WITH SAIL and MOTOR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 9

WITH SAIL and MOTOR

NEWS FROM THE WATER (Special to *• Graphic.”) FIXTURES. .Tan. 29.—Auckland Regatta. Jan. 29.—Hamilton Regatta. February 5 — Ponsonby Cruising Club’s Ocean Race Februaiy 5 — Victoria Cruising Club’s Picnic. February 5 — Richmond Cruising Club’s Class Races. February 12 — Devonport Yacht Club’s Picnic. February 12 — North Shore Yacht Club s Cruising Race ; to Kawau. ¥HE weather on Saturday and Sunday was again favourable for the week-end cruises for yachtsmen. The wind was, however, a bit on the light side for the sailers, but the power boat sports were just in their element. The Auckland Anniversary Regatta takes place on Saturday next, for which an excellent programme has been arranged. The Victoria Cruising Club's annual picnic takes place on February 5. The annual picnic of the Devonport Yacht Club takes place on February 12. North Shore Yacht Club’s next race will be a cruising race to Kawau on * February 12. The Ponsonby Cruising Club held their annual picnic at Hobeonville last Saturday, at which there was a large attendance of members and their friends, a very enjoyable outing, with line weather resulting. The Club hold an ocean race on February 5. There were some interesting scenes in the harbour on Saturday, more especially on the Northern side, with the large number of yachts engaged in the Devonport Yacht Club’s races, besides the large fleet of sailing yachts and power boats all hurrying away for various pleasure resorts. The 16-foot open boat race sailed at the Ponsonby Regatta on December 19 has been ordered to be resailed, owing to the course on the programme having been wrong. The date of the race has not yet been fixed. Ponsonby Regatta Club’s balance-sheet shows that only £96 6/ was collected as prize-money for the last regatta, and consequently the prizes had to be considerably reduced in value. This is always a very unfortunate position to face, and it is to be hoped that if a regatta is to be held this year business in connection therewith will be started early, in order that the collectors will have sufficient time to cover the city and suburbs to obtain funds to carry out the event in a successful manner. (n the death of Mr. P. F. Battley, which occurred under somewhat panful circumstances last week, the local aquatie world has lost one of its keenest enthusiasts, and he will be much missed by many friends. Kindhearted and genial to a fault. “Fred,” as he was always addressed by his intimates, took a very keen interest in all matters connected with aquatics. For some years he was one of the officers of the Auckland Yacht Club, and also when the Club obtained the title of the Royal New Zealand Squadron. His bereaved relatives have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their sad loss. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, The Royal New Zealand Yaidit Squadron held two races on Saturday afternoon. one being an ocean yacht race, and the other a long distance power boat race -for a handsome cup presented by Mr. W. C. Leys. The weather was very favourable for the latter event, but the wind was rather on the light side for the sailing craft. The wind was front about north-north-east, blowing light, and falling even still lighter as the afternoon progressed. There were only three srtarters in each event. Messrs Stewart and Hew»on were the officers of the day, and started the races promptly on time, tad, for once in a while, the contestant*

were at the starting line well on time. The following are the details:—Ocean Yacht Race: Entries and handicaps: — Rainbow (sc.), Heartsease (30m.), Ngatira (00m.), Aorere (80m.). Course: From oft the end ox Queen-street wharf, round Canoe Kock, oft* Kawau; thence outride Ga-net Rock, Waiheke, Pakatoa and Ponui Islands; thence through the Sandspit Passage, finishing at Maitaitai. The race was started at 2.30 p.m., Heartsease not putting in an appearance, she being engaged in the race for the Rudder Cup by the North Shore Yacht Club. A fairly even start was made, only a few seconds separating the three boats. Ngatira was first across the line, Aorere next, and Rainbow last. The wind was light from the north-north-east. On the lead down the harbour Rainbow' worked up into the weather position, but it was a fairly even “go” down to the North Head, where Rainbow assumed the lead. From thence onward the race became merely a drifting match, and the finishing times at Maitaitai were: Rainbow’, 9.15 a.m. Sunday; Aorere, 1.30 p.m. Sunday; Ngatira did not finish within reasonable time, ami so her finish was not taken. The corrected times place Rainbow the winner. Power Boat Race.—<F<itries and handicaps: Winsome (*c.), Zephyr (9m J, Tahutu (18m.), lone (23m.), Elsie (28m). Course: From off the end of Queenstreet wharf; thence through the passage between Motutapu and Motuihi; thence between Ganet Rock and Waiheke; thence between Pakatoa- and Waiheke, finishing at Maitaitai. The race was started at 2.45 p.m. Winsome and Zephyr being non-starters. Tone was first across the line with Tahutu and Elsie in close attendance. The three contestants wet off at ‘‘full bore” from the start, Tahutu catching up somewhat on lone, and took the lead. This order was maintained until near the finish, when Elsie passed Tahutu and finished first, the latter second and lone third. On corrected times lone wins, with Elsie second and Tahutu third. North. Shore Yacht Club. The North Shore Yacht Club held a long cruising ocean race for the Rudder Cup on Saturday, the distance being 100 miles. The entries and handicaps were: Heartsease (scr), Thistle (111 30m), Miro (2h 30m), Ronaki (2h 40m), Calypso (2h 50m), Mystery (3h 10m), Daisy (3h 20m) , Jack (4h 10m), Rhona (4h 20m), Kaho (4h 20m), lolanthe (4h 30m), Tangaroa (4h 50m), Encounter (4h 50m). Acacia (5h 30m). The course was: From off Victoria Wharf, round Canoe Rock, off Kawau Island; thence round mark off Deadman’s Point, Coromandel coast; thence through Sandspit Passage, between lighthouse and Ponui Island: thence to the north of Brown’s Island, finishing at starting line. Distance, 100 miles. The race was started at 2.45 p.m. The wind was light from the north-east, and when North Head was rounded, fell away, and, like the squadron race, simply resulted in a drift. Miro was first across the line, with Acacia, lolanthe and Ronaki in close attendance, the others all being well up. It was a cafce of drift all round the course until yesterday afternoon, when a light north-east breeze sprang up, and enabled the boats to finish their long race. The finishing times were: Heartsease (4h 14m 10s) (Sunday), Miro (4h 14m 455), Thistle (4h 15m 19s), Calypso (4h 24m 225), Ronaki (5h 22nt 525). Acacia (6h 44m 435), Jack (7h 19m), Mystery 7h 22m). Daisy, Rhona, and Tangaroa did not finish, and all the others were outside of time limit. On corrected times, Acacia is first, Calypso second, and Miro third. Victoria Cruising Club. The first cruising race of the season of the Victoria Cruising Club was held on Saturday afternoon from off Freeman’s Bay to Hobsonville. The following are the details: — First-class Race.—Entries and handicaps: Sadie (scr), Miro (2m), Emerald (2m), Eulalie (6m), Encounter (9m), Valdora (9m), Rose (11m), Konini (13|m). On corrected times, Sadie ta first, Emerald second, and Eulalie third. beeond-eiaiw Race.—Entries and han-

dicaps: Venus (scr), Hetty (scr), Moewai (scr). Heather (Im), Hilda (3m), Deci ma (Bni), Sceptre (9m), Lasca (9m), Fleetwing (11m), Seabird (Ilin), Maro (11m), Countess (18m). On corrected times. Seabird is first. Decima second, and Venus third. MOTORING. There was a large fleet of the powerboats afloat on Saturday and Sunday aX our various pleasure resorts, the weather just suiting all classes. The oil-yacht Alleyne went out to Canoe Rock on Saturday with a party of friends of the owner, including Mr. J. W. Froude, of Sydney. The weather was very fine for the trip, and those on board bad a splendid time fishing, getting a splendid haul of hapuka, schnapper, etc. The Froude Prize. The race for the silver tea service presented to the New Zealand Power-l>oat Association for competition by Mr. .1. VV. Froude. of Sydney, takes place on Saturday next (February 5). The course will be from Auckland, round Canoe Rock, oil Kawau Island and back.