AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 333, 10 December 1896, Page 4

AQUATICS

[By

Muritai.]

It will be seen by the advertisement of the Auckland Regatta programme that the committee has thrown open the champion whaleboat race, which is a decided improvement, and should encourage some of our southern friends to enter—say at New Plymouth and Waitara. The following, from the New Tlealan Mdil of Nov. 26th may be of interest to my readers, as several Auckland boats are mentioned :—The first of the series of handicap yacht races, arranged by the Port Nicholson Yacht Club for the present season, was sailed on Saturday In the first-class race the competitors were Waitangi (scr) and Maritana (12min). Soon after crossing the line, which they did together, Waitangi took the lead, maintaining that position to the finish, and winning by about 7min, after allowing her rival 12min The winner was well handled by Mr J. Jamieson, one of her owners, while her rival had Mr G. Martin at the tiller. In the seeond-class race there was a close finish, the competitors being—Atlanta and Rona (scr), Mahina (6min), Mapu (Bmin), Waiwetu (12rain), and Jennie Reid (20min). The first to cross the line was Mapu, but she was soon overhauled by Rona, which finished some minutes ahead of the former, but on time allowance Mapu won by 55see. Mahina came in a length or so behind Atalanta, and was placed third, the latter being fourth on time allowance. Waiwetu finished a considerable distance behind Mahina, Jennie Reid being last. Mr Windsor’s new 2|-rater, Windward, built by Logan Bros., was out for a spin at the end of last week, and gave every satisfaction to her owner and builders. She is something after the style of Mahaki, but is bulkier, and consequently more powerful; another difference is she has two headeails and will carry a topsail. Last year’s champion will have to move herself if she wishes to keep her supremacy. Although Te Uira, the 30-footer built by Bailey Bros, for Melbourne, was beaten in her first race on the other side, she was by no means disgraced. It appears the race was a sealed handicap one, and on ordinary time allowance the Aucklander would have won by l|min. Alexa, a 7-rater by Fife, was the winner, doing the 30-mile course in 7hrs 46min 25sec Te Uira came next in 7hrs 52min 3sec, Helen (Lord Brassey’s boat) being third, 7hrs 58min 51sec. Te Uira was greatly admired during the race, the Melbourne Leader /giving the following : —“She was much admired for her clean run, and especially in clearing the water well with her bow. It was generally held that in this particular she had the advantage of Lord Brassey’s yacht, which drew more heavily, and made a bit of a splutter under her bow.’