AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 486, 16 November 1899, Page 8

AQUATICS

[By

Spinnaker.]

The yachting season in Auckland was formally opened on Thursday (Prince of Wales’ Birthday) by the members of the Auckland Yacht Club, and the Parnell and North Shore Sailing Clubs. The weather was all that could be desired for an opening day. There was a very large muster of yachts, which assembled at the Queen Street Wharf at ten o’clock. The wind at that hour was very light, but the spectacle of the yachts lying with all sails set, in an almost dead calm, was a very pretty one. As the breeze sprung up the mosquito fleet joined their larger sisters, and they moved down the harbor in company, under the command of the commodore of the Auckland Yacht Club, Mr J. Wiseman, on his yacht Matangi, the vice-commodore, Mr J. Murdoch, in the Zinita, and the rear-commodore, Mr Jagger, on the Thelma. They proceeded as far as the Bastion, when a course was shaped against a light northerly wind to Rangitoto Reef, where anchors were dropped, and the yachtsmen and their friends (a great many of whom were ladies), after luncheon, spent an enjoyable hour or two in roaming about Rangitoto, re-embarking and reaching their moorings about dusk Lane, the Australian swimmer, beat the Scottish champion at Dundee, in a 220yds race, by a yard, in 2min 42sec. The Otago annual regatta will be held on Boxing Day, and great activity is being shown by those interested. The annual meeting was held at Port Chalmers, and the following officers were elected :—Mr W. J. Waters, chairman ; Mr N. Dodds, vice-chairman; Mr G. Hendry, hon. secretary; Mr S. H. Wilson, treasurer ; and a committee of twelve, instead of seven as last year. The bal-ance-sheet presented showed a credit balance of £2B 8s Id in hand to start with.

The Auckland-built 30-footers, Meteor and Aoma, competed in a race held at Sydney on Prince of Wales’ Birthday, which was won by Whitewings, owned by. Mr S. Hordern; Meteor second Aoma gave up during the race. A private wire received here states that Aoma was again racing on Saturday, and that she won easily, but we are left to guess what yachts she was sailing against. In all probability it would be

against the same boats as on the previous day, and sailed under the control of the Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The Auckland Rowing Club rowed off some of the heats of their trial fours on Saturday afternoon, but owing to the rough state of the water the races were not completed, The finals will be rowed next Saturday. THE PARNELL SAILING CLUB. The first series of races of the Parnell Sailing Club were held last Saturday afternoon. The entries were good, and the contests were both close and exciting. Mr G-. V. Edgcumbe officiated as judge, and Mr J. Rbnayne as starter. Mr L. Lewis, the popular secretary of the club, worked hard, and succeeded in making the function a success. The handicaps and results of the various races are : —

Patikis (handicap).—Rambler scr, Eka and Boomerang 3min, Bronzewing, Rita, and Zoe smin, Dart 6min. The boats got away to a pretty even start, Eka having a slight lead on the leeward position. The first round, when passing the flagbehip, Eka was about 3min ahead of Zoe, which was closely followed by Bronzewing. Eka still kept her lead, and finished 4min 55sec ahead of Bronze-

wing, Zoe third, ssec away. Rambler shaped badly, but there was scarcely enough windward work for her, and she could have been handled better off the wind.

22-footers (overall, and under) Handicap.—Edna scr, Melissa 3min, Ida 12min, Myra 14min, Anita 18min, Rewi 20min, Merlin 25min. Myra was first to cross the line, closely followed by the others, with the exception of Merlin, which was very late in starting. A splendid race resulted in a win for Myra (4hr 4 7min lOsec), Melissa second (4hr 47min lOsec), Anita (4hr 51min 35sec) third. None of the other boats had a chance with the winner and the way she travelled was a surprise to all, the handicapper in particular ; but it is only fair to this gentleman to say that this was Myra’s first appearance as a racer, and clever handling had a lot to do with her success.

26-footers (overall, and under). — Pastime scr, Kotiro 3£min, Waitangi After a very even start, Pastime took the lead, and was never headed, winning by smin 7sec from Kotiro, the finish being : Pastime, shr 54min 23sec; Kotiro,|jshr 59min 30sec ; Waitangi, 6hr I min. 033$ Open Handicap. -Thelma scr. Rainbow 2min 15sec, Aorere Bmin, Zinita lOmin, Corinna 15min. Zinita did not

start. Corinna was first to get away, followed by Thelma and Aorere, with Rainbow a long way behind. Thelma was first to round the Hobson Bay mark, with Aorere next, and Rainbow third, having gained on the run down, Corinna last. The light wind and beat out to the Channel seemed to suit Rainbow best, as she was first to show round the North Head on the return j ourney. Off Victoria Wharf Thelma had resumed the lead by about a length, Aorere about 2min behind, and Corinna hopelessly out of it. Rounding the mark off Queen Street Wharf, Thelma was about a minute ahead of Rainbow, and 4min ahead of Aorere. On the lead down to Hobson Bay, Rainbow gained about half a minute. Shortly after rounding this mark Thelma had the misfortune to carry away her staysail halyards. This gave Rainbow the windward position, and although the breeze was now freshening somewhat, she managed to increase her advantage on the beat out. Thelma, however, again took command on the return trip, and rounded the mark at Queen Street Wharf with a slight advantage. But Rainbow was soon alongside of her bigger rival, and after a “ neck-and neck ” struggle to the flagship, the two boats crossed the line, a dead-heat, at shr. 50min 30sec, Aorere finishing at shr 50min 30sec. As will be seen from the foregoing, it was a great race between these two boats all through. With better luck Thelma would perhaps have been in first, but the 36-footer would still have won on time.

On Saturday, November 4, Mercia and Laurel (the Auckland-built 1-raters) were competing in a handicap race under the auspices of the Sydney Sailing Club. There were several 22-footers in the race, Kerike (scr)being amongst them, Mercia receiving 4min and Laurel smin, which time was given at the start. On the day the footers were too good for the raters, and the latter, after being overtaken, retired. Mercia had soon got on terms with her old rival, and when they dropped out she was 2min ahead of Laurel.