ANNUAL OCEAN RACES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 13

ANNUAL OCEAN RACES

RUSSELL AND TAURANGA START NEXT SATURDAY Next Saturday afternoon the annual ocean yacht races to Russell and Tauranga will be started from Auckland. Both races are divided into sections comprising keel yacht's and mullet boats. The race to Russell for keel yachts will start at 3 o’clock, and the race for both sections in the Tauranga contest at 3.15. It is not definitely decided whether the race for mullet boats will start on Saturday or at 7.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Entries for all events closed last evening, but it was agreed by the representatives of Russell and Tauranga that further entries be received until noon to-day. The course for the Russell race is from starting-line direct to the finish - ing-line between the Russell wharf and the whaler Hananui, moored south. In the event of the boats finishing at night the line will be between a red light on the Russell wharf on the Hananui’s riding-light. The course for the Tauranga event is from starting-line direct to the finishing-line between the Blinker light and boat moored north. Should the race finish at night a light will be placed on the judge’s boat. The following entries were received last evening: Tauranga race —Keel yachts: lorangi, Nga-Toa, Queenie, Vanitie, Wairiki, Mahuki. Centreboard boats: Starlock, Celox, Spray. Russell race—Keel ‘yachts: Ariki, Thelma, Prize, Kotiri, Waione, Ida, Speedwell, Rangi. Centreboard boats: Starlight, Rakoa, Doreen, AVairere. Dp dll mid-day, no further entries were received by Mr. J. C. Hewson, secretary of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, who was deputed by the regatta committees fto receive the nominations. The number of keel yachts competing in both races this year is considerably smaller than that of last Christmas. Twelve boats set off for Russell 12 months ago and on this occasion only eight will race. Nine keelers competed last year in the Tauranga contest, but only six will make the trip next Saturday. Three mullet boats will race this year, as against two In the Tauranga event. The race to Russell has attracted four entries, the same as last year. TAURANGA REGATTA MANY VISITORS E*PEC»D (From Our Oton Correspondent) TAURANGA, To-day. This year’s yregatta at Tauranga to be held on December 27 promises to eclipse even the best of former years. A steamer will run from Auckland on Boxing Night and she will return late on regatta night to enable visitors to attend a dance and distribution of prizes in the Town Hall. The Railway Department has made special arrangements for conveying visitors from the inland districts. Chief among the regatta events will be the annual ocean race from Auckland for keel and centre-board yachts. The prize for the keel boats will be the Colin IsTorris Memorial Gold Cup and that for the mullet boats the Clench Trophy. A diverse programme of aquatic events has been prepared. Rowing will again be a dominant feature.