AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 631, 28 March 1884, Page 9

AQUATICS.

The match between the yachts Thetis and Isca on Saturday afternoon passed off very satisfactorily. The wind, which at the start appeared to be a nice sailing breeze, fell very liuht towards nightfall. A capital flying start w-as made at 2.30, between the two wharves, the Thetis having slightly the best of it. Both yachts went away under whole mainsails and balloon topsails ; the Thetis with balloon jib and working foresail, whilst the Isca carried balloon foresail and working jib. Both yachts, immediately after crossing the line, bowspritended their spinnakers, the result being that, in a few minutes, the Isca’s topmast, which did not appear to have been properly stayed, went over the side. The Thetis, probably by wav of precaution, shifted spinnaker for balloon jib again. Up to this both yachts had been sailing on very even terms, but after the Isca’s mishap, the Thetis began to draw away. On rounding Point Ha'swell the yachts squared away for the run to the reef, the Theti3 booming out spinnaker to port ; while the Isca boomed out balloon foresail as small spinnaker, and set about repairing damages. This was very smartly done ; so that by the time she had “rounded the reef she was again able to set her topsail. On nearing the Pinnacle, the Thetis took in spinnaker and jibed, so as to run through Chaffer’s Passage to the west of the reef ; the Isca, on the other hand, kept in the tide-way going down the east side of the reef. The Thetis was now some three-quarters of a mile ahead. The Thetis, after rouudiog the reef, shifted squareballoon topsail for thimble header, and made a. board over to the shore under the lighthouse, meeting a strong ebb tide. The Isca having set jib-topsail and thimble header, beat up Chaffers Passage iu the slack water, and when the boats met to windward of the reef, the Isca crossed the Thetis’ bows, having in two boards, made up the whole of her loss. -"J 13 was due to the fact that she escaped the strength of the tide which had set the Thetis out to sea. We understand that the Ihetis crew complain that the course taken by t e Isca was not that agreed on, the arrangement they say, having been that the course should

be the regatta course of 1882, which was in a northerly wind, to keep all marks on the porthand. The wind was now paltry in the extreme, and remained so for the rest of the evening, making the beat to Soames Island a very tedious proceeding. The Isca made two long boards, whilst the Thetis made several short ones, in the hopes of escaping the tide. During the whole of the beat up, the yachts were never far away from each other, and were able to hail each other every time they passed ; the Thetis having now recovered the leading place, which she maintained during the beat up. Off the Pinnacle Rock, the Isca shifted jib-header for balloon topsail, but did not seem to benefit much by the change. Shortly afterwards, she shifted balloon for working foresail. The Thetis now began to draw away, and rounded Soames Island some five or six minutes ahead. Both boats set spinnaker on boom end, the Thetis getting up her balloon topsail. The Isca brought up a light north-east breeze and overhauled and passed the Thetis off Kaiwarra, but shortly afterwards, trying to luff clear of the Thetis’ lee, carried away some of her spinnaker gear, rendering that sail useless. Thetis now drew away and crossed the line with a few lengths lead at about 8.30. In consequence of Mr H. D. Bell having generously offered a handsome prize to the winners of a four-oared inrigged race, five crews are now practising for that event, which has been arranged to take place on Saturday (to-morrow), so that should the weather turn out fine, the race bids fair to prove a very interesting one.