s; Taree, 3h 29m 18s; Manene, 3h 29m 465; Malvina, 3h 29m 48s; Mania, 3h 30::n; Mercedes, 3h 30m 14s; Arline. 3h 30m 325; Manoa, 3h 30m 48s; Ponty, 3h 31m; Limerick, 3h 31m 12s. Then followed Maratea, Surprise, Memutu.; Irina and Miracle. Jeanette IDraws Away

St. George capsized gybing round the mark. Spinnakers were set for the run to the starting line and Jeanette drew further away from the rest of the boats. Passing the mark at this stage the order <|f the leading boats was Jeanette,, Valalele, Manu, Taree, Manene, Arline, Mercedes, Manaia, Lanai, Malvina and Limerick. Rounding the Shoal Bay mark the times were:—Jeanette, 3h 47m 2s; Vaalele, 3h 49m 425; Taree, 3h 50m 535; Martu, 3h 50m 545; Arline, 3h 52m 15s; Manaia, 3h 52m 51s Mercedes, 3h 52m 50s. Then «:ame Riptide, Manoa, Marianne, Limerick and Malvina, all within one minute of one another.

The wind w.-.s now not quite so fresh and Jeanette was istill holding her own. Vaalele was a good second and Manu and Taree were fighting it out for third place. Taree, although to leeward, was sailing faster than Manu, but made the mistake of passing between the two starting buoys instead of keeping the inner buoy on the starboard hand. Meanwhile Manu passed Taree. The times on the completion of the first round were: —Jeanette, 4h 4m 455; Vaalele, 4h 7m Os; Manu. 4h 7m 255; Taree, 4h 7m 545; Manene, 4h 8m 255; Manaia, 4h 10m 255; Riptide, 4h 10m 40s; Arline, 4h 10m 41s; Limerick, 4h 11m 12s; Lanai, 4h 11m 18s; Mercedes, 4h 11m 38s; Manoa, 4h 11m 445; Malvina, 4h 13m 0s; Surprise, 4h 13m 7s; Ponfy, 4h 13.in 245; Memutu, 4h 14m 35sIrma, 4h 16m 3s; Mamaru* 4h 16m 40s. Manu Improves Position The boats werei able to fetch the Pile beacon mark and, making no mistakes, Jeanette rounded it first at 4h 21m 235; then followed Vaalele, 4h 23m 295; Manu, 4h 23m 41s; Taree, 4h 24m 31s; Manene. 4h 25m 265; Manaia, 4h 28m 31s. The rest of the fleet were a long way astern. Off Northcote Manu passed Vaaleje. Jeanette continued her lead and was first round the Shoal Bay mark. The times of the leading boats at this stage were: —Jeanette, 4h 42m 495; Manu, 4h 45m 20s; Vaalele, 4h 45m 525; Taree, 4h 46in 30s; Manene, 4h 47m 575; Arline, 4h 50m 30s; Manaia, 41i 50m 38s. It was now a boat back to the finishing line, and Taree , Jeanette and Manu worked short boards. Off Northcote Point Taree, which was sailing very fast in the smooth water, passed Vaalele and gained on Jeanette and Manu. The three boats stood up the harbour before trying to lay their mark. Manu carried on further than Jeanette and Taree before going about and the move proved a wise one. Jeanette was still a few lengths ahead of Manu, but when Jeanette threw round the first time she could not make the line and again broke tacks. Meanwhile Manu. on starboard, carried on and crossed the lino seven seconds ahead of Jeanette.

The FiniJihing Times The race started at 3.5 p.m. The finishing times were: —Manu, 5h 3m 15s; Jeanette, 5h 3m 235; Vanlele, 5h 4m 375; Taree, 5h 5m lis; Manene. oh 6m 235; Arlinu, 5h 9m 2os; Mercedes, 5h 9in 30s; Manaia, 5h 10m 7s; Limerick, 5h 10m 114s; Riptide, 5h 12m; Shamrock, oh 12m 435; Lanai. 5h 13m 17s; Malvina, oh 13m 51s; Manoa, 5h 13m 58s; Memutu, 5h 16m 355; Irina, oh 16m Bs. The other boats did not The result was:—Manu (Richmond Cruising Club), 1; Jeanette (Ponsonby Cruising Club), 2; Vaalele (Richmond Cruising Club), 3; Taree (Sydney), 4. The points gained were: —Manu, 225; Jeanette, 127; Vanlele. 63; Tarco, 31; Manene, 15; Arline, 7; Mercedes. 3; Manaia, 1. . The second heat for the championship will bo sailed oil Friday, starting at 3 p.m.j, off St. Mary's boat harbour ■wall.