OCEAN YACHT RACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 61

OCEAN YACHT RACE.

THE RUDDER CUP. From first to last the conditions that prevailed for the Ocean Yacht Race—the first held in these waters —for the Rudder Cup, commenced on Saturday and finished yesterday,—were absolutely the reverse of those' prevailing on Christmas Eve, when the race was started and abandoned under such sensational and exciting circumstances. On Saturday afternoon there was a light easterly breeze, little or no swell outside, and plenty of sunshine. Seven boats faced the starter, those and their ratings and handicaps being the following:-—lorangi (Wall, Morgan, and Co.), 10.4 metres, scratch; Roma (PI. Dodgshun), 8.65, Ihr 3m in 30sec; Ann is (G. Currie), 8.06, llir 29min 3sec; Carina (J. Robertson), 7.73, Ihr 46min 3sec; Petrel (M‘Keegan and Lambert), 7.62, Ihr slmin 54scc; Pera (Hanlon Bros, and Mason). 7.18, (2hrs ISmin Z4sec; Myrtle (A. Morgan), 6.59, shrs smin 39sec. The Yvonne was in Lyttelton, and was therefore a non-starter, while rtihe Matua was scratched. The. start of the race was witnessed by quite a number of people, both from the Heads and from motor boats and yachts, and generally excited considerable interest. The distance, which was 100 miles, the course being to a buoy about seven miles north-east of Oamaru arid back, was considered quite sufficient to test the sea-going capabilities of the competing yachts rind the seamanship of the crews, but the turn of events was such that there was practically no element of excitement in the race, and except for a continued and absolute lull in tbs breeze for a period of close oil 12 hours, the race was not marked by any features of 'extraordinary interest. As was anticipated, the arrangements mad© proved of a most complete order throughout. The starting was conducted from the look-out station at Taiaroa Heads, the- starters being- Messrs E. Hazlett and C. G. Smith, and the timekeepers Messrs Wheeler and Warren. Tho Lady Roberts was secured from the Defence Department for: the purpose of a patrol boat, and proved of very great assistance to the committee. On hoard the Lady Roberts Were the following representatives of the Otago Yaohtigjj Club: —Vice-commodore H. E. Moller, Rear-commodore O. G. Smith, and Messrs Oliuliamt and Bedford, members of the committee. Mr Hanlon, Commodore of the Yacht Club, was present

.at the starting point .on board the. IxiishIree. - . ■At 3 'o’clock, tli© time .for tire starting, of the race, the Carina,. Petrel, Myrtle,’ and Pera were at the starting point, which was.an imaginary lino, stretching' from, the signal station at Taiaroa Heads to the light on the end of the mole. The lorangi, Annis, and Roma were making their way to the Heads from Port Chalmers, and the lorangi and then the Roma, wore taken in tow by Captain Oashmaii, of the Lady Roberts, and a good deal of lost time recovered; The Annis was taken in hand by two friendly launches, but it was then past 3 o’clock. However, the starters, Messrs Hazlett and Smith, wisely delayed sending the boats away until half past 3, when all were drawn up in readiness. THE RACE. . With the lowering of the Blue Peter on the Heads Signal Station, the seven conii peting yachts lost rro time in getting under way, and a good start was effcohod. The Myrtle and the Pera were the first to arose the line, and the others followed in, the following order: —Carina, lorangi, Petrel, Roma, and Annis. The lorangi: and Roma alone carried topsails. The Annis almost immediately came under observation by parting company with the other yachts and making for the open eea. The others continued straight ahead, and the light easterly breeze kept them fairly close together. A slight freshening and a turn to the north-east gave the yachts the assistance of a fiveknot breeze, and under its influence the lorangi, with her extra spread of canvas, gradually drew out. It was at once to ba seen that if the breeze then prevailing were to continue, the lorangi would increase her lead very substantially, and would probably reach Oamaru at 11 o’clock at might. Later] the Myrtle joined th« Annie in the outside running, and stood in the roar. The Annis appeared to have worked in a little, and was making moderately good progress. The Pera,' Roma, and Petrel wore in advance of the last division, and then came the Carina, sailing out in front. The lorangi had increased tiro distance separating her from the others, and the Carina was, the only 'boat to show a.ny sign of sticking to her within a reasonable distance. At 4.30 p.m. the lorangi appeared to have a lead of over a mile. _ The wind now blew E.N.E., and the Annis, coming in more towards the coast, was pushing her way up. When of? Waikouaiti Heads the lorangi "had a. lead of considerably more than a mile. The Carina was the only other boat that was making any showing, although the Roma was not so very far in the rear. At 6.30 p.m. the lorangi was abreast of Shag Valley, with the Carina next in attendance, and the Roma drawing Out from the remainder. The wind now began to d.rojf perceptibly 7, and it hardly filled the sails, The rate of progress all round was becom. ing very slow, and before long- all werk practically becalmed. This state of arFair< lasted practicallv until 4 a.m., there being barely a puff in the interval. Meantime, the Lady Roberts had headed for Oamaru, which was reached at about 10 p.m., the anticipation being to pick up Captain Ramsay, harbourmaster, who wa? to officially represent the Yacht Club on the turning buoy. With the calm that had set in, it was at once recognised thaf the yachts could not possibly reach th< turning buoy until the early morning, Accordingly the patrol boat remained iif the harbour overnight, and at break of da-* 1 swung out into the open sea. The turn/ ing buoy, seven miles away, was soon reached, and there Captain Ramsay waa found to ho in charge, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the competitors. The Lady Roberts anchored alongside the buoy, and at exactly 5.40 a.m. a rousing cheer from those on board announced the lorangi as the first boat to turn. With a freshening breeze she promptly headed off on the return journey. It was not for a. full three hours later that the Carina reached the buoy, f.he official turning time being 8.40 a.m. The Roma, which had made excellent time, rounded at 8.55 a.m., fh<i Annis at 11.16, the Petrel at 11.35, and the Pera at 11.45. The Myrtle was hopelessly in the rear bv this time, and the Lady Roberts, the Pera having rounded, made 'back to Oamaru. Here 1 Captain. Ramsay was landed and accorded hearty cheers for his enthusiasm. The Ladv Roberta commenced her return journey forthwith, but it provided very little incident. Eight miles south of Oamaru the Myrtle slowly plugging away, was picked up and taken in tow. The Pera was encountered off Moeraki light, and refused the offer of a tow. and the Petrel was merely a few hundred wards ahead. About 5.30 p.m., opposite Palmerston, the Ann.it was taken in tow. Tin’s left the lorangi, Carina, and Roma actually in the race, the Pera and Petrel, considerably in the rear, and two boats, the Mvrtle and Annis, being towed. By this time, in fact, shortly after 2 o’clock, the wind bad veered rou’rf to the south-west, and while it meant thasß the yachts bad to beat against it. iff was, if anvthing, stronger than it bad been. _ This anpearecjl to have suited the Torengi perfectly, for the lead of three hours she had when roundin'* - the buoy outside of Oamaru was gradual I v increased bran hour, and exaotjv at 4 30. p.m. she crossed the line at Taiaroa Heads. The Carina was next in order. Beating in close to the coast, she was rot making good progress, and by the time she crossed th» line it was 8.30 p.m... .time putting out of the question anv po=sihilit- of hoi- getting first rd»o® on the . time, limit. The Roma was standing fairlv well out. and must have come inside the Hoads about b.-df. a "-hour later. t,b«e fakin'* third place. Tb’e fV-rim. wps taken in tow by tbo, Lady Roberts immediately on getting inside the bar. REPTJT.m op mvrp ■RACE, lorangi (scratch), 25brs 2min (actual time) 1 Carina (Ihr 46min 3sec), 29hrs (actual time). .... ! 2 The Roma, with a handicap of Ihr 3mir’ 30iS-ao. Would finish in about 291 hours. The Pera and. Petrel would probably, il the iournev were continued, reach the Heads about midnight. At the conclusion of the race the Lady Roberts brought her complement of 20 pass-mgers, or tlmreabout, up to Dunedin which was reached at. 11 p.m. The Ladv Roberts took a very prominent part in the arrangem-nts of the race, and .in .this respect the Ya-ffit Club fs : greatlv indebted to .Captain Cash mars and Mr,.Morgan (engineer)., and the crevi for the energies so ungrudgingly devotes, in the direction of making the event sxxv cessful.