AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 438, 15 December 1898, Page 8

AQUATICS

[By

Muritai. ]

NORTH SHORE SAILING CLUB.

That popular body, the North Shore Sailing Club, held its first races of the . ea«on on Saturday afternoon last, and everything went off successfully, which could not very well be otherwise with such a painstaking and compe ent committee at the bead of affairs. A larger amount of interest than usi.al was centred in the races, as several new boats made their bow to the racing world, the chief of which were Mr Pittar’s splendid 36-footer Rainbow, the 1-rater Al l a (built by Bailey Bros, for the championship race), and Mr Dexter’s aptly-named |-rater Ramb er. There was a good stiff ea-ter]y breeze blowing, with a fairly heavy sea, so that all the com; etuors were given a chance of eh wing their speed and sea-going powers. The Kerry Company kindly lent the s.s. Durham as flagship, Captain Parker being on board as starter and umpire, with Mr Bennett (assisted by Mr 11. Oliver) as timekeeper. To a great extei t the races were spoilt by some of the competitors not being on the mark at starting time, thus spoiling their chance.-, but the club has decided that in future each race will be started half an l our later. T he big race was the greatest sufferer-in this respect, such well known flyers as Thetis, Ida, Mizpah, and Mahaki being the delinquents, and. although, with the exception of Theti-, all staned, ihey did not complete the course. The limit boat in this race was advertised to start at 2 45, which seems

Wilma, 4hr 13min. it is unnecessary to give the times ot the others, as they were late at the mark, or did not start. It is a pity there were no boats of Rainbow’s size in the race. Yachts not exceeding 25ft 1.w.1.- —Same course as first race. The starters and their handicaps were : —Daisy scr, Rogue 4tnin, May Bell 7min, Mavis Bimin ; Peri (linin) and Poneke (7min) did not start. Rogue and Daisy soon separated themselves out from the others by making short boards inside the Heads, and at the Rangifoto 'mark Rogue was leading Mavis and her old rival in that order Coming back to Hobson Bay, Rogue had increased her lead and Daisy had passed Mavis, Rogue finishing first, Mavis second, Daisy third. The second and third boats fouled close to the finish, Mavis being on the wrong tack. The times were : —Rogue, 4hr 6min 30sec; Mavis, 4hr lOmin ; Daisy, 4hr 15min. Patiki Claes. —Course, from flagship, round second buoy out in the Channel, back to Hobson Bay, round Dock buoy, finishing at starting p int. The entrants were, Boomerang, Bronzewing, Eka. ”azel, Melody, Kita, Rambler, 'and Zoe. All the bo its started from scr-.-tch, and it was a pretty sight to see the miniatures dodging about waiting f or the word “ go.” Bailey’s Boomerang was late, owing to which she was never prominem . 1 Jexter’s new Rambler (Logan Bros.) got well away with the ot her*, and was never much troubled in the ace, winning by a minute and a half from Eka, Zoe third. It would be b tter for the spectators if the course for these boats was arranged so as to keep them in sight, of the wharf. They proved on Saturday, however, that they are safe in a breeze, and in the comparatively heavy sea outside* they shaped better Chan some of the bigger boats. The Paua, a boat resembling the Patiki, won the race for boats not exceeding 20ft overall, Ida second, Freak third. Only two started in the 1-rater event, namely, Alma (scr) and Bell Bird (smin). According to the programme the course was the same as that of the Patiki, but twice round. The competitors ’

seemed to have some doubt, however, about the - twice round, and the race was not decided. Op the beat down, Bell Bird fairly-well held her own with her racing rival, but when sheets were eased : for home Alma rapidly caught on the clinkerbuilt boat, and was only a few lengths behind at... the finish of the first round.

The subject of conversation during the .week has been the arrival from Adelaide of Messrs Rymill and their 1-rater yacht Geisha, to compete in the Intercolonial Championship at the North Shore Native Regatta. The boat is about 31ft overall, 18ft 4in 1.w.1, 6ft Bin beam, with a ballast fin carrying nearly half a ton of lead. When in racing trim I should say she will draw nearly 6ft of water. She appears to have good round lines, and is a poweiful boat. The new arrival gives one the impression that in a breeze with plenty of windward work she will make her skim dish rivals move themselves. Geisha was built by her owners, who are fitting her up on Logan Bros.’ slip. Owing to the rough water at Cheltenham Beach on Saturday afternoon, the North Shore Rowing Club held its trial fours at Brick Bay, where the water was smooth. Although the course was necessarily short, the races were none the less interesting, and same good finishes resulted. A brass band was in attendance, and it is seldom that the pretty little bay wears such a lively appearance. The great attraction was doubtless the ladies’ pair-oar trials, nearly thirty fair competitors being engaged. Miss I. Lind and Miss Duder pulled the winning boat in the final of this event, and W. Swinnerton’s crew won the trial fours. When it is stated that twenty events were got off during the afternoon with scarcely a hitch, no more need be said about the way the officers and committee managed affairs. ..

The trial fours of the West Epd Rowing Club were to have been held on Saturday, but they had to be postponed on account of the heavy sea. When the weather is suitable, heats are being rowed off at night and morning during the week.