YACHTING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 7, 17 February 1909, Page 11

YACHTING.

History of the Sayonara Cup. An interesting re view oi the history of Australia’s ’’America Cup," from t he pen of “For’rard Hand/’ appears in the current, issue of the “Sydney Mail,’’ from which the following excerpts air taken:— “Inter-State contests for yachts dat? back to the adventurous vn y* age in 1882 of the little Doris from Sy<hiey to Port. Philip. Although this little craft measured on\y 41 tons, she fought her way against exceptionally heavy weather io Melbourne, which she made after 12 oays of hard battling. Dr. Milford was then the owner of the Doris, and io hTm, thenfore, belongs (he honour of bring th** pioneer of intercolonial racing. He sailed Vis boat to easy \ictory against a large and representative fleet of Victorians. “Five yeftrs later, in 1887, our southern sister made a bold attempt to retrieve her lost laurets, ami found a champion In Sir W. J. Clarke, who sent his 34-tonner, Janet, to Port Jackson, M meet the best of our yachts, Mr A. G. Mi Ison's Waitangi, 21 tons, and Sir .fames Fairfax’s Magic, 28 tons, representing this colony, in a seriQH of three races. The Waitangi was originally a product of New Zea-

’and, but was to a large extent remodell«<l in Sydn*y by Mr Walter Reeks, who then fotinu hi* fn*t opportunity of showing that he was no *pn*nti<e hand. The Waitangi showed a great turn of speed, ami well sailed by her owner, won th*- first two racp< of the series; the "Magi** was unable to beat the Janet in the third rac**. wliicli was held for the purpose of deciding to whom second place shouhl be awarded. “The intercolonial regatta of 1888, given* by Victoria, was too tempting a feast to be missed by Mr Mi Ison. Accordingly. the well-known Era, 40 tons, which had been built by Mr Reeks for Mr Milson. made her way to Melbourne. She was followed a day later by the Volunteer, 32 tons, another of Mr Reeks’ • nations; both boats mads the passage in about nine da vs. after encountering some heavy weather. The Sydney boats met S(uith Australian as well as Vic* torian yachts, and among the latter was the Iduna. The Iduna won the first race, hut a re-sail was ordered on the ground of some informalities, and the Era then won easily, an dtook the trophy—a handsome golden anchor—provided by Sir \V J. Clarke, and the substantial prize of 1400. “During the late eighties and up fo the end of 1903 a storm of financial depression broke over Australia, and these intercolonial contests were only happy recollections of days which to many seemed a Jong way back in the depths of the past. Brightness, however, broke across the gloom, w hop in 190« L Air Alfred (Jollin opened up negotiations through his club, the Royal Yacht Chill of Victoria, with the two Sydney clubs —the Royal Sydney Yaciit squadron ami the Prince Alfred Yacht Club —with a view to a revival of iuter-S;\e contests. Mo was successful in this attempt, and a series of throe races was appointed for a cup presented by the two local clubs. Mr (Jolliu was then the owner of the Sayonara. and in her he made his way to Port .Jackson to meet Mr Herbert Bi-n--nic’s Bona. 42-rater. designed and built by Bailey, of Auckland. In 1900, whlcli bad been nominated tor the defence by the squadron. Sayonara won the first race, but local hopes rose high when, in the second race, the Bona, well sailed by .Mr S. Dempster, showed some of the speed that was in her. It was not known then what a good bout the Sayonara was, but the third race proved that slie was m hard boat to beat, and that the cup was hers. • . “On his return to Melbourne. Mr Guilin donated the cup as a perpetual challenge cup, under the name of the Sayonara. Cup. to be raced for by boats belonging to his < lub and the two Sydney clubs. Further proof of her capabilities was given by the Sayonara in 1907, when she met Mr (’. T. Brockhoff’s Raw hit! in the races whi< h followed the first challenge for the cup. The Raw hit i, which Is still in active racing trim, is one of the good boats sent us by Logan, of Auckland. but the reliable Sayonara was too much for her, ami won the first two races of the three provided for by the deed of gift—the tii st race in a moderate southeaster and the second in a bowling northwester. Her owner found some consolation, however, for his defeat by winning Die (’arabine Cup. which was sailed for a f<w days previously to the Sayonara Cup races, ami provided the unusual case of Ihr<<‘ boats winning Ihe same number of points each after sailing three races, necessitating a fourth race to <l<*cide Die matter.” The Savonara beat the 'llielma tltis year, ami si ill retains 1 he coveted < up.