VISITORS ENJOY THE AKAROA REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 14

VISITORS ENJOY THE AKAROA REGATTA.

(Written for the “ Star.”) New Year’s Day and the Akaroa regatta have come to be regarded as inseparable, and the annual events are to the present generation as much the history of the place as is the landing of the Frenchmen years ago. The Regatta Committee created an almost outrageous precedent this year when they decided that the regatta should be held on January 2 instead of on January 1. Tradition, however, was too strong, and the annual feast of oarsmanship was held yesterday in accordance with custom.

In accordance also with custom, there were many honeymooners obtain, ing their first impressions of married life among the beautiful surroundings of the town, which has became famous as the location of the first sharp difference of opinion in the married lives of many. The honey'mooners were absent yesterday, the crowds which lined the jetty and the waterfront being too numerous and too interested in other people’s doings for their mental comfort. The newly-weds sought the delightful stretches of bush which ran up the valleys from the town, and were not see or heard of until the tea bell late in the evening. Picturesque Scene.

The rest of the population and visitors, numbering three or four thousand, were more interested in the regatta than in themselves. They thronged the jetty in a picturesque mass which made the old wharf gay with the brilliance of summer dresses. They clambered on to all boats available for following the races over their mile course, while other parties extended themselves all along the bushy waterfront in full view of the course. The stretch of harbour water over which the clubs fought for supremacy

was in good order. There was no rain or swamping of boats, such as was a feature of some of the previous regattas. The rowers did not have it all their own way, for between the races outboard motor-boats whirred and buzzed round the end of the jetty' - like so many bees. They were getting themselves in trim for the outboard motor events today. Play Boy flirted most outrageously with Miss Audrey until the coquettish C-Bird came on the scene and took the honours. It was a lively, colourful scene. Welcomed with Musical Honours. Most of the clubs were fortunate enough to secure placings at what proved to be one of the most successful regattas of recent years. The Akaroa Club was not the least successful of the six clubs competing. Supporters of the local club showed their joy' by welcoming in their winning crews with musical honours, provided by a bell which years ago was won as a trophy when regattas at Lyttelton were a feature of the rowing year. The club was in its prime then, and so confident of victory were the rowers that they' invariably chose the nature of their winning trophies day's before the events were rowed. The green of bush and harbour water was a pleasant contrast to the veneer of grey- dust which cars and occupants took unto themselves on the motor trip over the hills. There was a continual cloud of dust hanging over the road for some hours in the morning and evening. Cars of all makes, sizes and condition engaged in the hill-climbing and dust-raising contests, to the extreme disgust of every driver who had another car in front of him. It was a case of “the devil take the hindmost.” ! Dust was, according to drivers, “the , very devil.”