YACHTS START ON THE TASMAN RACE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 63, 16 March 1931, Page 14

YACHTS START ON THE TASMAN RACE

OIMARA SHOWS LEAD PAST CAPE BRETT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 15. The yacht race across the Tasman was commenced yesterday afternoon in perfect weather. Conditions to-day are again ideal, and the yachts should have a good start on the long journey. The Norwegian yacht Teddy crossed the starting line at two o’clock, followed a minute or two later by Oimara. Forty minutes later the Auckland boat Rangi crossed the line after a hasty preparation, the local officers of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron having refused to delay the start of the race to enable the three yachts to cross the line together. A large crowd assembled on the waterfront before the race, the competitors being given an enthusiastic farewell. Hundreds of yachts and launches followed the contestants down the harbour. Rangi, in racing rig, had already knocked ten minutes off her late start by the time she reached North Head. At the request of skippers Bennell and Tambs the time of the late starter was recorded and an allowance will be made at the finish of the race. The light-keeper at Cape Brett reported to-night that Oimara had passed at eleven o’clock this morning. Teddy and Rangi, separated by about a mile and a half, had followed at three o’clock this afternoon. Teddy was close inshore and the others about four miles out. The weather was fine, with a light wind from the south-east.