YACHTING

Southland Times, Issue 21949, 25 February 1933, Page 14

YACHTING

"Spinnaker."

“Spinnaker.”)

Weather permitting, the Fortrose regatta, which was postponed last Saturday week, because of the stormy weather prevailing then, will be held at Fortrose this afternoon. The programme includes three handicap yacht races, outboard races and skiff faces and should provide a good afternoon’s entertainment for those who visit the regatta. Good entries have been received for all races.

The yacht races will be of interest in that they will provide the first meeting of the two Snipe class boats, Mr Vik’s Norway and Mr Ted Blair’s boat. Since last Saturday, Mr Vik has been busy making minor adjustments and improvements to his craft so as to get the best out of her this afternoon. The Ukulele and Iris will also be once more racing against boats from the Invercargill Club to which they one time belonged. The Foam, too, will at last have a chance at trying herself out against the Jellicoe-class boats. It will be remembered that this boat was unable to remain and compete in the open race at Bluff this year, but she put up such a good showing in the Restricted Class race that it is not expected she will be a great deal behind the 14-footers for speed. Last Thursday week, in the Invercargill Boating Club’s race, the limit boat Colleen registered another first with Huia (3min.), two minutes later second, and Una (2mins), one minute after Huia, third. The remainder of the fleet Sprindrift (14min), Vai (18min.), Norway (limit) and Rosita (18min.), followed in that order. Ulva also competed, but retired early in ’the race, after fouling the Pleasure Bay stick. A fresh westerly breeze was blowing, which provided good sailing conditions.

In last Saturday’s race Colleen would have secured another win with Una second, had not the race been called off. The course was to a buoy off the mouth of the New River and back. A fresh south-westerly, wind was blowing. The handicaps were Norway, Colleen, Suzette, limit; Una Imin; Huia, and Ulva 2min.; Sprindrift 15min.; Evelyn 20min.; Vai and Rosita 23min. Both Suzette and Norway were late in starting so that Colleen and Una went well into the lead. Huia, with a single reef, and Ulva, came next close together and the remainder in their order of starting, further back. Rosita went into the lead from Vai, and Evelyn, carrying a leading jib on the end of the spinnaker boom while travelling along the Spit Bank, gained a fair bit of ground on the Sprindrift. However, once the Leaning Stick was rounded and the long leg to the buoy had begun, the Sprindrift was able to maintain her lead. Colleen was first to the buoy, followed closely by Una. The former boat attempted to carry a spinnaker on the way back, but found the wind too nr_ch abeam. Huia and Ulva were next to reach the buoy, but in attempting to shake out a reef after rounding, the Huia capsized. Spindrift, Ulva and Evelyn, which were all handy, went to their assistance and picked up the immersed crew. Sprindrift remained to assist in righting the Huia, while Ulva and Evelyn, each now with heavier crews, continued on. The Vai and Rosita were still to the rear. On the way back Rosita and Evelyn carried leading jibs set well forward as spinnakers and drew well away from Vai which had set her leading jib on the forestay. Rosita gained a little on the Evelyn on the lead home, but was unable to get ahead of her. The finishing times were: Colleen 4. 3. 30: Uua 4.7; Ulva 4.8; Evelyn 4.16.30; Rosita 4.17.30, Vai 4.2!. The usual evening races will be held on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.