AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Intercolonial Yacht Race. Another Victory for the Waitangi.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 190, 5 February 1887, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Intercolonial Yacht Race. Another Victory for the Waitangi.

t was anticipated that the Inter-Colonial Yacht Race would extend over three Saturdays, and the scoring in the three contests was to be by points— firat being equal to 6 points ; second, 3 points ; third, 1 point. The firat race took place on Saturday, 15th January, when the Auckland • built yacht scored the first win, and the second race eventuated on the 22nd instant, when the Wait.aDgi again proved victorious, and thus claimed a total oi 12 points. A third race would not have affected her claim to the cup and £100 added, even had she been last in such an event, and the great contest was thus brought to an early conclusion The course in the second race wae from a line as above, round Club buoy at Manly, back round Shark Island to Fort Uension, thonce round buoy at Manly, round Shark Island, to flagboat off Port Macquarie. The rase was sailed with a fresh N.jfe). breeze and hoa^y sea After the flag went down at 1.30 the Waitangi was the first to cross the line, with the Magic ISsecs later, and the Jantt about 3sec9 after. The Waitangi continued to load her opponents, and after coniing about at North Harbour, the Waitangi stood outsome 300 yds, and then f-tood towards the ladies' baths, and on coming round was enabled to clear the flagboat ; the Janet stood further down the bay, then came about and cleared. The Magic, which followed Janet's move, was slightly to leeward, and did not clear the boat, having to make a short board to do so. The times rounding were :— Waitangi .. .. 2hrs 2'Jmin 25bec. Janet 2hrs3lniin2osec. Moglo 2bre 32min SOaec. It will be eeen that the journey to here was accomplished in 59min 25sec On the way to Shark Island the Victorian gained on the Waitangi, while the Magic held her ground. The times rounding here were : — Waitangi 2h. 56rnln. 53ec. Janet 2h oGmin. 50,-iec. Magic 2h. 59mm. tSseo. The Janet had so far gained 50sec, while the Waitangi had left the Magic 2Seec. On jibing the Waitangi set a balloon foresail Inch by inch the Janet gainei, and when Garden Island was abreast drew level with the Waitangi, and coming to windward soon had taken premier position. Sheets were now flattened and the fort rounded, the times being :—: — Janet .. .. - 3hrs Bmin 38aec. Waitangi . . . . 3hra Bmin toaec. Magic ... .. - Bhrs 12min 25sec. The Janet did not stand on account of the s.s. Emu causing her to go about, and as the tide was now strong flood, she here lost a lot of "round. The Waitangi stood towards the M.M. Company's buoy, and was well out of the tide before she came on the port stretch, the Magic following suit. The wind had freshened, and each boat hod her leerail well down. On Shark Island being reached, the Janet's topsail was lowered and she came about. The Waitangi had gone close in by Bradley's Head, where she felt the lee and lay becalmed for a few seconds. Once clear she moved grandly, and great was the excitement when it was seen that she would meet the Janet very close. There was very little to spare when they met, but the Waitangi just crossed the visitor and at once threw round on her weather quarter. The Magic stood well acroes North Harbour and >hen headed for the rounding mark, which was rounded as follows :—: — Waitangi .. .. 4h. 9min. 15=<ecs. • Janet 4h. lOmin. Sosecs. Macio .. 4h. 14mln. iosecs. The Waitangi had thus gained lmin. 47aec3. on the Janet since rounding the fo t, and she had left the Magic 2min. On the way home a great race ensued, the Janet rapidly overhauling the Waitangi. A luffing match now took place, and it looked as though the yachts were making for Cremorne. Once clear of Pinchgut, the skipper ot the Janet caught the amateur napping, and squaring uway sharply took the lead, The sight as they came past the flagboat was an imposing one, the water being alive with craft of all sizes, while Macquarie Point was black with spectators. The timas at finish were : — Janet 4br. 51min. lsec. Waitangi .. .. ihr. 51min. iOsec. Magic ihr. 56uiin. 45aec. The Waitangi thus wins on her time allowance by 4min 40sec, the Janet beating the Magic for second place by 2min 31sec. The course, with working, is some 20 miloa, and was done in 3hr 20raiu lsec, which giveß an average of eight knots*. After giving a lengthy description of the content, the " Sydney Morning Herald " adds :— " Th6re cannot be the slightest doubt that this inter-colonial yacht race has given the greatest impetus to yachting the sport has yet received in Sydney. Mr Milson has reason to be proud of having the crack yacht in Australia. The honour that attaches itself to winning a race such as this will no doubt cause a stir in aquatic circles, and Home of our wealthy men will be inclined to try for that honour themselves, and in future yachts will be built classified first class. In speaking on board the Janet on Saturday after the race, MrPurves, Q.C., who represents Sir William Clarke, said that the Janet was beaten on her merits, and be was quite sure the Waitangi could give time to a number of English yachts of the same size."