AQUATICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 37

AQUATICS

(PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, February 16. The third Championship Regatta was held at Lalco Forsyth to-day, under the auspices of the Christchurch Regatta' Club. The weather was fine in the early morning, and the two excursion trains from Christchurch to the lake were well filled. In all, 48 filled carriages composed the two trains. The entries were very representative, and when the party arrived at the lake there was every indication that the regatta would be got off successfully, but before the first race on the programme was got off, the north-west wind increased in force, and soon raised a choppy sea. The starters for the Amateur Championship Sculls were M. Keefe, of Auckland, the present champion ; J. McGrath, of Dunedin ; F. B. Young, of Wellington ; and J. Y. Baly, of Christchurch. Keefe was rowing in a wager boat borrowed from the Union Rowing Club, of Christchurch, his own boat having been smashed on the passage from Auckland, but the borrowed boat was damaged on the journey to the lake. He started, however, but had not rowed more than two or three lengths when he swamped, and was picked up by the starter's boat. McGrath and Daly at once went away from Young, the former being some little distance ahead. After rowing about a quarter of a mile, Young also swamped, while Daly was also shipping a lot of water. McGrath contrived to improve his position and won with great ease by seven or eight lengths from the Canterbury man. First prize, L 8; second, L2. Maiden Pair Oared. One mile. First prize, L 8 and trophy; second, L 3. Wairewa Boating Club 1 Avon Rowing Club 2 Cure, Union and Star (Wellington) also started. A good race for half a mile, when the Wairewa took command of affairs and won comfortably. The Stars, the only visiting crew, were outpaced. Juvenile Plate, for youths under 21 years. One mile. First prize, Ll 5 and trophy; second, L 5. Canterbury Rowing Club 1 Union Rowing Club 2 Lyttelton Rowing Club 3 These were the only entries, and tha race was well contested throughout. The next race on the programme was the Championship Fours, for which the Canterbury, last year’s champions, Union, Star, Lyttelton and Wellington had entered. All the crews went to the post, but the wind had increased considerably, and all the crews were compelled to empty their boats several times, After a delay of about two hours the Star, Lyttelton, Wellington and Union declined to start on account of the rough water, but as Canterbury evinced a desire to start, the starter sent that crew away, but they had not rowed 20 yards when their craft filled under them, and they were rescued by the starter. At this stage the Regatta Club met _ and postponed the remainder of the races till a later stage of the day. However, the Maiden scullers were then started, and resulted as follows; — Maiden Double Soulls. One mile. First prize, L 8 ; second, L 3. Wairewa Boating Club ... 1 Akaroa Boating Club 2 Avon Rowing Club ... ... 3 The Star crew (A. G. Hume and R. W, Wallace) were showing up prominently in this race when their boat swamped. At about 6 p.m. the wind had moderated considerably, and the committee decided to proceed with the racing. The Junior Fours, Maiden Fours and Champion Double Sculls were got off with the following results : Junior Four oared Outrigger. One mile and a half. First prize, Ll 5; second, L 3. Star Boating Club, Wellington ... ... 1 Canterbury Rowing Club ... ... ... 2 Wellington Rowing Club ... ... ... 3 Won easily by five lengths. A good race between Canterbury and Wellington for second place. After the finish, the Canterbury crew swamped. Maiden Four-oar, in clinker fours. One mile, First prize, LIS ; second, L 3. Star Boating Club, Wellington 1 Canterbury Rowing Club 2 Avon Rowing Club 3 The best contested race of the day. Won by five feet. Amateur Double Sculling Championship ov New Zealand. One mile and a half. First prize, Ll2; second, L 3. Union Rowing Club —R. F. Crosbie (stroke), W. F. Samuels (bow) ... 1 Canterbury Rowing Club—J. Y. Daly (stroke), M. L. Mcßeth (bow) 2 The Wellington and Star also started, Lyttelton did not put in an appearance at the start, and the Wanganui crew met with a slight accident to their boat, which delayed them in getting out, and the race was started before they got to the start. The Union went away with the lead at the start, and were never asked to row, winning with great ease by seven or eight lengths. Canterbury also had no difficulty in keeping in front of the visitors, while Wellington was some distance in front of the Stars, when the latter passed over a shallow part of the course and damaged their boat. The winners were heartily cheered upon landing. They made their first appearance, at the regattas last season, and did exceptionally well in the maiden races throughout the season. They are a pair of sterling scullers whose style was much admired by the many boating men at the regatta. When this race was finished it was almost dark, and the committee decided to postpone the rest of the races—the Championship Fours, Championship Pairs and Ladies’ Plate (fouroared outrigger)—until to-morrow at Kaiapoi, The whole of the arrangements for carrying out the regatta were well made, but the fierce wind made it impossible to get off the races to time. Nearly all the racing boats were more or less damaged. Christchurch, February 17. The Champion Fours were rowed at Kaiapoi this evening, and ended in a fiasco. Shortly after the start the Wellington fouled the Union, and then Canterbury fouled the Union. Lyttelton got a good lead, but were steered right off the course.. Canterbury and Wellington had a great finish, the latter winning by two lengths, Lyttelton third. The Union and Wellington (?) entered protest*, and the committee decided to row the race over again to-morrow afternoon. Canterbury won the Ladies’ Plate, the Star being second {tnd Wellington third,

THE CHAMPION FOURS. The Christchurch press agent has failed to send us the result of the Champion Fours rowed on the Waimakariri, at Kaiapoi, on Saturday, but we have, fortunately, been able to learn the result from a private source. The Lyttelton crew were tha winners, Union (Canterbury) being second, and the Wellington Club third. The distance by which the race was won and the time were not wired to our informant. The Christchurch press agent certainly deserves a severe reprimand for his negligence. WAIHOLA REGATTA. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, February 10. Splendid weather prevailed yesterday for the Waihola regatta. About 1500 people were present. The Queen’s Drive Boating Club won the Waihola Maiden Plate, the Fouroared lurigger, the Senior Four-oar and Senior Pair-oar races. The Dunedin Amateur Boating Club won the Maiden and Junior Four-oar, and the Otago Rowing Club the Junior Pair-oar. Hogan won the Sculling Race easily. P.N.Y.C. HANDICAP RACES. The first of a series of handicap yacht races in connection with the Port Nicholson Yacht Club was sailed on Saturday after noon. There are three handicaps, one for each class, and four events in eaoh handicap. The points rookoned are—First, 4; second, 2 ; third, 1. The first olass course is once round the championship course, viz , from the wharf round buoys off Koro Koro and Worser Bay. Second-class course, from the wharf round Koro Koro and Point Halswell buoys, once round. Third olass, from the wharf round the s.s. Rowena in Featherston Bight and Point Jerniugham buoy, twice round. The weather waß of a satisfactory nature, a fine southerly breezo blowing all the afternoon, and the water being comparatively smooth. The racing was good, the finishes being close. Mr A. G. Dixon acted as hanui. oapper, and the other duties in connection with the racing were undertaken by Messrs W.Widdop (starter and timekeeper), A. G. Johnson (seoretary of the club) aud J. R. Gibbons. The First Class Raoe started at 2.30 p.m., the boats entered being the Maritana and the Isoa. An excellent start was effected, the Isoa, with 4min allowance, getting slightly the better of the Maritana (aoratoh). Each boat carried lower canvas and jib*beaded topsails. On passing the wharf the Maritana hoisted a jib topsail and the other boat followed suit. The latter’s, however, twice carried away, but the third time It managed to stand. About 50yds from tho Btart the Maritana overhauled and passed her rival, rounded the Koro Koro buoy about fimin ahead and maintained the lead till ths finish, which waß timed at 5h 21min 9 2-sseo. The Isoa, whose jib topsail again carried away on passing Evans’ Bay, oame in at 5b 27min 45 3-ssec, the Mari, tana thus winning by 2min 36 i*sseo. The Seoond Class Raoe started at 2 45 p.m., the Mahina (scratch), and tho Pet (6min) being the only competitors. The Pet, which got slightly the better of the start, gradually drew away from the Mahina, and rounded tho Koro Koro buoy about a minute ahead of her rival. However, on the beat up to Paint Halswell, tho Mahina oame to the front and finished about 300 yards ahead of the Pet. The latter, however, whioh wa splendidly handled by 3. G. Anderson takes first place on her time allowanoe by 4min 26 2-ssec. In the Third Class, whioh commenced at 2,15 p,m., there were four starters, viz,, Greyhound (soratoh), May (smin), Haeata (Bmin) and Dido (10 min). The May was first away, the Greyhound being two or three lengths behind, and the Haeata and Dido leaving together about ten lengths in the rear of the Greyhound. The last-named, however, soon overtook the May and kept the lead until the second round when the May again went to the front. Off Oriental Bay the Greyhound again forged ahead, and passed the wharf one seoond in front of the May. The boats fiuithed at the following times :—Greyhound, 3h 39min 17seo ; May, 3h 39min 18sec ; Dido, 3h 46min 25seo; Haeata, 3h 48min 40 2.ssec. The May won by 2min 52seo, the Dido being seoond, tbe Greyhound third, and Haeata fourth. Tho raoes were witnessed by large numbers of people, who seemed to take muoh Interest in the proceedings. THE YACHT RON 4. HER VOYAGE FROM AUCKLAND. The yacht Rona, from Auckland, arrived here on Tuesday evening. She left the northern portal 4 p.m. on Thursday, the 9th inst., with a light wind, and was becalmed the first night off Cape Colville. She resumed her journey at noon on Friday, and experienced light weather until nearing Gisborne, when it oommenoed to blow very hard, and she accordingly ran into Gisborne for shelter at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Leaving again at 3 p.m, on Monday a heavy northwest wind oarried her right up to Napier, which she reached at 5.30 on Tuesday morning, thus performing tho journey from Gisborne to Napier in the really quick time of just over 14 hours. After a stay of five days in the latter port the Rona left on Saturday last, but in consequenoo of the heavy southerly wind that was blowing Bhe was forced to put back after going a few miles. Another start was made at 6 on Sunday morning, and she arrived off Cape Turnagaln the same night. About 8 o’olock on Monday morning she picked up a heavy north west gale, and had to heave-to all night under a trysail, under shelter of Cape Palliser. The weather at this time was the worst they bad had during the whole voyage, and the crew speak in very high terms of the way in which the vessel behaved. The journey was resumed on Tuesday morning, the yacht sailing down the harbour under all canvas about half-past 5 on Tuesday evening, and bringing to an anchorage off the breastwork at tbe southern end of the Railway wharf. The Rona is a five-ton rater, and was built by Mr R. Logan, of Auckland. She measures 29^ft load water line and 42ft over all. Her beam is 7ft 4in ; she has 4J tons of lead outside and 10 cwt inside ; her extreme length is 41ft, and draws 7sft. She is

cutter-rigged and polo-masted; she was built of kauri on the design of a Home racing boat oalled The Valentine (G. L. Watson’s). The Rona is splendidly fitted up inside, has a patont pump and winch, &3. p and i 9 perhaps the finest c aft of her kind that has ever visited Wellington. She possesses two suits of canvas, and came down under her oruising set. Captain R, Butt was in command, his crow being J. Shaw and J. Beaton, both of Auckland. Mr R. Logan, the builder, was also on board.