YACHTING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11436, 5 February 1923, Page 10

YACHTING

THjE OCEAN RACE WIN fog "TRII 'SEA BIRD. MISHAP TO WANDERER. A much-looked forwand*to event among yachtsmen in Wellington is the annual ocean race to Port Underwood. This event wae contested by ten yachts during the week-end and resulted in a win on handicap for the Sea Bird, sailed by D. Kirkcaldie and W. Lerwell. The White Heather (H. Smith) was second, and the Galatea (I. Tringhnm) was third. Eight of the contestants finished. The handicap of the winning yacht was. 230 minutes, the second yacht wae allowed sixty minutes, while the Galatea had eighty minutes. The following others entered :—Marangi (B. Clarke), Kotiri 11. (J. E. L. Cull), Wanderer (F. Hadfield), Atalanta (VV. Hill), Romp (A. J. Ibbotson). Windward (G. G. Nicholson), and Raweno (N. D. Blair). . Mr G. Jackson, ono of the most experi. enced deep sea yachtsmen in Wellington, acted as timekeeper and .startSr for the fleet and went over to Port Underwood in his auxiliary yadht Payche. The weather experienced was. decidedly squally in parts, and at times occasioned some difficulty, the going being strenuous on more than one occasion. The yachts left Wellington early on Baturday. afternoon, and the first to arrive at Port Underwood, on the' other side of Cook Strait, was Mr Berkeley Clarke in the Marangi. which reached the arranged destination at 11.30 p.m that evening, after leaving the boat harbour at 2.35 p.m. The White Heather reached Port Underwood twenty minutes later. The Kotiri 11. was the next lo arrive, reaching the port at midnight, followed by tho other contestants at Various times.

Unfortunately tho Wanderer, when making a board well to the south, went ashore at the White Bluff, near Cloudy Bay. This information was received by telephone from Capo Campbell. It was stated thnt a yacht was in distress. The information was quickly actod upon by Mr Jackson, who left at once for the scone of the mishap, eventually towing off the Wanderer, without any serious reported result. The yaohts left on the return run to Wellington at 10.80 yesterday morning under somewhat improved weather conditions. The Marangi, when well in the lead off Cape Terawhiti. met with some difficulty and got behind. Eventually the yacht was passed in the vicinity of Kau Bay bv the White Heather, which maintained her lead. This yacht was the first to arrive at. the home port, followed shortly after by tho Marangi. The Sea Bird them put in an appearance, and on time, was awarded tho contest, with tho White Heather placed second, and tho Galatea a fairlv close third. The yachts arrived in Wellington shortly before 5 o'clock last evening, the "White Heather onlv defeating the Marangi in the filial run ud the. harbour by |