THE REGATTA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1352, 27 January 1898, Page 27

THE REGATTA.

. like the other attractions arranged for Saturday the regatta was to a great extent spoiled by the weather, that is, so far as spectators were concerned. The latter were, under the circumstances, confined to those immediately interested in the competing craft or iu the Port Nicholson Yacht v.lub. Ihe steamer Diogadee rau round the harbour during the progress of the.first races, giving those on bojrd an opportunity of viewing the progress being made. An innovation was mado by the club when arranging the programme ia the direction of having two race* for each class of boat, an i as the courses had been shortened competitor-, iu the first-race were enabled to take part in the second Asa matter of fact the winners were all" doubles." the same craft carrying oft' both events in which it was eligible to start. The weather during the morning, although somewhat unpleasant, owing to occasional showers, was rather suitable for sailing, a full lower-canvas breeza prevailing. Jn the at'iernoon. however, both wiud and sea increased until a. fairly, strong gale had to be faced. Tnis led to one or two of the vessels having to return to their moorings, either owing to somo of their gear oatrying away or the wind being too boisterous. Mr G. Mee, oommodore of the olub, acted as judge, and Mr J. B. Speed (secretary) as starter and timekeeper, Messrs Laing and Harman assisting, while the handicapping, which was generally regarded as satisfactory, had been performed by Mr F. L. Biss. 'ihe following are the results and details: —

. First-olass Yachts ; open to five rating and over. Prize, £lo—Messrs Georgeaon and Co.'s Waitangi, 10*6 tons (scr), 1; Mr J. H. Jack's Ngaire, B'4 tonß (2min 47sec), 2. The course in this event was round the Pinnacle Eock and Koro Koro buoys. The Ngaire was first to cross the line, with all her lower canvas set, about a minute ahead of the Waitangi, the latter's mainsail having one reef taken in. The former, sailed by Mr George Martin, was the first to round Point Gordon, but was fully six minutes behind her opponent after the beat up to Koro Koro had been accomplished. The Waitangi lost some considerable time at this point, as she went to leeward of the buoy, and consequently had to put about and come up jnt j the wind again. The run home did not alter the positions, the crack winning by a considerable distance. The boats finished as follows:—Waitangi, lhr 7min 34sec; Ngaire, lhr 13min 7seo. In tho second tace, the Ngaire returned to

her moorings, the weather proving too heavy. The! Waitangi, however, went on and sailed round the course. Some misunderstanding has arisen in connection with the start for-this raoe. It appears the officials have ruled that the Ngaire ?.oid not properly oross the starting line, and this not having been done they cannot admit that the oraft actually started in the racer riot having " gore to the post " as it were. Ihe skipper of the yacht denies this. The rules provide that two must start in each race or no prize will be given, consequently, as the Ngaire is held not to have "started-*' in the strict sense of the term, the Waitangi's owners may not get the prize-money. ,:./'-■ Second i la<=s Yachts, 2£ and under 5 rating. First prize, .£10; second, J>s; third, lnthis race the oouree was round the Hope shoal and Koro Koro buoys. The order of the boats finishing wt* as. /follows : —Atalanta, lhr 50min Bsec; Rona, lhr 59min 56sec ; Mahina, lhr Omin 29sec; Mapu, lhr Sarin lOsec; B otiri, lhr 23min l^ec; Ariel, lhr Omin 48sec. After taking time allowance into consideration, the racH,rf>sulted as follows: —Atalanta, 1; Mahina;"^;'Rona, 3 In the second raoe the Atalanta again won, thus proving her superiority in' ad weather, the Mapu being second and the .Vlahia third, the respective times being :~4hr 34min 9aec, 4hr S9min 49see, shr 3m'n 36sec. The # Kotiri and Ariel were not started a second time. Third-class Yachts, under 2£ rating. First pnz.'/ £5; second, .£3; third, .£1 10s—The course round Point Halswell and Koro Koro buo\s was covered in fastest time by the Taipari, her time being lhr 9min 14sec. This enabled her to win without the time allowance, the Ripple being second, and the third. The only other Btarter in this race was the Mahaki, which unfortunately was dismasted in a squall off Kau Point. In the second race only the Taipari and Bipple started, the former again winning by a considerable distance. .'■£'"' Handicap Yacht Baoe, for those not competing in other races. First prize, .£5; second, #2 10s. ' The only starters were the Pet, the Novio° and thp Jennie Beid, the course twice rou.cithn o(.h tor second-class yachts. Alter £tthig.'i-ume distance on the final round some or ihe Jennie Reid's gear carried away and she returned, leaving the other two to fight out the finish, and this resulted in ; the Novice finishing about 10 minutes ahead of the Pet.