YACHTING

Southland Times, Issue 20979, 11 January 1930, Page 16

YACHTING

(By

“Murihiku.”)

The recently-revived Invercargill Yachting Club held its first regatta last Monday evening at the Invercargill Jetty, where a large gathering of interested spectators and supporters of the club attended to watch some interesting races. The club is very pleased with the results of its first regatta and hopes to stage at least two more fixtures during the summer. The committee worked hard and all events were run off without a hitch. There was something to look at all the time—speed boats darting round, or else the yachts gliding along in their race for the Munro Cup. Thanks are due to the Outboard Motor Club, the Invercargill and Railway Rowing Clubs, and the boat owners who joined in to make the evening a success. Mr Geo. Munro kindly acted as timekeeper and the results of Mr J. Hastings’ handicapping were favourably commented on. Mr Steve Wilson made an excellent job with the gun. The boys’ and ladies’ dinghy races provided the lighter side of the programme. The winners of both these races were the lucky ones who managed to dodge the bunch. The outboards provided the thrills and kept the crowd interested all the evening. The Open Handicap race for the Munro Cup was started in a very light’ westerly breeze, nine boats competing—Silver Fern, Muriella, Rakiura, Iris, Ulva, Mavis, Huia, Murihiku 111 and Vai. These boats are all sloop rigged and are between 14 and 16 feet in length, while two of them, Murihiku 111 and Vai, are of the Jellicoe type and are eligible for Sanders Cup racing. The first seven yachts sailed away within a few minutes of each other, but owing to the lack of wind could not make much progress. The Huia, which carries a large spread of canvas, forged well ahead of the others and rounded the first buoy just as the two Jellicoe boats started, they being handicapped by 12 minutes. The breeze freshened in puffs as the beat to the windward buoy commenced. The Mavis, which has a deep lead keel and is a good boat on the wind in a fresh breeze, came up in fine style and bunched up with the other boats at the' turning buoy in mid-channel. The Murihiku HI and Vai, which were well astern, now felt the freshening wind and made great strides sailing tack for tack across the harbour. In the second lap it was anybody's race as the boats were all close together, but the Huia kept her lead and was closely followed to the weather buoy by the Mavis, Ulva and Iris. In the lead home to the finish the Jellicoe boats overhauled the Ulva and Iris, but could not catch the Mavis or Huia, the latter boat finishing first about 30 yards ahead

of Mavis, while the others followed close behind, thus making a spectacular finish. Great credit is due to the handicapper, Mr J. Hastings, for his work.

Murihiku HI, which represented Southland at the Sanders Cup races last year, showed sailing capabilities by winning the O. E. Johnston Cup at Bluff regatta. During the winter an alteration was made to the position of her centre board, which has improved her sailing qualities. The Vai, a new boat recently purchased from Auckland by Mr G. Johnston, is of the Rona type and is very fast. Great things may be expected from her in the future.

The Rakiura is also a new boat, built and sailed by Allott Bros., who deserve great credit for their production, considering that they are only novices and this is their first attempt. Mick Pascoe's new 14-footer should be ready for next season. Messrs Ross and Mason carried off the launch race with the Monowai, which proved a bit of a dark horse. The handicapping in this race was also very good. J. Hatch has a fine boat in the Miranda. She is fitted with two engines and shows a good turn of speed. Built by Bailey Bros. (Auckland) she is well fitted throughout. The club shed is situated at Pleasure Bay and working bees have been formed. A start will be made at once to put the shed in order and paint it. There are plenty of handy members in the club and when finished the shed should be better than ever. In Mr A. Pascoe the club has a captain who is very enthusiastic and well fitted for the position he holds. Mr F. J. Biggs is another true sport and is quite undeterred by the behaviour of his boat, the Thistle, in her first race. Mr Geo. Gough, the winner of the Munro Cup, has had two successes this season. He won the O. E. Johnston Cup in the Jellicoe class at Bluff regatta and was also second in the cutter race at the same meeting. , - Messrs Foster Bros, and G. Dixon are all experienced sailing men, and with the younger members gaining experience the future of sailing in the harbour is bright.