SAILING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 February 1914, Page 3

SAILING.

THE WEEK'S DOINGS. The Wiling races at the Sumner Gala on Saturday last attracted large entries in each class,'and were keenly contested. The race for boats of 18ft and under, was won by H. Patten's Joyette, with Sunbeam second and Southern • Cross third. The finish was very close, 15sec only separating the first and second boatSy»with the third boat only a minute and a-lialf behind on corrected time. The start was spoilt by the light wind,, combined with a strong ebb tide, the boats being unable to make any headway, and it was fully an hour later, when the wind changed to nor '-east, before the boats got away. The Joyette was nicely handled by her owiidr, 'as was also the Sunbeam, sailed by Frank Simpson. The scratch boat, Sylvjiay' liad no chance in the light wind prevailing,„ and finished behind the first and second boat, to which she was conceding 10 minutes. This boat is at her best in a strong breeze. The' race for boats over 18ft brought out 10 starters, including Mr George Andrew's crack The nor'easter came up just at the right time for this race, and the boats got away to a nice start, presenting a fine sight as, with booms well off, they streamed away for the first buoy. Intruder got to the front early, and, after completing one round, was followed by Warou and Water Lilv at short intervals, the remainder already strung out. This order was maintained all through the second and third rounds, Intruder finishing one minute /ahead of Warou (to whom she was conceding 4min), with Water Lily in third place. The plac- ' ings, on corrected time, were as folio^: —Warou 4min 1, Intruder scratch 2, Water Lily 74min 3. Intruder sailed well throughout, but failed to give Warou four minutes, owing, no doubt, to the very little windward work in the course. The previous Saturday, over the club course, she finished'five minutes ahead of Warou, and is a remarkably fast boat under all conditions. Warou was handled in C. Woodward's best style, and put up a good performance. 1 Water Lily is sailed very consistently, and in finishing third was well up to her best time. Water Witch would have found a stronger breeze more to her liking, |mt, with 9min start, should have done better. j Moana went very badly. She wpuld hfive shown up better with a ligjitqr crew. : This boat is becoming noted i.or her in-and-out performances—mostly ' 'out;" Another boat '' overloaded'' was Pareora. Skipper Burrows evidently studied the morning's weather report, and concluded it was going to blow. She finished last. An example of the progress made in the building of fast boats by tlie mem-

bers of the Cliristchurch Sailing Club was furnished last - Saturday, when Pftrgpra, once the scratch boat, of the fleet, was receiving ICmin start from Intruder, the present scratch boat, over an eight-mile course; and Water Witch, another fast boat in her dayj was receiving 9min. Both boats were well beaten in the race. A very pleasing feature of this sea011's racing is the large number of starters in the sailing events. The sailing boys are good sports,, and the races are contested in a fine spirit. The Cliristchurch Club held its annual Ladies' Day last week, and this proved a very enjoyable outing. The fleet journeyed to Herring Bay, where lunch was partaken of in a fine sheltered paddock kindly Mr F. Britton. The trip up provided some excitement, as a strong sou'-wester came up shortly after the departure of the fleet. The crews had a busy time, as most were carrying. full sail. Water Lily got a bad. knock-down just after passing No. 28 stake, and, despite the efforts of her crew to hold her up, over she went. Two motor launches went to the assistance of the crew, who were perched 011 her side, and, after righting lier, they bailed out and returned to Monck's Bay. VIKING.