YACHTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 229, 13 December 1894, Page 9

YACHTING.

The Ponsonby Regatta of Saturday last was favoured with suitable weather, and on the whole may safely be spoken of as a pronounced success. The committee, secretary, and all officials deserve great kudos for the manner in which everything was carried out, a fact thoroughly appreciated by the visitors. The flagship was if anything too small. For the first time since the Gloriana was launched in 1892 she has had to take second place, the Zinita beating her on time allowance at the Ponsonby Regatta on Saturday last. The new boat is too good for her off the wind, especially running, but when the sheets are tightened in the Gloriana can easily head reach and go to windward of her rival. Even in the little bit of beating there was on Saturday from the Judge s Bay mark to the Chequered Buoy she gained two minutes on the other, but on the run back again to Judge’s Bay the Zinita nearly overtook the Gloriana, rounding the mark only a length or two behind her. And now was seen one of the best races ever witnessed in Auckland, the two boats going nearly neck and neck until off the flagship, when the Gloriana gradually drew' away from under her opponent’s lee, rounding the mark boat off the Sugar Works about thirty seconds ahead. Here she lost a little of her lead through having to change jibs, but just managed to squeeze in first by about thirteen seconds. The old boat has to give the new one about a minute and a half, thus losing the race by over a minute. As I ventured to forecast last week, the leading wind suited the Zinita, but after Saturday’s performance on the wind, unless she is greatly improved, she will never beat the Gloriana, provided there is a fair amount of windward work in the race. Of course the Zinita was not at her best on Saturday, only having been launched a day or two previously, and will without, doubt be in better trim for the next race. She has a bow and keel something like the Whio, and her long, low hull gives her a racy, sneaking appearance. Perhaps this class of boat is not a suitable one for Auckland, where there is such little racing, but it is a type that was sure to come sooner or later, seeing the success it has been at Home. Five hundredweight of lead was taken off the after end of her fin on Friday night, which greatly improved her speed and appearance, but in my opinion she is still a little low aft.

The Yum Yum showed up better than usual on Saturday, but even with her favourite leading wind she had no show with her speedier opponents. The Cynisca did not finish. The Rangatira not coming up to the starting post for the big yacht race, the Yvonne sailed over the course alone. Mr. Chatfield’s boat had been launched too hurriedly to be in good trim for racing, and I think the imsatisfactory form she showed in her trial spins had a lot to do with her not competing.

In the race for yachts under two rating the Nellie, a new boat built by Mr Drummond, of Mechanic’s Bay, came in first, but the Mahoe, a Ponsonby boat, takes the prize on time allowance. The Colleen, a 20-footer built and owned by Reg. Masefield, finished first in the big openboat race, but the Minnie, an 18-footer owned by Messrs. Owen and Mattheson, of Ponsonby, beats her on time allowance by about six seconds. Only two started for the smaller open-boat event —My Jack and Bit o’Blue, the former, built by Mr Reid of Ponsonby, winning somewhat easily. It is only on regatta days that Aucklanders can form any idea of the size of then- yachting fleet. The harbour on Saturday was literally alive with sails of every description, and the fact that no accident occurred speaks volumes for the way in which our yachtsmen can handle their boats. Charley Nelson handled the Zinita very well on Saturday, and by good generalship, combined with the handy rig of his boat, managed to get on the Gloriana’s weather at most of the mark boats.

The owner of the Gloriana having asked the Ponsonby Regatta authoriities to measure the Zinita, the two boats have had the tape ran. over them. I have not heard the result, but I think both are over the rating given in. The Regatta Committee, in giving prizes of the value of £7O for a scow race, are evidently forgetting that it is a regatta conducted by the Auckland “ Yacht” Club. If the winning yachts get the full value of the prizes stated on the programme it is all right, but as things look at present this is a subject for doubt. If I remember rightly the prizes on several occasions have been paid pro rata, the subscriptions not having come up to expectations. Would it not have been better if the amount of prize money to be given the two trading races had been left until some of the money began to roll in ? Harding has accepted Sullivan’s challenge to row on the Tyne for £2OO a-side. The Lyttelton Rowing Club has received a new four-oared racing boat by the s.s. Rangitira, specially built to suit the weights of the present holders of the New Zealand four-oared championship. She is a beautiful craft, and is said to reflect great credit on the builder, Mr J. H. Clasper, of Putney. The Judge’s Bay Amateur Regatta, to take place on January 26th, 1895, gives promise of a great success. - It is anticipated that the fields will be large and the contests keen. Special care will be taken by the committee in the matter of the starting of yacht races.