Boat Harbor Notes

NZ Truth, Issue 570, 20 May 1916, Page 12

Boat Harbor Notes

* : (By VBoathook.") On Saturday last racing- was resumed after a two weeks break. The final flutter of the season, ' so far as racing is concerned, was': held m the -Iprm of a general handicap over the usual club courm ' * ,■■■■ ': * ' • ' • A light S.E. wind was blowing, and , the following boats started: . Rona, Wairere, Viola, Galatea, Windward, Lizzie* Rawene, Muritai, Amai and Venus. . .■■'•. • ■ ■ •- ' . The start effected was easily the best of the season, the boats crossing the line dead leveL ■••-.•• " '■*.;''-. ,- v Wairere was the first to make headway, getting hold of a nice southerly slant. Galatea came next and then the. Viola and Rona. This order was kept to Jerningham. Viola and Rona seemed to have a great liking for one another, but, ultimately, Viola- got the better of her opponent and drew away. The other boats were some distance behind -and bunched. On the run to Korokoro the wind became more easterly and this gave the Wairere a further advantage. ..:■•■ •;.#■■ .'■'•■' Korokoro buoy was rounded by Wairere' five minutes ahead of Galatea, Viola and Rona got round next. # * ♦ On the beat back Wairero maintained her lead and then Viola and Rona passed Galatea, and a great go was witnessed between the two former. The other boats were still bundled well m the rear with the exception of the Lizzie which was now making headway. ':''■.'• „• ...•■■#.■ • ■• . . At the. Jerningham buoy, Viola and Rona rounded together. Rona's helmsman instead ;of squaring away and running for the finishing line, pushed the Viola well out of her course, but the Viola being the faster tjgat on the day soon made up for this and beat the Rona, home by two minutes, being ( the second to arrive. On time, Wairere first;. Lizzie 2, and Viola 3. ... ; ■ ■ •■■ .. ;■■ ..•■ '. .■■ •■ ' ■■ .■ ■ Although having the best of the luck on Saturday, the Wairere undoubtedly proved that she is the fastest boat racing m Wellington at the present > time— that is m a full -sale breeze. She thoroughly deserves"- the coveted honor of being the champion boat of the season. < ; ■ :•■:■ ■■■■•:■ ■,■■•• ;/'■■• • . ' ■ ■■ i The second boat m the season's points aggregate, the, Viola, bos raced most consistently. Only on one occasion has she been out of a place. On three occasions she has beaten the Walrere,; and on two the Rona. The only other boat to cross the line ahead of her was the Galatea. .-, : ■':.-,.*. '. ■ '.• : . ' ■ • ■ Rona, the third boat, also has been sailed well throughout tlie year, crossing the line on four occasions. But she has never been observed out m a. hard blow, so we are not able to say what she would do under such conditions. ■;• ' . •■ '•■ ■. ' '•.:■•■ ; . ' ' The Lizzie was sailed by Mr. BrookTaylor, Jnr. on \ Saturday and sailed well. But she had a little more ltfck than most of the other second-raters, but for all that he used his nut to advantage. "Boathook" takes thjs opportunity of wishing his boat harbor "cobbers" farewell. It may be until next sea- ! son; it may foe for "never," Taken i all round the closing season has been - one of the pleasantest and most successful experienced m the history of first-class .racing. The second-class boats have had a lot of trouble m getting crews and this had not conduced to getting the best fun out of the boats.