BOAT RACES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIX, Issue 3652, 9 February 1881, Page 2

BOAT RACES.

The boat races commenced at half-past two, and a better clay conld not have been wished for. There was a cool westerly wind blowing, with the sea as smooth as a raill-pond, whichsuited both the rowing and sailing matches splendidly. The Whaleboat Race, 1 mile (but 1;V miles were rowed instead), was rather an easy victory for the Waitara boat, the Nautilus winning by three lengths ; the Sea Sprite just beating the Dauntless by a yard for second place. The Orion was several lengths behind the two. The Sailing: Match was the next, for which four boats started. Wsitara was again represented, and were sanguine of carrying off the race with their,boat, the Schnapper, a boat sis times as large as the winner, which no doubt they could have done had a stiffer breeze been blowing ; but the little New York proved too fast, and beat her by two minutes. The Jew was a good third. , The Whaleboat Race (5 oars). 2 miles, was a splendid race between the Waitara boat Nautilus and the town boat Dauntless, which resulted again in a win for Waitara, after a desperate struggle, by a length. IE the crew of the, Dauntless go into good steady training for the Waitara Regatta, which comes off. shortly, there is every probability of their turning the tables on the Waitara crew, as they made a splendid finish, lessening their distance from four lengths to one in the lasb three-quarters ot a, mile. The Waitara will want a lot of rubbing out, although they have the advantage of their river to practice on. Captain -Holford acted as starter, and Mr. G. Cock as umpire. The following is the result of the races :—: — Whaleboat Race, about li miles. Ist prize. £5 ; 2nd, entrance fees. Entrance, ss. Nautilus (Waitara)— 'Crew: E. A. Dugdale (stroke), A. Dugdale, Inch, W. Wood. W. Perry, Cameron (cox.) 1 Sea Sprite (Town)— Crew : E. Wood, P. Josephs, Wells, Honeyfield, Ft. Joli (stroke), F. L. Webster (cox.) ... 2 Dauntless (Town) — Crew: T. Joll (stroke), Fraser. Harvey, Potts, Gore, 11. Bailey (cox.) 3 Orion (Town) — Crew ; Dugdale (stroke), E. Hooker, Street, Brown, T.ite. McGonncll (cox.) 0 A good start was made, all catching the water together ; and, after they had settled into a long, strong, steady stroke, the Nautilus began to creep to the front, with the Dauntless and Sea Sprite together ; the Orion dropping back. At the end oE the mile the Waitara boat put a gap of two lengths between the Dauntless, which was leading the Sea Sprite by half a length ; the Orion, still getting astern. A quarter of a mile from the umpire's boat the Nautilus had increased her lead to three lengths, winning somewhat easily. The Sea Sprite drew up level with the Dauntless, and after a good set-to between, the two crews the Sea Sprite was declared second by half a yard, after a most exciting race. Time, Omin. 30sec. Sailing Race, about i miles. , ls,t prize, :£(> ; 2nd> cntrauce fees. Entrance, ~>s. ,Time, ,'SO seconds per foot,' , New York ..' ;. ... 1 Schnapper ... \ ... 2 Jesv ... ... 3 Gannct ■ ... >. ... 4 The course was from the inner 1 Sugaf 'Leaf to the' outhaui buoy. The start was made with a fair breeze. The Schnapper was first round the buoy, New York next, and Jew and Gannet close together. The run home before the wind kept the skippers of all the boats at work ; the Schnapper making long tacks to the westward and south, while the little New York was beating splendidly to windward, and making shorter tacks than her larger opponent. The Jew made good headway, as also did the Gannet. Half-a-mile from the umpire's boat, the New York took first place, and after another tack to the westward, ran past the' umpire's' boat two minutes' in advance of the Schnapper,' with the Jew third. The Schnapper had to allow the New York and others six minutes, on account of her being larger. Whaleboat Race (5 oars), about 2 miles. Ist, £8 ; 2nd, £1, and entrance added. Entrance, 7s. (id. Nautilus (Wailarn)-Crew: 1 1. Joll (stroke), E. A. Dugdale, T. Joll, ' C. Dugdnle, R. Tate. R. Cameron (cox)' \\'.' y ■ .'.. 1 Daun'jtless (Town) —Crew ! T. Inch (stroke), i Fraser, W. Wood, Josephs, E. Hooker, ! H. Bailey (cox). ... ... ' ... 2 Only two boats started. Both fcb'ats got away together, and after pulling together for a quarter-of-a-mile the Waitara" crew putting strength in their oars gradually began to put a gap of a boat's length to the good, while the Dauntless crew were pulling a strong quick stroke. At the end of the first mile the Nautilus was leading by four lengths, with a powerful stroke, but the Dauntless men laying to, their oars gradually,. lessened the gap, and got within a length, pf the Waitara boat, and after a plucky set,, to between the two boats the Waitara crew were victorious by a clear boat's length, in the fast lime of 22 minutes, against a, light head wind. ?*;