AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 14

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

* By

KEELSON.

“MARK FOY BACKWARD” SQUADRON'S RACE REVIEWED ! One of the officials on top of the j King s Wharf tower on Saturday aptly j described the Royal New Zealand j Yacht Squadron's general handicap j keel yacht race as “a Mark Foy con- | test backward.” And that is what the race amounted | to, for it seemed that the later a boat | came in, the greater its chance of i being placed—within the limits, of course. In many ways the event was a. memorable one. Both from the point of view or the crews and of spec- i tutors it was brimful of interest. The ituky wind starting oft. smartly from j the west, moved north, fell to nothing ; i*t times and finally came away in 1 vatwhos from the sou’-west. This r.ave the front-markers their chance after the big boats had taken too big a lead a few miles from the finish. I It was almost Ariki’s race or Thelma’s however, until the commencement of the j ►even-mile leg from the Harbour Board j buoy a little east of Rangitoto Wharf. . At this stage a dramatic change came j over the race after the flotilla, occasionally hidden from sight by rain squalid, had entered the road for home. Ariki and Thelma, the latter in front, I had turned the mark with a long lead on the rest of the fleet, but in stand- I mg deeply over toward St. Heliers ; Bay they lost a fine patch of wind which allowed Nga-toa, Moana and llawene to assume a commanding lead nt the Bean Rock light, which was fetched on the one board with the help «*f a nor’-wester. They were spread and moved up channel virtually abreast until more boards were necessary. For a time Thelma and her tenacious rival were becalmed on glassy water—too near in shore—while the fortunes of the moment favoured Ngatoa, which revelled in the light air. A PRETTY SPECTACLE Off North Head. Moana, Rawene and Nga-toa were still together, and in spite of the drab conditions made a pretty spectacle. Moana at this period appeared to have a slight advantage, but lost it as the three craft neared Orakei Wharf, where Nga-toa moved into a good lead from Rawene. Meanwhile Ariki and Thelma were moving up. The wind was fickle, ruffling the surface in one place, while only a few lengths away was a flat calm. Favoured by a wisp of breeze and the excellent judgment of her skipper, Rawene made a lot of ground when working toward the Resolution dolphin, and in tliis corner the two craft were once again practically side by side, waging a great struggle for the lead. Coming i'»und the deflector, however. Nga-toa again stepped out handsomely. Ariki had followed Rawene and Ngatoa in toward the dolphin, but opposite Orakei. Thelma had put in a deep hoard to the Devonport side. It was a manoeuvre that cost her any ilia nee she may have had. She was never again in the race. Ariki made up a lot of ground over the final stages as far as Mechanic’s Bay, but lost it all through having to tack at the last moment. Moana, meanwhile, had clung tenaciously to the larger craft, and splendid seamanship allowed her to heat Ariki for third “in.” Kotiri in the same way ‘sneaked in” ahead of Thelma. Prize, Windward. Wairiki and Rangi were meanwhile bringing up the rear, and conducting among themselves a struggle in which the same elements appeared. Windward was smartly sailed throughout. It was a most interesting race, in which the finesse and judgment of the competing skippers were tested by varying conditions. Of the 18 boats advertised to start. 13 duly responded to gunfire and 10 finished, which was satisfactory in view of the winds. The Pittar Bowl—given by Mr. A. T. Pittar, of Sydney, who used to own Rainbow and Meteor —goes to Windward, and second and third prizes are taken by Wairiki and Kotiri respectively. Corrected times work out as follow: Windward, 5.4.57: Wairiki. 5.6.16 Kotiri, 5.8.43; Moana. 5.12.28; Rawene, 5.14.17: Nga-toa. 5.14.35; Prize. 5.21.29; Thelma, 5.28.23; Ariki, 5.28.39; Rangi, 5.31.55. The figures show that Rawene had 18seo to spare over Nga-toa, and Thelma 16sec over Ariki.

OUT OF THE LOCKER NOTES FROM MANY PLACES Still the ideal cruising weather eludes Auckland boating men. With boisterous squalls launching was indifferent pleasure during the weekend. and yachting little better. Consequently short trips were the rule, whether the motive power was petrol or the breezes. At Station Bay were Mr. “Babs" Webster in May Belle, and the auxiliary mullet Twilight, and the launches Nyria, Lucky Lu. Caprice, Linda, Lady Margaret, Leone, Leitner and Viveen. Some of the crews tried fishing, but with little success. ... Those which returned late on Sun- , day evening met a succession of squalls, which were uncomfortable and troublesome. A launch broke down near Bean Rock, and was towed in by another. The yacht Gloriana. coming up off North Head. had her dinghy swamped three times, which is probably a record for the "•season. When picking up her moorings at. Bayswater the mulletie Lovelight hit the mud, and overboard wont her "stick.” Torn sails weer common and some blow-outs occurred among the small fry. Valeria reports a proper dusting off Kauri Point, at about 10.30 on Sunday morning. Sanders Cup trials are well under way down South. Eileen has registered four wins and will represent Otago up here in January. At Lyttelton the lightsome Betty is "doing her stuff” in having scored from Usher in the first test race. Avalon will, of course, defend on behalf of Auckland, and challenging boats will have to sail like witches to hope to take away the cup. No one will be sorry that trials will be unnecessary for the selection of Auckland’s boat, particularly in view of the bother a year ago. Val is said to be certain for carrying Southland’s *S” on her mainsail. That being so, the interest of Auckland yachtsmen should be whetted very considerably. * * * The launch Kenya visited Whangaparaoa during the weekend. Some good fishing was obtained. The B class keeler Ladye Wilrna had the misfortune to go aground at Emu Bay, Motutapu, on Sunday. She was towed off by the launch Oenone The keeler Rangi, and the launches Chrysler, Adelaide and Luana visited Home Bay on Sunday. The launch M, better known as Maibe, is on the slip at Devonport Yacht Club for an examination of the tail shaft, a mishap having been reported. Otherwise practically only the derelicts now remain on the hard at this site. * * * The launch Silens has passed into the possession of Mr. J. Hislop, of Devonport, and has been reconditioned. Mr. Hislop is an old hand in boats in the harbour, and well known in the Squadron. His gifts of cups for boat racing include some of the best in the array in the Squadron’s rooms. Silens will be moored on the Iris bank at Devonport. The "working bee” of the Devonport Yacht Club has completed the building of a massive dinghy skid for the use of the club members who have dinghies. It has a length of 75 feet, giving an easy grade, and is placed in the shelter of a big rock that will effectually protect it from any serious damage from drifting craft. The skid is built of totara planking bedded into railway rails and should be good for 15 or 20 years. A set of 24 dinghy shelters has also been equipped and let. * * # At the other end of Devonport waterfront a scheme of utility combined with borough improvement has been carried out. The new dinghy skid for use with boats mooring on the Iris bank have been so constructed that the pathway on the reclamation in this locality will pass over the dinghy shelters, shielding them from the effects of hot weather and eliminating all complaint about untidy structures. * * * A beautiful start was seen on Saturday afternoon when the first boats in the Victoria Cruising Club’s race for keelers and centre-board yachts (Casey Cup) crossed the line. Seven well-bunched, strove for "first across,” and in a very close start, Rakoa just led. The boats made a pretty picture at the commencement of their run down to Resolution. Other starters in the race came along later. Namu, although 14 minutes late in starting in the race for the Rae Cup (classes V and S) did well. She reached third place in the second round in a field of six boats, and finished third across the line. * * * The usual weekly dance of the Akarana Yacht Club will be held at the clubhouse, Mechanics’ Bay, tomorrow evening. The Akarana Yacht Club is holding cruising and harbour races on Saturday next. Classes Ato V and launches will race to Awaroa Bay, while the smaller boats. outboards and speed boats, will race over a harbour course. I A dance is to be held at Awaroa Bay on Saturday night. The Wakatere Canoe-Club is holding a series of races off Narrow Neck Beach this Saturday, in conjunction with the gala of the North Shore Swimming Club. The outboard division of the New Zealand Power Boat Association has an important meeting on the Whau next Saturday. The programme, details of which were published in this column a week ago. include elimination trials for the selection of the defender of the inter-provincial challenge shield at Russell. MAWHITTS THIRD WIN By showing the way during Saturday’s squadron race for the M’s, the veteran Mawhiti. sailed by Mr. Scott Wilson, has notched her third successive win—a very creditable performI ance. The feat is all the more remarkable because the boat lost 2£min. in having to recross at the start, through being carried over by the ebb tide, or was too eager to be off. Mr. Wilson thereafter made no mistakes, and gradually gained on the other four. Matarere severely handicapped herself by also crossing too soon. Her penalty was 2min 55sec, a deficiency which was added to as the race progressed. The boats had a stiff test in the long beat back from the Bastion to King’s Wharf, and in view of the weather the whole trip was an excellent trial of skill. Those who saw the last hal fmile will remember is as one of the best expositions of manoeuvring seen for many a day. The race was in the hands of Mawhiti, Maratea and Manene, but always Scott Wilson ! weathered his rivals. On the leg from inside the deflector to the finish. I Mawhiti was as safe as a house, and sailed through on the one board to win by lmin Bsec from Maratea, which in turn beat Manene over by 33sec. Maroro was fourth, and Matarere last. If ever proof of the merits of the M’s ; were needed, Saturday’s race amply I marked the patikis to be the happiest yachting inspiration in years.