WITH SAIL and MOTOR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 22, 1 December 1909, Page 9

WITH SAIL and MOTOR

NEWS FROM THE WATER (Special to “ Graphic.”) G 1 I VISITOR writes to me as folf. I lows:—“Can you tell me when 4 J A the rooms of the RoyaZ New Zealand Yacht -Squadron are open, and if there is anyone in charge during the day? I have called into the rooms several times, but either the door was locked or the rooms quite vacant.” Somebody responsible ought to inquire into this. Aucklanders are usually anything but indifferent in their treatment pf visitors. For the first time so far for this scanon the weather for the week-end was very favourable for yachtsmen—both sail and motor. A nice breeze from the eastward was just what the sailing man wanted, and a fairly smooth sea just about suited the motor yacht. Titer© was a great fleet of yachts of all daises out on Saturday and Sunday, all bound to and from the usual cruising grounds. It would, I feel sure, be a good thing if the sailing yachts and motor yachts came up the harbour in a bunch on the Sunday afternoon, and made some sort of a display to interest the non-yachting fraternity. . Ponsonby Regatta is set down for December 18, but, although the committee are working very energetically, funds are rather slow in coming in. It is to no hoped that the residents of Ponsonby will not allow the regatta to fall through this year for the want of the few pounds neee-sary to cany the matter out. Mr. B. Brigham, one of Ponsonby’s most popular aquatic eports, has been elected permanent vice-chairman of the Ponsonby Regatta Club. The coming season promises to be a record one so far as motor yachts are concerned. The New Zealand Power Boat Association shows some 118 boats of various fuzes on its register, and this number will be considerably increased shortly by the addition of a number of new boats, now nearing completion in the various building yards on the Waitemaita.

Waitemata Dinghy Sailing Club. At the meeting of the committee of the Waitemata Dinghy Sailing Club it was decided to hold a handicap race for class A (14ft) on Saturday, 4th Decern her, and races for classes A and B on 11th December. A decision as to whether the latter shall be handicap or otherwise will be left open for the present. Messrs. Oliver and Bailey wore appointed handicappers, and Mr. G. Bailey meaßure-r. All boats must be measured before being allowed to start in any race. In future a distinguishing flag will denote the direction of course, viz., red flag for east, and white flag for west. An addition to tne club fleet made its appearance last week in the shape if a new 14-footer, by Mr. N. J. Inglis. The Devonport Yacht Club hold their second races of the season on Saturday afternoon next. There is to be a cruising race to Rocky Bay, classes A and B, and a motor race in the harbour.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Tlie first races of the season of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron took place on Saturday afternoon, one b ing for sailers and the other for motor yachts of the club. The destination was Mataitai. The following were the entries and handicaps:— Sailing Race.—Rawene, scratch ; Ilex, sm; Thetis, 5Jn; Kotiri, 8m; Waione, lOJm; Aorere, 11m; Victory, 12m. The race started from off the end of Queenstreet wharf at 2.30 p.m. The wind was moderate from about E.S.E. at the start. Ilex and Waione were first across the line, almost together, Victory (to windward) was next, 2 seconds later; Kotiri was 2 minutes behind; Rawene was 13J minutes late, Thetis 201 minutes, Aorere 28) minutes. The wind made it a dead beat down the gulf. Rawene picked up a little of the lost time at the start, and had worked into second place by the

time Bean Rock was passed, Waione third, and Ilex fourth. Kotiri kept the lead and finished 10 seconds ahead of Waione, which was only 30 seconds ahead of Ilex. The finishing times were: Kotiri, shrs 49m 50s Rawene, shrs 50m Ilex, shrs 50m 30s Thetis, shrs 58m 35s Waione, Aorere and Victory did not finish. On time allowance the result is:. Kotiri 1 Ilex 2 Rawene 3 Motor Boats.—The only entrants were Matareka and Tahutu. The handicaps were: Matareka, scratch; Tahutu, 30s. The race proved very interesting, the position being unchanged from start to finsu. The finishing times were: Tahutu, 4 hrs 24m ss; Matareka, 4hrs 255. North Shore Yacht Club. The North Shore Yacht Club held a race on Saturday afternoon last, the destination being Awaroa Bay, Waiheke. The race was divided into five classes, and some good sport was obtained by the competing yachtsmen. The wind was from E.S.E., blowing a light breeze, with a strong flood tide. Thistle, of the first division, was away first, with Heartsease, Wairiki and several others. Off Brown’s Island the larger yachts ran into a calm for about an hour, enabling some of the smaller boats to catch them up and pass them. Near the destination Heartsease dropped out of the race. Wairiki was first in and Thistle second. The following are the results: — CLASS I. Class I. was despatched at 2.40 p.m., the entries being as follows:—Heartsease, scr.; Thistle, 15m.; Mahaki, 18m.; Wairiki, 22m. The finishing times were: —- Wairiki, 7h 43m., 1; Thistle, 7h 54m. % 9 CLASS 11. Rosina, scr.; Eulalie, Im.; Maybelle, 4m.; Alexa, 4m.; Encounter, 9m.; Tangaroa, 6m.; Kaho, 9m.; lolanthe, 6m.; Rhona, 9m.; Konini, 12m.; Jack, 12m.; Masher, 18m. Finishing times:—Rosina, Bh. 56m. 545., 1; Jack, 9h. Bm. 595., 2; Maybelle, 9h. 16m. 245., 3; Alexa, 9h. 10m. 125.; lolanthe, 9h. 21m. 435. CLASS 111. Ronaki, scr.; Emerald, scr.; Aturere, 6m.; Calypso, 7m.; Geisha, 9m.; Glady, 9m.; Zoe, 9m.; Gannet, 9m.; Ranee, 9m.; Erin, llh.; Lina, 15m. Finishing times: —Calypso, 7h. 47m., 1; Ronaki, 7h. 59m. Bs., 2; Glady, Bh. 18in. 145., 3; Lina, Bh. 29m. 285.; Erin, Bh. 37m. 135.; Gannet, Bh. 44m. 455.; Zoe, Bh. 20m. 505.; Emerald. 9h 16m. 385.; lolanthe, 9h. 21m. 435.; Geisha, 9h. 47m. 265. CLASS IV. Heather, scr.; Venus, scr.; Mowai, scr.; Acacia, scr.; Hetty, 3m.; Hilda, 3m.; Kowhai, 10m.; Daphne, 15m.; Eileen, 10m.; Echo, 10m.; Ellen, 10m.; Merlin, 10m.; Roma, 16m.; Rio, 35m. Finishing times:—Daphne, 9h. 44m. 595., 1; Kowhai, 9h. 40m. 195., 2; Heather, 9h. 34m. 155., 3; Hilda, 9h. 43m. 215.; Mowai, 9h. 48m. 245.; Merlin, lOh. im. 50s.’; Echo, lOh. 12m. 18s. CLASS V. Niobe, scr.; Mayo, scr.; Ena, 7m.; Vanora, 15m.; Merrythought, 20m.; Mavourneen, 20m.; Stormbird, 30m. Finishing times:—Mayo, lOh. 26m.; Stormbird, I2h. 40m. 16s. A race for open boats, 16ft. and under, was also held in the harbour, the course being as follows: —From starting line off Victoria Wharf, thence round red Sandspit buoy, thence round Viking’s moorings, thence round dock buoy to starting line, once round, keeping all marks on starboard hand. Entries and handicaps: —Fleetwing, scr.; Mistral, scr.; Saint, scr.; Flattie, sm; Olivine, 7m; Wistaria, Bm.; Ramati, 14m. All started with the exception of Ramati, the result being: — Mistral, 4h. 27m. 505., 1; Flattie, 4h. 57m. 505., 2. The other boats did not finish. The duties of starter were carried out by Mr. S. White. The Week End. During the week-end a number of launches and yachts went down to Mataitai and spent the night there.

Sunday proved an excellent day for a run to the Gannet Rock, where hapuku fishing was indulged in. The Alleyne had a very successful haul of the big fish.