REGATTAS. BROAD BAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 66

REGATTAS. BROAD BAY.

! The Broad Bay regatta, one of the most . popular of New Year holiday attractions, , was" held at Broad Bay on Wednesday under fine weather conditions. The light southerly wind which was blowing down the harbour during the forenoon gave out about midday, and was succeeded for a few minutes by a temporary calm, followed in turn by a light wand from the north-eaat, even and steady enough, but not sufficiently strong for_ fast sailing. The disadvantage that arose from the absence of a i good sailing breeze was, however, compensated for by a very large attendance of the public, who were tempted to visit this favourite seaside resort in order to picnic on the hillsides and foreshore, and at the same time to witness the boat-Tacing. This year prizes to a total value 1 of .£Bl were given to the •winners of the various events, and in this connection it is worthy of mention that this large cum, as ueual, was raised from entrance fees, members' subscriptions, local concerts, and voluntary contributions from 'holiday and other resi-^ dents at Broad Bay, without appeal to the business or outside public in any way. Arrangements for holding the regatta were on the same line? as formerly, the president, officers, committee,_and members of the club devoting their personal attention to the work of judging, handicapping, starting 1 , And *im«-lceejjiiTgv anj it sajs •• grres/fc j deal for the impartiality and thoroughness I with which these onerous duties were carried out that there was a total absence of friction or unpleasantness during _ the whole day. The course for the sailing events was the same as in previous years, a two-mile distance on a triangular basis extending from Broad Bay jetty to Grassy Point, thence down the harbour in a northerly direction, and back to the starting point. For the motor-boat events ihe course, estimated at seven and a-half miles, extended from Broad Bay down the harbour, round the islands, u,p Victoria Channej, and across the harbour at a point opposite to the starting point. The little steamer Ellen Ballance, kindly lent to the - Regatta Committee by Messrs Cook and Stevenson, and brought from Port Chalmers to the Bay by Mr E. Knewstubb., was utilised as a flag-ship* and at the conclusion of the raoing a number of fishermen volunteered to tow the boat back again to Port Chalmers, as her machinery has been removed. So far as the eaiihjff events of the clay were concerned, the handicappers were i at some disadvantage in securing results "£o justify their estimate of capabilities, owing to the changing light wind and temporary calms. The third-class yacht race, however, was sailed tinder more favourable conditions than the first and secondclass events of the same kind, and was, consequently, a more interesting item on the programme, ajid the same remark ap- j plies to the open-boat race. The motor- | boat races were all well-contested, and the spectacle of 18 large yachts and boats facing the starter in the principal race of this order w«s a very imposing one, the whole course of the event, as far as it could be seen from points of vantage, being watched with interest by spectators from both sides of the harbour. In addition to the racing events an interesting exhibition of submarine diving was given by Mr Miller in his well-known manner. .. The usual concert in aid of the regatja funds £M«| held in the Broad Bay Hall m

the evening. The chair was occupied -by Mr A. J. Morrison, and there was a large audience. The items, many of which were encored, included solos by Mieses M'Donald," D. Lichenstein, and F. Maitland, Mrs R. Hudson, Dr W. S. Ziele, Messrs L. Warren, C. Graham, J. Slmail, and S. Angell ; reqita- | tions by Messrs B. Wilson and A. C. HanIon; violin solos by Mies H. K. Walker and M. Sandilands; a flute solo by Mr [W. Morrison ; duets by Mrs R. Hudson j and Mr C. Graham, and Mrs H. Reeves and Dr Ziele; piano selections by Mieses 'E. Gooch and Moloney ; and plantation ! choni6es by a number of voices. The proceeds of the concert were considered to be very satisfactory, and the entertainment was wound up with the customary dance.