YACHT RACE AT NELSON.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 1427, 23 March 1872, Page 2

YACHT RACE AT NELSON.

The race for the silver cup presented by Messrs Shaw, Saville and Co. to the Nelson Eegatta Ciab, came off on Monday, March 4th. A finer day for the purpose could not have been wished for Three vessels only entered for this race, namely, the Minnie-ha-ha,'belonging to. Mr Cross, the Lightning, Mr Burn, and the Dolly Yarden, Mr Ponsonby.

Aii excellent start was effected; the Minnie being to windward, the lightning next, and the Dolly Yarden in. shore. On beating up the'harbour, the Minnie rounded the .first bn^imin. 55see. ahead of the Lighting, and 3 rain. ssec. ahead of the Dolly Yarden but when running free to the mouth of the harbor, the Lightning gained upon the Minnie so rapidly as to load her admirers to back her freely for first | place. However, when the little vessels I came to feel the force of the wind outside, and the retarding effects of rather a lumpy sea, the superior trim of the Minnie, and the seamanship displayed by her owner, Mr Cross, who sailed "her himself, began to tell at once, and before the buoy off the Moutere was reached, symptoms of a desire to " hedge" among the sporting gentlemen^ on board the Lady jkrkly were manifested, and the drawers of the the boats in the various " sweeps" were moved to commercial activity, in che effort to exchange the Lightning for the Minnie for first place, and Dolly Vaixlen for the former for second. However the two other boats had the heels of the Dolly, and although she sailed a plucky race, she had no chance against either of them. The Wakapnaka buoy was passed in ihe following order:—Minnie-ha-ha, 1,42 p.m. ; Lightning 3J7 p.m. ; Dolly Varden, 2.31 p.m. From this point the Lightning gained somewhat on the Minnie, as the course was free and that is evidently the Lightningk^strong point—but nevertheless the Minnie won easily, the vessel arriving at the winning post in the following order :— Minnie-ha-ha, 2.58 p.m. : Dolly Yardon, 3.22 p.m. Great credit is due to all parties who sailed in the race. The Minnie is an old favourite, and" had established a reputation for herself at Wellington.