Bluff Regatta.

Southland Times, Issue 7018, 5 January 1885, Page 3

Bluff Regatta.

The effect of public criticism and— shall we say" it-~thfc " nudgings " of the Press have had a moist salutary effect upon tb e; conductors of theannual regatta at Bliiff v Harbor • and they on Friday provided the beet programme of sports yet planned by . them, and carried it out promptly and pleasantly :«>ith a trifling exception to which reference will be' made.' There is little need v to write at length of the extraordinary influx of visitors to the port on this occasion as ii must have been patent everyone, aid it must suffice to say that the heavy traffic was punctually and efficiently managed^at both ends. There was but one drawback to the enjoyment iof the double trip, and that was one bejo.ndthe> control of the local officials. We refer to the fact that so-many had to make -the journey in open waggons. It is riot to be expected that the Department can keep carriages standing all the year round waitincr for holiday traffic, but they might keep a w truck frames on hand for the purpose of spreading tarpaulins over on emergencies. The ■ pleasure is taken out of a "whole- day when people have to fide 36 miles exposed to bud, wind, dust, or rain. The trains on Friday, in ( spite of their length, were uncomfortably crowded, but the passengers bore with this intrue holiday spirit, and were evidently well pleased with the efforts of the staff to do the best possible with the plant available. Arrived at the. Bluff everything was seen to be tricked but as a seaport is expected to be on such occasions. The flagship, Pareora, was decorated with foliage and bunting from truck to martingale and the Oamaiu was but Jittle behind. Both: vessels received large numbers ot visitors, and Captain Donaldson, of the Pareora, in addition to -acting as judge, kept " open house " - and dispensed hospitality ,to all comers ; the roomy saloon being a most comfortable retreat from the rays of old Sol. The officials of the regatta were remarkable for two things— they were [all there, .] and all did the work expected of them. : ;The result was fair punctuality and consequent satisfaction on the part of the public. Special mention must be made of the handieappers, Captains Smith and Bradshaw, and Mr Hanney, stationmaster. Their good judgment was shown in the close finishes in Hie sailing races. Six cutters but of sevencame to the post after a three .and a half hours' run within 6£ minntes: this i disposes of the question of handicaps. The Blue Bibbbn Band played all day on the main deck, of i'-o Pareora very, creditably, and earned ;Ue commendations of their hearers. Everything passed off without accident of i uy. kind, ai.J sobriety was. the order of t" o day. The entries in most of the pulli- *> races Were fewer than might have been •. .\ pected, and two events did not come off. 0 .0 of these, the amateur four-oar race, IJI through in this wise. Time was up, h.J a member of committee, in good lrtitbj/advised the Invercwgill club's crew to get ready and pull off to the flagship. Unfortunately the committee at about the Bame time decided to postpone the race as the water was too lumpy. The Invercargill men came off and were so informed. They therefore returned to the shore and placed their boat on the trucks; refusing to strip again when the windjulled. The judges then very properly declined to allow the race to proceed without the Invercargill boar. The misunderstanding was unfortunate, but all parties had a show of right, and it is to be hoped a good race will yet be got off. The dingy race was practically a contest of two, the third starter retiriag early. Goomes won easily. The pair-oars also brought out only two boats, and was a soft thing for Shepherd and Spencer, whose style was much before that of their opponents. For the cutter race there was a fine working breeze, and the entries being numerous an interesting contest ensued. The start was made' in true yachting style, i.e. the cutteis ranged up and mad© fast to the starting line with mainSails set. At gun fire jibs were run up and the fleet turned to the northward like a line of cavalry. The Annie (5 mins.) had the heels of th 9 lot in opening, but the rest were speedily after her, and with the wind well abaft the beam formed a very pretty picture as they sped out of the harbor. After the usual amount of oircular sailing outside, with varying fortunes, they reentered the harbor in very close order, the Annie being the only one out of the race. Beturning past the flag-ship the Dolly had gained considerably on the Flying Scad, which had been doing well, and with her five minutes' allowance looked all over the winner. Turning to windward round the red buoy for the final run, the SciiH hung in the wind and was slightly fouled, and Nautilnstook Becond place. The Dolly crossed the line first. The Scud, however, would have taken first prize but for her ill-luck. The Alarm, keeping- well to windward, got across second, followed immediately by the Nautilus. The finish of the six cutters was remarkably close. We throw out the suggestion to the committee that the cutters in future races should He numbered, and Bhould carry their figures in Roman numerals a yard long on both sides of ..their mainsails. This would serve the same put pose as racing flags, and would be much more intelligible and interesting to onlookers. White calico would be a suitable material. As it was on Friday, as soon as the vessels got out of the range of the ordinary binocular the race lost all interest, and even when the cutters returned only, tbe residents could distinguish between them, because they do not all comply with the Board of Trade regulations by carrying their names on their bows. The sailing boat race as usual filled well, eleven toeing tLe mark, several of them fine able, boats. The Pinafore (8.N.A.), Pilot, and the Awarua were first round the north flag boat in tbe Older named. On the run down the Pilot showed ' most speed - off the wind, and took first place. On the turn to windward the Pilot still led, with Pinafore, however, banging on. On the second turn the Navals' boat rounded the flag-boat first, with Pilot a good second, but falling behind ; the rest nowhere. The Pinafore came in first by 2| minutes - from Pilot ; Amateur, very well sailed, three minutes later. The race, ran in a stiff and steady " two-reef " breeze, was extremely interesting. For the ships' gig race the only entries were those of the Pareora and Oamaru. ' It was evident .from the start that the former's crew were the better 'oarsmen, but the Oamaru'a crew pulled with pluck throughout. The ladies', dingy race brought out" two dusky competitors of the native race, whose struegle against the breeze was watched with ' interest : the crowd following them along the wharf. The winner, Mrs Cross, Was altogether too much for. her opponent, and came in pulling strong, "with a Jong lead. The allcomers' inriggedracelbronght out only thd ' two boats of the Awarua club, and therefore excited little interest. For the boys' i dingy race Cross, Smith, and Scully en- ! tered. The former, besides being placed in the run of the tide, was much lighter ' than his opponents.; Smith won easily. x The |ab race, after all the experimenting in that^ine, only produced two competitors, who sculled their, precarious crafts with a - strong tide. to the goal without a ducking. This i swimming matches, -anew feature,were remarkable chiefly for the success of the BUppOsedXouteiderSi -The} handicaps, were "exceedingly heayy^nd with the assistance of a strong ebb tide", the i winnAr^ were Jtterally floated to'vi^r^ If are toi; be coritraued-the comniittee, for Htjie sake of decency* should provide ai v barge VW)th a .screen ?tiekind ; which the" . Bwiqamera could don their clothing in leasable ■ jjrjY|oy< ~ ; 3fc fcys§sHwyity:

say more ; the committee will, no donbt, see the force of these remarks, as many visitors did on Friday. In conclusion, we have only to say that if thi Bluff Regatta Committee keep "their fete up to tbe standard o£ this year it cannot fail torelain its position as ihe premier event of its Kind in South! an j.