YACHTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 25

YACHTING.

When the Mapu, one of the competitors in the Second-class Yacht Championship Race, finished the course at the regatta, she was flying a protest flag. The committee have not, however, received any protest from her ovner, and no notice can therefore be taken of the matter. The regatta thus passes off without a single protest being lodged—a fact which must be very gratifying to the committee. We understand the yacht Atalanta is under offer to a Wellington syndicate, Mr Canning, her owner, being desirous of purchasing a larger vessel. An immense amount of interest was taken in the various sailing events which took place on Saturday afternoon under the auspices of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club. The s.s. Mawhera, which had been chartered for the occasion, followed the races, with about 300 passengers on board. The starters in the Handicap Yacht Race were : —Waitangi (scr), Mascotte (6min), Maritana (12min), Pastime (lomin), Isca (I7min), Mima (18min), Rona (22min), Waiwetu (30min), Mahina (35min), Jennie Reid (50min). The Mapu (29min) was unable to start through not being ready in time. The Rona was about two minutes late in getting to tlie starting point. The Waitangi soon took the lead, rounding the Pilot Station buoy about one minute ahead of the Mascotte. On the second board up to Korokoro, W. Haydon, one of the crew of the Mascotte, fell overboard from the lee rigging. After being a considerable time in the water, he was picked up, greatly exhausted, by a boat from the s.s. Mawhera. The Mascotte then returned to her moorings. This robbed the race of a good deal of interest. The Pastime, which had lost eight minutes, resumed her course, and on her time allowance managed to secure third place—a very creditable performance. On rounding Korokoro buoy the Isca was 12J minutes behind the Waitangi, the Maritana being two minutes later and the Pastime two minutes behind the Maritana, with the other boats a considerable distance astern. The boats finished the course in the following order : —Waitangi, 4h 53min 4-ssec ; Maritana, 5h 7min 15sec; Isca, 5h Bmin ssec; Pastime, 5h Bmin 25soc ; Mahina, 5h 40min 50sec ; Rona, 5h 41min ; Mima, sii 43min ; Waiwetu, 5h 44min 20sec; Jennie Reid, 5h G9min. The Isca therefore wins on her time allowance by 2min l-ssec, the Waitangi being second, the Pastime third, and the" Maritana fourth. Tho committee of the Yacht Club held a meeting tho same night, and as it Wixs considered the Mascotte and Pastime had lost their chances of winning by the accident to Haydon, it was decided to re-sail the race next Saturday between the Isca, Waitangi, Pastime and Mascotte, if the two last-named boats are still here.

The annual race for the Levin Cup was re-sailed, the starters being : —Maritana (scr), Kona (llmin), Mahina (24min), and Jennie Reid (39min). The race was won by the Maritana. For the Downes Challenge Cup the Waitangi (scr), Maritana (12min), and Isca (17min) started, the race resulting in favour of the Isca. This is the third time the Isca has won this Cup (which is valued at 30 guineas), twice since she has been owned by Messrs Osborne and Co., and it now becomes her property. The Regatta Committee of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club held a meeting at the Empire Hotel on Saturday night, Mr Geo. Mee (vice-commodore) presiding. The yacht Iris, which came in first in the race for third-class yachts on Anniversary Day, was disqualified on the ground, as alleged, that she refused to take a fair-play man on board. The prize of <£lo was awarded to the Greyhound, It was also decided

that the boats, Myra, lona, Rita and Pearl should re-sail the race for 18ft boats, in consequence of some misunderstanding* as to the finish.

The prizes won at the Anniversary! Day Regatta were presented on Saturday night at the Empire Hotel. Great enthusiasm was displayed when Mr Logan, who entered the Waitangi, received Commodore Mills’ Cup and a cheque for ,£IOO, and his health and success to the new boat were drunk in bumpers. The annual picnic of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club was held on Sunday, and was a distinct success. The second heat for the 18ft and 14ft boats belonging to the Arawa Sailing Club was to have been sailed on Saturday, but boat-owners apparently considered it- too rough to race. At the next meeting of the Club the rule referring to the number to start will probably be altered so that one boat may sail over and claim the prize.

The Lyttelton yacht Mascotte was offered at auction on Tuesday by Messrs Taine and Co., and was withdrawn at .£2OO, the reserve being <£3oo.