MOERARI REGATTA AND SPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 59

MOERARI REGATTA AND SPORTS.

The regatta and sports at Moeraki attracted between 500 and 6DO persons to this seaside resort on Monday. The day. althoug-h beautifully fine for games and outdoor sjports, was disappointing iioxn a

regatta point of view, the light wind in the morning dropping and changing to and from almost all quarters, and after midday dying entirely away. The principal sailing event of the day was mainly remarkable for the faot that the three yachts entered were becalmed half an hour after starting, and for several hours did not succeed in rounding the mark buoy a mile and a-half from the starting-post. The second class sailing race, which was decided in the morning, was more interesting, and a good race resulted in a popular win for the Lily, with the Alert a fairly good second. The Hampden Brass Band, under the conductorship of Bandmaster Hutton, and assisted by a few players from the Oamaru Garrison Band, played selections during the day. and the programme of sports included a haka and a poi dance by resident Maoris. The following are the results : — Second Class Handicap Sailing R-ace. Six knots. — C. Pagel's Lily, 4min 50sec, 1; C. Sproule's Alert, 3min 50sec, 2; C. Sproule's "Seabreeze, scr., 3. M. Joyce's Toroa, 2min 50sec, also competed. In this event the scratch boat had a distinct advantage owing _to a change in the wind from % N.E. to a S.E. breeze, which she caught at the start, and . which placed her in 'a good position before she had. gone a mile. After this she ran into light, puffy winds, and the earlier starters, favoured by better wind conditions, regained some of the advantages they had lost. The Toroa, which was in difficulties at the start, gained considerably by a short tack, which i'luced her in a premier position, after about a mile and a-quarter had been covered. When nearing the buoy the Seabreeze gained somewhat by holding the wind better than her opponents, and -she rounded the buoy two minutes ahead of the Lily, the Alert following closely, and the Toroa coming last. On the rim bp,ck to the home buoy the Lily gained on Seabreeze, and passed the buoy only half a .. minute behind, but the Alert and Toroa fell fcaek considerably, and rounded the buoy seve- j ral minutes behind the leaders. The wind | then died away and the Toroa, failing to get away from the home buoy, gave up a hopeless chase. The Alert, catching a fresh wind, made a bold effort to make the best of a lee race, and gained perceptibly on the Lly and Seabreeze. .Baffling light- winds, alternating with i almost dead calms, made the rest of the race uninteresting, and the Lily won from the Alert by a qtiarter of a mile ; Seabreeze finishing last. Punt Race. Prizes : 7s 6d, ss, anl- 2s 6d — H. Tipu 1, G. Mantle 2. R. Pollet 3. A good race between first and second boats. Tipa winning by half a dozen lengths. Tug-of-War.. Conditions, 10 men aside. Prize, 10s.— Mberaki j., Hampden 2. First Class Handicap Sailing Race. Distance, nine knots. First prize, d£6 and cup; second, £3; third, £1 10s. Three entries.— Mr A. Hull's Christobel, scr, 1; Mr M. Joyce's Norah, 2min 30sec, 2; Mr M. Joyce's Rob Roy, 6min 30sec, 3. Decided on the first rouncS (three miles) ; no wind. Handicap Motor Race. Distance, 12 miles. Prizes : £5, £2 10s, and £1. Entry, 10s. Three - entries. — Rose, 15niin, 1; Fram. 25min, 2; Moreau, scr, 3. Time, lhr 55min. Won by eight minutes. Second Punt Race. Prizes: 7s 6d, ss, and 2s 6d.— J. Pagel 1, W. Wilman 2, A. Nicol 3. Six started. A good race. Third Class Handicap Sailing Eace. Prizes : £3, £1 10s, and 15s.— Postponed to following day. In the Tugs'-of-War. Married v. Single (men) and Married v. Single (ladies) the Benedicts won in each case. The officials were: — Patron, Mr T. Mackenzie, MJH.R. ; president and commodore, Mi I Douglas ; vice-presidents — Messrs W. Nicholson, M. Joyce, W. J. D. Trotter, D. Booth ; vice-oommodore, Mr A. J. Creagt ; Tcar-coinmodore, Mr J. Culling ; judge and starter. Mr W, Mackay; handicapper, Mr C. J. Hordin; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr C. F. J. Bell.