AKAROA REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6362, 17 December 1898, Page 8

AKAROA REGATTA.

As usual for many years past, tlie excursion to Akaroa and the regatta at the prettylittle Peninsula port provided one of the chief attractions for the Anniversary holiday. A large number of excursionists went down by the steamer Jane Douglas on Thursday night, the passengers including the " Bright Hours " children, who gave an entertainment at Akaroa last evening, {There was a very choppy sea, and the trip was not an enjoyable one. The young people pulled themselves together just before they reached their destination, at 11.30 p.m., and sang some of the part songs for the delectatibn of the crowd assembled on the wharf. The Union Company this year put on the Flora and Corinna, and between 1100 and 1200 excursionists made the trip from Lyttelton yesterday' The passage around the Peninsula was made under conditions which, to a sea-faring individual, would be described as simply perfection for such an outing, but, in spite of this fact, many of tbe excursionists were badly stricken with nial-de-mer before thev had been long on the journey. The steamers left Lyttelton wilhm a few minutes of each other, but the Flora, proved her claim to be the faster, and reached > Akaroa after a four-hours' trip. The town was en fete upon her arrival, residents from the whole of the surrounding bays having made the annual visit. The excursionists spent a few hours thev had ashore in a variety of ways, and at 4 p.m. they embarked upon the steamers again for the return journey, which was made under favourable conditions, and Lyttelton was reached without mishap of any kind. The Lyttelton Town Band on the Flora, and the Christchurch Professional Band on the Corinna, supplied music. The committee was fortunate in securing the Jane Douglas as- committee ship, in the absence of the ts*?agull, which is usually at the disposal ol the officials. The regatta officials were as follows: — Commodore, Mr G- J- Black; vice-commo-dores, the Mavor of Akaroa and Mr Penlington; starter, Mr A. E. Craddock ; handKappcrs, Mr G. J. Black and the Rev Jasper Smvth ; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr* H. C. Jacobson ; committeeMessrs F. Wright, Grange, Barker, Daly, E E Lelievre, Robinsonn, W. H. Herming, Leete. Taylor, A. E. M'Gregor, Milne, Orbell, G. Armstrong, junr., Reynolds, Harrison, Smvth. C. W. Newton, Wolfreys, Dr Hargreaves; CJ. Penlington, J. Armstrong and Jacquet. THE ROWING RACES. The elements were not so favourable to the decision of rowing races in light boats as followers of the sport could have wished; for the fresh north-west wind created a short jobble which made racing rather difficult. However, it is hardly probable that any of the results were affected, and with the exception of forcing the committee to reduce the Senior Sculls to a mile, no departure from the programme was "found necessary. The Christchurch Amateur Rowing Club annexed the Senior Sculls, and Crosbie and Neil were certainly the best crew \n the race. The Senior Pairs was robbed of much interest by an accident to the Canterbury crew at the start. Stroke broke his oar, and all effort to race was promptly abandoned. In -this event Crosbie and Neil looked very like winners at the completion of a half-mile, but they cracked up badly, and were beaten by Reed and M'Manus, of Wairewa. Port Chalmers, who sent a crew to compete in this event, were not class enough for their opponents. Lyttelton won the two maiden events, and in Arnold and Juriss the Port club has a sterling pair of young oarsmen. Both these events were well: contested, and the racing was of an interesting order. Akaroa won the Junior Double Sculls, and the win was a most meritorious performance, for Wolfreys took the stroke seat at short notice, and the crew rowed in excellent form. Following are the results: — MAIDED DOUBLE SCULLS; first prize £6, second fl— Lyttelton Rowing Club .A. Juriss bow, W. Arnold stroke, Wilson cox), 1 ; Christchurch Amateur Rowing Club (A. Coomb^s bow, H. A. Hoult stroke), 2; Port Chalmers Rowing Club (Atfield bow, Jl. C. I -tsauchop stroke), 3. Canterbury, Wairowa, Union, Akaroa and Avon also started. 'J'.he start was a rather uneven one, Port Chalmers getting an advantage of perhaps half a lenjth. Lyttelton and Port Chalmers appeared to lead the field, with Wairewa tailing off. When liiey turned the buoys Port Chalmers had a alight lead, with Lyttelton in close attendance, and Canterbury leading the others. Lyttelton improved their position all the way home, aud won a nicely contested race by four or fve lengths. When the winning gun was fitcd, Port Chalmers, who were then leading ihe Christchurch Club's crew by a length, stopped rowing, and the latter just crossed the :*ne in vdY-.nce of tbe southern visitors. Canterbury drifted astern in the last one hundred yards, and the others were nowhere. Time — 7m_*_i -12 sec. SENIOR DOUBLE SCULLS; first pri'**. £8, ■second £2 — Christchnrch Amateur Rowing Ciub (C. Neil bow, R. P. Crosbie stroke, Hislop cox), 1 ; Wairewa Boating Club (P. M'Manus be- v, W. Reed stroke, Jones cos), 2. Union (Nicholls and Juriss) and Avon (Bush acd Eber**) also started. A very even start was effected, aiid after settling down, the Christchurch Club's crow had a slight lead from Wairewa, with Union close handy, and Avon lailing off. Crosbie turned a couple of lengths in front of the Wairewa couple, who, in turn, had a slight lead from Un:on. Cro c bie improved his position all the way home, and crossed the line an easy winner by six or seven lengths, Wairewa second, Union third and Avon last. Time — 7miu 35 seu. YOUTKS* DOUBLE SCULLS; first prize; -SC, second £I— Akaroa Boating Club (H. j Thomas how, G. Whelch stroke. Grange zox), '. l;'Cvre Boating Club (Driscoll bow, Simpson ' Btroke, Evans cox), 2; Union Rowing Club (J. C'. -Sib-aid bow, J. Brookes stroke, M'Cormick , cox), 3. Lyttelton, Akaroa (second crew), Can- f terbury, Wairewa and Avon also started. Some ' little delay was occasioned at the start owing to the difficulty of getting the boats into line. . A good start was subsequently effected, ar;d Cure at once'Sapnearcd to take the lead. The whole fleet raced in earnest for the .urnir_g Btakes,' when it was seen that Whelch ard Thomas, the Akaroa crew, had a commanding lead. Cure turned at the head of the others. Akaroa finished first by four lengths from Cure, who beat Union by a couple of lengths, ar.d Union, in turn, were a length in front of Lyttelton. Akaron- (i»'yan and Staples), Avon, Canterbury and Wairewa finished nest in that order. Time — 7min 42sec. MAIDEN PAIR-OAR RACE *. first prize £„ eccond £2— Lyttelton Rowing Club (A. Juriss bow, W. Arnold stroke, Wilson cox), 1 ; Akaroa Boating Club (S. E. Wolfreys bow, F. Perham stroke, Elack cox), 2; Canterbury (M'llraith and Heycock), 3t ; Christchurch Amateur (Coombes* and Hoult), 3t. Union also started. Lyttelton led throughout, being closely pushed by Akaroa for half a mile. ."Union got into trouble at the turning stakes, and stopped rowing. Lyttelton won comfortably by three lengths from Akaroa, who were a like distance in front of Canterbury and Christchurch, who crossed the line tozether. No time was taken. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS ; first prize £6, Becond £I—Akaroa1 — Akaroa Boating Club (P. Perhaiu bow, S. E. Wolfrey3 stroke, Black cox), 1 ; Lyttelton Rowing Club (D. Sinclair bow, S. Sinclair stroke, Wilson cox), 2; Canterbury (H. Ayers bow, A. S. Hardy-Johnston stroke), 3. Avon and Union also started. Port Chalmers and Wairewa, who had entered, were absentees. This race was a gift to Akaroa, who led from the start. Lyttelton acd Canterbury were in close company most of the distance, the Port boys having slightly the better position throughout. Akaroa won by fully ten lengths, Lyttelton a couple of lengths front of Canterbury, Avon fourth and Union last. Time — 7min 35sse. I SENIOR PAIRS ; first prize £3, second £2— Wairewa Boating Club <F. M'Mami3 bow, W. Reed stroke, Jones cox), 1; Christchurch Ama- j teur Rowing Ciub (C. Neil bow, R. P. Cro~*-:o ] stroke, Hislop coa), 2; Port Chalmers (Atfield \ bow% Bauehop stroke}, 3. Timaru and Can- " terbury also started. Canterbury (Daly and Cowlishaw) broke an oar at the start, and paddled back to the landing stage. Union were absentees. The Christchurcli Amateurs had a commanding lead when pa33 ; _ig the wharf, but Wairewa turned a length in front of them, and wero eever headed. Timaru were some distance behind at the finish, and were never prominent. ' YOUTHS' PAIRS ; first prize £G, second £1 — Akaroa Boating Club (H. Thomas bow, G. Whelch stroke. Grange cos), 1 ; Cure Boating Club (A. Driscoll bow, G. SimDson stroke, Evans cox), 2; Union Rowing Club (J. Northey bow, J. L. Northey stroke, M'Cormick cox), 3. Lyttelton, Wairewa and Avon also started. Thi3 was a good race between Akaroa and Cure. Lyttelton broke an oar at the start. j JUNIOR PAIRS; first prize £C, second £1— j Canterbury Rowing Club (J. Jenson bow, W. ' A. O'Callaghan stroke, Winstone cos), 1; Avon Rowing Club (P. Wheeler bow, W. Evans J stroke. Smith cox). 2; Lyttelton Rowing Club i (F. Page bow, W. Smith stroke, Wilson cox), 3. A good start was effected, and Canterbury won comfortably. THE SAILING RACES. From a yachtsman's point of view the re»atta was hardly so attractive as one could jave wished. There were many of the elelenta of a mort successful day's racing — a

moderate to fresh breeze, which continued steady throughout the afternoon, and smooth water — but the fields were small, and the racing could certainly not fairly be classed as interesting. Pastime won the first-class yacht race, beating the new Kiaora, whose display, more particularly in view of the fact that the elements suited her completely, was rather disappointing, and it is . evident that her owner and his crew have not yet got the " hang " of their craft. Onawe sailed an improved boat, but was unable to foot it with either of her opponents. The second-class yacht race fell through owing to lack of entries ; the dingey sailing race was postponed owing to the wind being rather, high at the time set down for deciding the race, while the handicap sailing race for .local boats only brought out two starters out of five that had been entered. Following are the results of the .events decided : — YACHT RACE , (sailing), for 2-raters and over; first prize £25, second £10 — Pastime (M. Miller), 7.2, scr, 1; Kiaora (J. H. Collins), 5.3, 3min 20sec, 2; Onawe (C. Brown), 4.8, 4min 28sec, 3. The wind was fresh from the northwest and the sea smooth at -the start. Kiaora was well timed, and crossed the line 22sec after gun-fire at 12.35.22, Onawe crossing at 12.35.38, and Pastime close aboard at 12.35.425ec. It was a run to the Red House buoy, and the three boats all set spinnakers. No material alteration took place in their respective positions in this short run, nor in the reach to the Wainui buoy. After rounding the latter it became a close haul to Tikau, and booms had not long been hauled on board for the weather journey before Pastime commenced to show up prominently, and soon had a strong lead. Onawe tailed off from Kiaora a little, and the yachts were timed at the committee ship on the completion of the first half of the course as follows: — Pastime, lhr 35min 15sec; Kiaora, lhr 42min; and Onawe, lhr 45min 20sec. The wind continued fre3h and steady throughout the second round, but from this out the race needs- no description, for Pastime, while not running away from her opponents, continued gradually to improve her position, and crossed the line at 2hr 47cun lOsec a winner, with Kiaora at 2hr 55min 15sec and Onawe at 3hr lmin 15sec p.m. Pastime, which was conced.uig Kiaora 3min 20sec, thus won by 4min 45sec, Mr Collins taking the second prize, HANDICAP SAILING RACE (for boats locally owned) : first prize £7, second £2 — Sparetime and Vixen were the only contestants, and the race ''was not over when tho steamer left. Snaretime had an allowance of 2min 30sec from Vixen, and it seemed probable that the former would cross the line first.