YACHTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 31

YACHTING.

THE R£GAT7£ F'CBT NICHC'LSON YACHT CLUB. Patron, the Earl of. Glasgow, K.C.M.G. : commodore and /urge, Mr E. W. Mills ; vice-commodore, Mr G. Mee : rear-com-modore, Mr R. Turnbull ; staVtor, timekeeper and handieapper, Mr A. G. BS-.on : \ measurers, Messrs F. Carrington and G, . Fitzgerald ; hon treasurer, Mr J. H. H. ••^a'^k; committee, Messrs J. S. "Winstar; ley, A.- E/ Dean, J. MeLeau, M. Laing and J'. 1\ Gibbons ; secretary, Mr J. B. Speed. Ther« was a strong north- .vest wind on the 22nd, and the sea in the harbour was very rough when the Port Nicholson Yacht Ch>b held their annual regatta. A large number' of people were on the wharf awaiting the arrival of the steamer Ruahine, which had been placed at the Club's disposal as flagship, 1/u't tiK-y were disappointed, for when she camo aloirgS"'t*e the wharf the captain re Fused to allow them to' go' otr. board. Ultimately he allowed tlie officials of the Club and a number of their friends to use trie' vessel. The majority, however, had to be content with watching the races from the wharf. The decision of the captain of the Ruahino completely upset all the arrangements the committee had made for the entertainment of their guests. It has besn in past years their custom to supply their guests witli afternoon tea and light refreshments, and this eonrtesy was mussed by the ladies who were present, as the afternoon [n-OTed to be somewhat chilly. Under the circumstances the Club are to be congratulated on the success of the regatta, Mr J. B. Speed, the secretary, working with great energy. A fine view of the rwces could be obtained from the Ruahine, as Mr Ferguson, secretary of the Harbour Board, and Captain llolliday, harbourmaster, had arranged for the removal of the coal hulks from their tfsua) places in front of the wharf. Bunting \v;r j displayed in honour of the occasion from the steamers Wainui, Tokomaru and Wavorley. The Peiiguin made two trips lound the narbour, and was well patronised on each occasion. The First-class Yacht Handicap was won rather easily by the Waitanzi, she boating the Maritana, tlie only other boat to j finish, by 53nun 35.SCC. The Ngaira did not complete the first round. She was not seen at her beYC, e-'nng to the rough water, and returned to her moorings. The secondclass handicap was von by the Isca, which started from scratch', she beating the Rona (lmin ."><)sec) by 27see. Tho Waiwetu, Mahina and Mapu did not finish. The Rona had her mainsail and foresail split, and the gooseneck of the main boom was carried away, accidents which no doubt hampered her considerably. Tlie Waiwetu also had her foresail carried away, and the Isca had an accident with her mainsail. The Third-cla-s Handicap Vacht h'ace was won with tlie greatest of ease by the Greyhound. The half-raters only sailed once round the course, the Vixen beating the only other competitor rather easily. The wind and sea was considered to be too rough for the ISit and 14ft boat races, and they were postponed until Saturday. The Fishing Boat Uacc, for which there were only two competitors, was , also postponed till Saturday. The Macedon and Marathon were the crsly starters, but they had not proceeded far when the mast of the Marathon broke clean oft' below the deck, and the boat was allowed to drift to the molo near the Destructor, where she was eventually anchored. The M-icedcm's jib was carried and a staysail had to be set, but she only got as far as Kvans' Bay when she was obliged to return owing to the heavy sea. The courses were as follow :—No. I—From1 —From south end of Queen's Wharf round buoys off Koro Ivoro and the Pilot Station, and back to the wharf. No. 2 —From tin. 1 south end of Queen's Wharf round buoys oil' Koro Ivoro and Hope Shoal (Ward's Island), and back to the wharf. No. 3 From south end of Queen's Wharf round buoys off Koro Koro and Point Halswell, and back. No. I—From1 —From south end of Queen's Wharf round buoy off Kaiwarra and Point Jerningham, and back. The following arc the results of the races sailed ; * Handicap Yacht Race. —First prize, £lO. and Evening Post trophy ; second, ~£3. Twice round No. 2 course. Mr J. Black's Jon-. ■ '■. ■ 1 The Novice (oUmin) was the only other competitor, but after sailing a few miles she returned to her moorings. The Jennie Reid was capitally sailed by Mr .1. Black, her owner. FiiiST-CLAs.s Yacht Rack. —Open to yachts of five rating and over. First prize, «£4O and the Commodore's Cup; second, .£lO. Course, from the Queen's Wharf round Koro Koro and Pilot Station buoys and back ; twice round ; total distance, 27 miles. Messrs Jameson, Georgoson and Kirker's Waitangi, 1 -'.>•(> rating, scr ... ... 1 Messrs Mee, Laing and Tanner's Maritana, 9 3 rating. 3min 28sec ... ... 2 Mr J. H. Jack's Ngaira, B'4 rating, srniu

35see, did not finish the Jfirst round, and re* turned to her moorings. The boats all had dbuble-reefed mainsail, the Ngaira also carrying a small jigger. The Waitangi waS first away.- being a few seconds ahead of the. Maritana,' the Ngaira, which was at her* moorings when the gun fired, being six minutes late. The Waitangi rounded Pomb Halsvreil three minutea ahead of the Maritana, and ten ahead of the Ngaira. The Waitangi finished the first round at Ibr 40min 30sec, and*the Maritana at lhr 53min. The Ngaira had at this time given up. The Waitangi and Maritana lost some time in rounding the* wharf buoy on the way to Point Halswell, the Waitangi rounding the point llmin ahead of the Maritana. She ultimately won easily, her time for the raco being 4hr 4Smin 35src ; the Maritana finishing oOmin 35sec afterwards. The Waitangi was well handled by Mr McComish. Mr G. Martin sailed the Maritana. Second-class Yacht Rack. —Open to yachts of two and a half rating and under five rating. First prize, .£25 and Messrs Briscoe, Mac Neil and Co.'s trophy ; second, £7 10s. Twice round No. 12 course. Messrs Osborne Bros.'" Isca, 4'G rating, 27. sec 1 Mr R. T. TurnbulFs Rona, 43 rating, lmin oOseCj .. ... ... ... ..3 The Waiwetu, 27sec ; Mapu, 27sec ; Mahina, Smin 21sec, started, but did not finish. The Mahina and Rona were the first to get away, followed, by the Isca and Waiwetu, the Mapu. being six minutes late. The Isca was first round Point Halswell, followed by the Rona a. few seconds later, and the Mahina. The Waiwetu went round seven seconds after the Isca, followed by the Mapu three seconds later. The Isca finished the first round four minutes ahead of the Rona. The Mahina was the only other boat to go once round, and she then retired from the race. As_ the Isca and Rona.. were on the run down from. Petonc speculation was very rife as to which would win. Both boats had met with accidents, but as the Rona was sailing a much better course than her opponent, it was thought that with her time allowance she would win. She finished, however, 2miu 3-ssec behind the Isca. which won by 27sec. Thihd -Class Handicap Yacht Race.Open to boats not exceeding 22ft 0n1.w.1. First prize, =£lo and Messrs G. and T. Young's trophy ; second, £3. Twice round No. 3 course. Messrs Blaekloek and Carrington's Greyhound, scr ... ... •■■ •-• , ■•• 1 Messrs fcieuuer and Co.'s Haeata, 28min ... 2 Mr Lindorf's Tuua, Mr J. Moffatt's Irex and Messrs Thompson Bros.' Aileen did not start, the wind being too strong. The Haeata was the first over the line, but was soon passed by the Greyhound, which eventuallv won with the greatest ease. HAi/r'- Raters Rack. First prize, £5 and Brown and Thomson's trophy; second, £2. t'wice round No. 3 course. Mr T. Y. Wardrop's Vixen ... ... ■•■ 1 Mr A. H. Turubull's Miru 3 The boats, according to agreement, only went once round, the Vixen winning easily. The Miru had her jib split. New York, January 20. The report of the committee of the NewYork Yacht Club which has been investigating Lord Dunraven's complaints as to tha races for the America Cup relieves bis lordship from the censure passed upon him Joy the American -press for his protest against the interference with the competing vessels by the excursion steamers.