Untitled

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 779, 9 February 1905, Page 12

land, of Onehumga, which will have an oil engine; three 25ft whaleboats for the Melanesian Mission; and one 29ft. sailing, boat for the Islands. In addition .to these there is a new tender for the Union Company’s work at Gisborne, while a new steam launch for Wellington has just ■been completed. It has been freely stated that the speed launch Slim Jim is capable of a speed of fifteen knots an hour, but this must surely be an exaggeration judging by her performance against Union at the recent regatta. At the time of her breakdown Slim Jim was only just in front of the Union, both having started, from scratch, yet Messrs Ryan’s launch is incapable of anything over eleven knots, and it is very doubtful if she could do that. Then again on Saturday Union beat the Northern boat easily. The Auckland-built Sunbeam easily won the All Yachts Handicap at the Sydney Anniversary Regatta, defeating eight opponents, while a more ancient Aucklander in Akarana won the race for cruising yachts. * * * * The scow race at the Anniversary Re-o-attal is to feel resailed owing to; i/t. hot having been finished by the time limit, viz., seven p.m. There has been a con-' siderable amount of talk about this, but why it was found necessary to obtain counsel’s opinion on the matter passes comprehension. Surely the sailing committee were competent to deal with a matter coming directly under their own jurisdiction, and on a protest concerning which a reg-ullation existed which had been in force for many years. * * * . At the inter-State Carnival in Sydney, at which 14-footers from West Australia Queensland, and New South Wales competed, the Queensland boat Violet won the ( hampionship by ~ssec from the Sydney boat Jessie. The 10-footer Championship was easily won by the Sydney representative Crescent. The event was a great success, five steamers following the race, each being crammed w’ith spectators. «. * * The Sydney Flying Squadron’s general handicap, contested in Sydney Harbour the other afternoon, was probably one of the most exciting yacht races ever witnessed there (says an exchange.) -Approaching Shark Island, the boats, which were going with all extras squared, were struck by a squall from the north. The was tlie first- boat to turn turtl©. At the Island buoy, the Australian and the Qui Vive had narrow escapes from capsizing. The sail of the Vera refused to swing across, and she took charge of her shipper, crashing into the club’s steamer Lady Planning, and causing some damage to herself. Members of the crew who were forward jumped on board the steamer, escaping injury. When the excitement caused by the accident had subsided, the Arline was found to have turned turtle, and the rest of the boats narrowly escaped a similar disaster at the buoy, where the breeze was very treacherous. The IMyee capsized just as it seemed, as if she lia'd the race \\ on, and the Desdemona also turned turtle. Eventually the race was won by the Donnelly. Word has been received in Wellington to the effect that there is. every probability of the Sydney Club being represented in the championship regatta. A Wellington sportsman has donated, throhgh Mi’ A. G. Johnson, a trophy of the value of £lO 10s, to be. awarded as a special prize in the Championship Sculls at the New Zealand championship regatta.