THE AKAROA REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5748, 17 December 1896, Page 4

THE AKAROA REGATTA.

The ever-popular regatta was held at Akaroa, as usual, yesterday, and proved to be one of the chief attractions of the Anniversary holiday. This year the Union Steamship Company, encouraged by the support accorded to their steamers during the past two or three years, put on their fine steamers Waihora and Flora, and the result must have been highly gratifying to all concerned. Between them the two steamers took something l?ke twelve hundred excursionists. The Flora, in command of Captain Bornech, was first to get away from Lyttelton, leaving about 8 a.m., and she was followed by the Waihora half an hour later. Both steamers made fine passages around the Peninsula, the sea being calm. Upon arrival at Akaroa the regatta was in full swing, and the little town was completely en fete for its annual holiday. H.M.S. Lizard was in port, and the town was fairly crowded with visitors from the neighbouring bays. Many of the excursionists remained on the steamers and viewed the racing, while others went ashore and spent the few hours allotted to them in the domain or about the town. The regatta itself passed off eminently satisfactorily. There was a fairly steady .breeze for the sailing, while the wind was not sufficient to trouble the rowing men. Of course Mr H. C. Jacobson, the honorary secretary, was again in evidence, and he was ably assisted by a few of an altogether too large committee. A word of praise is due to the starter's crew, and especial mention should be made of Mr Bilby Barker, who spared no pains in keeping the rowing men up to time. Mr Craddock was exceptionally successful as starter, all his efforts being most pleasing. The following are details: THE SAILING RACES. Very little need be saiJi in regard to the sailing races. The three Lyttelton craft, Mascotte, Pastime and Zephyr, contested the big race, and Mascotte did nothing but confirm the disappointing display she made at Lyttelton last year. Pastime sailed well throughout, and won comfortably } while Zephyr lost what looked like a safe win on the second round. The other sailing races were confined to local boats. The following are results : — Handicap Sailing Eace, for decked or open boats, 16ft keel or under; firs b prize =£5, second £I—Buttercup1 — Buttercup (late Mystery), C. Poole, 35min, 1 ; Au JEJevoir, J. Hammond, 43min, 2 ; Sunbeam, F. Pei'ham, scr, 3. Onuku, Peni, 41min, also started. At the completion of the first round Sunbeam was ahead, with Buttercup second and Au Eevoir third. Onuku (Peni) gave up before completing the first round: — The times at the finish were as follows : — Sunbeam lhr 22min lOsec, Buttercup lhr 31min and Au Eevoir lhr r sßutin. Buttercup, therefore, won when the handicap came to be taken into account, while Au Eevoir got second prize. Yacht Eace, for yachts 3-rating and over; first prize .£25, second .£lO. — Pastime, 7.2, M. Millar, 4min 37sec, 1 ; Zephyr, 5.1, E. J. Scott, Bmin 403 ec, 2 ; Mascotte, 11, J. Sinclair, scr, 3. An excellent start was effected, the three boats lying close handy when the gun was fired. Pastime came to the line with a good head of speed, and was timed over the line at 12.30 20sec, Zephyr at 12.30 24sec, and Mascotte at 12.30 35sec. In the run towards the buoy off Wainui Mascotte passed Zephyr, but Pastime drew out a little. During the second round Pastime increased her lead, while the Zephyr overhauled and passed Mascotte, the latter sailing most sluggishly; Pastime appearing tc relish the light wind. Pastune was timed across the line at 2.56 p.m., Zephyr at 3.1 20sec and Mascotte at 3.7 25sec. Pastime therefore took first prize and Zephyr second. Handicap Sailing Eace, for locally-owned boats ; first prize, .£7 ;. second,- £2 ; third, ■£I—Jeanette,1 — Jeanette, Bmin, W. Hammond, 1; Edith Wynne, Bmin, J. Huston, 2; Rita, 2min, J. Newbegin, 3. Sunbeam scr, White Wings smin and Spare Time scr also started. This was an exceedingly pretty race, the whole fleet being in a cluster as they ran down to the buoy off Wainui. After rounding this the weather journey was commenced, and proved to be a somewhat tough experience against the strong ebb tide. Eita passed the post first, with' Jeanette second and Edith Wynne third. When the handicap came to be adjusted Jeanette was found to have secured the first prize, with Edith Wynne second and Eita third. ' THE KOWING KACES. Some spirited racing took place in the rowing events, and the money was well divided. The features of the racing were the complete collapse of the Wairewa seniors, Chapman and Eeed, and the very creditable display of the Lyttelton maidens. Samuels and Ebert were not asked to extend themselves in the last halfmile of the Senior Sculls and Pairs. Sinclair, of Lyttelton, won the Youths' Single Sculls in fine style, but owed his success principally to the fact that he steered an excellent course. The maiden races were, well contested. The most meritorious performance of the day must be awarded to' the Lyttelton maidens, two lads aged sixteen and seventeen years respectively, more especially considering that they were competing against some old rowers. The Junior Double Sculls was won by Wairewa, with Union second, and this proved to be closest event of the day. Results : — , Maiden Double Sculling Eace, in stump outriggers; first prize, .£6: second, £1— Akaroa Boating Club (J. Woodill stroke, F. Perham bow, G-. Black cox), 1 ; Lyttelton Eowing Club (A. Webb stroke, W. Webb bow, G. Wilson cox), 2; Timaru Bowing Club (W. O'Callaghan stroke, F. M'Cullough bow, C. M'Kenzie cox), 3. Wairewa, (Place and Coop), Canterbury (Appleby and »Wright and Jejison and Hawkes), and Young Men's Association (Saxton and Redpath), also started. Mr Craddock, the starter, showed considerable • patience in getting the boats in line, and in the end got them away splendidly. Both Canterbury and Timaru steered most erratically on the homeward run, while Akaroa, rowing well within themselves, won comfortably by four lengths, Lyttelton beating Timaiu by half a length, Wairewa being fourth, Canterbury (Appleby) fifth, Young Men's Christian Association sixth, and Canterbury (Jenson) last. Time— 7min 20sec. Senior Double-sculling Eace, in stump outriggers ; first prize .£lO, second .£3— /Union Eowing Club (W. E. Samuels stroke, C, Ebert bow, 0. Barnes cox), 1; Wairewa Boating Club (C. Chapman stroke, W. Eeed bow, A Eeed cox), 2. Union (Nicholls and Moore) also started, but gave up after rowing half a mile. Chapman and Samuels contented themselves with rowing a waiting race until the turning buoys were reached. They turned in close company, and then Samuels forced the pace and took command of affairs. Wairewa struggled on, but gradually dropped astern, and were'beaten by four lengths. Time — ibmin lOsec. v Youths' Double Scujling Eace, in stump outriggers ; .first prize .£5, secorid £1 — Akaroa Boating Club (J. Hemingway stroke, G. Whelch bow, G. Black cox), 1 ; Lyttelton Eowing Club (S. Sinclair stroke, S. Bamford, bow,. G. Wilson cox), 2; Wairewa Boating Club (T. Williams stroke, T. Nutt bow, A. Eeed cox), 3. Young Men's Christian Association (Archer and Kobinson), Canterbury Eowing Club (Hardy-Johnston and Appleby) and Union Eowing Club (Simes and Hobbs) also started. Akaroa jiimped'in front at the start, and had a commanding lead when turning the buoys, with Lyttelton and Waiwera at the head of the rest. Akaroa increased the distance between themselves and Lyttelton all tho way home, winning by four or five lengths, Wairewa the same distance away third and the others in a bunch. Time— 7min losec. . • . Junior Double Sculls' (New. Zealand Amateur Rowing Association's definition), in stump outriggers ; first prize, .£6; second, „£l—W airewa Boating Club (F. M'Manus stroke, G. Coop bow, A. Eeed cox), 1 ; Union Rowing Club (A. Nicholls stroke, F. A. Moore bow, O. Barnes cox), 2 ; Akaroa Boating Club ( J. Woodill stroke, F. Perham bow, G. Black cox), 3. Lyttelton (E. and D. Sinclair), Timaru (O'Callaghan and M'Cullough) and Canterbury

(Appleby and Wright) also started. The six boats were got away in admirable line. Wairewa put in a number of short, powerful strokes and took the lead. After getting fairly settled down, Union and Akaroa both went in hot pursuit of the leaders, the others tailing off. After turning the buoys, Wairewa and Union contested every inch of the way, while the gap between them and the others increased. Wairewa beat Union by three-quarters of a length, while Akaroa were four lengths behind Union, the others all tailing- off. Time — 7min ssecs. - Junior Single Sculling Eace, for youths under twenty-one ; prize .£3 — Lyttelton Bowing Club (S. Sinclai ) 1, Akaroa Boating Club (J. Hemingway) 2, Canterbury Kowing Club (A. S. Hardy-Johnston) 3. Young Men's Christian Association (Robinson) and Union .Rowing Club (Sims) also started. Sinclair won a nicely contested race by a couple of lengths from Hemingway, with Johnston third, Robinson fourth and Simes lastMaiden Pair-oar Eace, in stunip Outrigger ; first prize £5, second .£l.— Lyttelton Eowing Club (A. Webb stroke, W. Webb bow, G. Wilson cox), 1 ; Wairewa Boating Club (T. Williams stroke, J. Tini bow, A. Eeed cox), 2 ; Canterbury Eowing Club (J. Jenson stroke, C. Hawkes bow, A. Winstone cox), 3. Young Men's Christian Association (Saxton and Redpath) also started. This was an excellent race throughout. Wairewa and Lyttelton were in close company as they reached the buoys, when it was seen that Wairewa had a . slight advantage. Lyttelton turned well, and beating their rivals pn the home stietch, won a splendid race) by two lengths from Wairewa. Canterbury were third, and the Young Men's Christian Association fourth, both some distance astern. Pair-oar Eace, in stump outriggers; first prize .£lO, second .£3. — Union Eowing Club (W. E. Samuels stroke, C. Ebert bow, 0. Barnes cox), ] ; Wairewa Boating Club (C. Chapman stroke, W. Eeed bow, A. Eeed cox), 2. Union (Nicholls and Moore) also started, but after rowing half a mile gave up. Samuels and Ebert appeared to have the race in hand upon passing the wharf. When they turned the buoys Wairewa had a deficit of two or three lengths, and as they lacked dash in the row home, Union won by five or six lengths in hollow fashion. Pair-oar Eace, youths under twenty-one years of age, in stump-outriggers; first prize £5, second .£1. — Akaroa Boating Club (J. Hemingway stroke, G. Welch bow, G. Black cox), 1 ; Lyttelton Eowing Club (S. Sinclair stroke, S. Bainford bow, G. Wilson cox), 2 ; Canterbury Eowing Club (C. M. Lewin stroke, G. D.. M'llraith bow, A. Winstone cox), 3. Union (Simes and Hobbs) also started. Akaroa went away at the start, and rowing very powerfully, won easily from Lyttelton, who were seven or eight lengths in front of Canterbury.