YACHTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6994, 7 December 1909, Page 3

YACHTING

RACING ON SATURDAY. Yachtsmen were favoured at the commencement of racing operations on Saturday • afternoon with a light southerly breeze sufficient to enable the yachts to carry their topsails. The breeze, however, gradually died away when the yachtft were within easy reach of their goal, thereby spoiling what should have been very closely contested races. The three races of the P.N.Y.0., which had to be resadled on- account of the boats not finishing to time the previous Saturday, were decided. The first craco of ihe Te Aro Olub also took place, and a relay race for motor boats under the Motor Boait Grub's auspices proved an interesting item. Seven boats started in the secondclass yacht race, the Nancy Stair getting tiho best of the start. She was followed by Patronusj White Heather, Mahiina, Wairore, Viking, and Janet, in that order. Mafoina appeared to have the best of the deal, a 6 after rounding Halsnvell she was well in front of the others. ' , Coining back Wairere asserted herself and oaone into sight a good way ahead _ of Mahina. There was a calm at this stage. Mahina caught up on her opponent a good deal but Wairere crossed the. finishing line four minutes in advance of the Thorndon boat. With her handicap Mahina took first place, with Wairere second, and Janet (who finished 19min 45see after the Wairere) third. These three -were the only boats to finish before 7 p.m., the others being becalmed off Somes Island. Following were the handioapt? with finishing times in parentheses:—j Mahina., smin (6hr 39min), 1; Wairere ( scr. (6hr 35min), 2; Janet, smin (6hr 54miTi 45sec), 3. Also started— White Heather, rJmin: Viking, 16min; Nancy Stair, 20min; Patron us, 20min. Tlio contestants with handicaps were t as follow for the third-class event: Lizzie scr Rawene 7min, Nanoya 9, • Karaifca 18, May 20. The boats moved off at the start in the same order as they are mentioned above. Lizzie (who finished at 6.52—20) was the only boat to complete the course, the others being becalmed off Somes Island. The fourth-class race, which was started under the Mark Foy system, proved exciting. Maahanui held her handicap distanco until within easy reach of the wharf, but she then struck a oalm which enabled Warehou (who had overtaken Tuna) to range alongside. These two boats kept in the oalm for a good time; in the meantime Tuna, with a good breeze behind her, finished first, five ,minutes in advance of Warehou. The result was: Tuna, omin (shr 45min), I; Warehou, &cr (fi —50), 2; Maahanui, 6min (5—55). The result 'of the 14-footer race by the Te. Aro Sailing Club's boats was: Rival, 61mm, 1; Rambler, scr, 2; Ishmael, scr, 3. Also started—Gondolier scr, Winfred 6J, Red Wing lmin. The finishing times were respectively: shr 3mm, 5—4, 5—6, 5—9—30, 5 19—30, 5—20. In a relay race for motor boats over a course from Queen's wharf, round man-of-war buoy, to Jerningham buoy and back to the wharf the white flag team (consisting of Scotia, Taniwlia, Puriri, and Tender) defeated the red iag team (Hex, Maui, Vida, and Qygnet) I by 2£ minutes.