AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 831, 8 February 1906, Page 13

AQUATICS.

(By

“ The Reefer.”)

The class race of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were marred by the paucity of the entries, but the actual racing was very good. In the contest for yachts of 42ft linear rating, Ariki and Rainbow had a keen go for the greater part of the course, but at the finish the larger boat drew away, crossing the line 6min 34sec ahead of Rainbow. The result depends upon the measurement of the yachts, which has not yet been completed. For the race for 30-footers the starters were Wairiki, Wairere, and Janet, the two former having a spirited battle all round the course. The cutters were stopped after the first round, when Wairiki was Imin 49sec ahead of Wairere, with Janet nearly five minutes further behind..

Emerald and Waka were me only starters in the handicap race for 26ft tuck-stern centreboard yachts. Although she drew out a big lead and finished over 17 minutes ahead, Emerald was unable to concede her handicap to Waka.

The power launch race was an interesting feature of the afternoon’s sport. The course was one of 16 knots, and the starters were: —Togo, scratch; Union, 15min; Matareka, 22 min; Blue Bell, 55min. The scratch boat travelled at a great pace, pass ing all but Union, which crossed the finishing line 56sec ahead, Blue Bell being third.

An exciting incident occurred in the 30-footers’ race. When off Mechanics’ Bay Wairiki lost a man overboard, but fortunately he was smartly rescued by Wairere. This necessitated the race being abandoned, the Yacht Squadron rules being very stringent on life-saving. The race was re-started, with results as above. * * * *

Mr. Boyd’s Tiro and Mr. Sandford’s Spray sailed a match for £l5 aside on Saturday, the former winning easily by ten minutes. A good deal of interest was taken in the encounter by the friends of the owners.

The race for the Manukau Yacht Club’s Champion Cup was spoilt by the capsizing of Ngaroma. Maxa Maile was leading by two minutes at the time, and continued tne race, coming in alone, the other competitor (Spray) having retired. The crew of Ngaroma had a rather perilous experience in the rough water, but were rescued by Mr. Sutherland’s power launch, and the boat towed into shelter and righted.

In the handicap race Endeavour, on the 4min mark, seemed to revel in the strong blow, going in great style throughout and winning by 9min from the scratch boat, May Bee.

Accounts from Sydney concerning the yacht race at the Anniversary Regatta show that the Rawhiti was on scratch, and was asked to give away starts up to 21 minutes. The wind was light, and was a lead all round, conditions which were, of course, all in favour of the smaller yachts on the big marks. As Rawhiti gained 12 min 4 6 sec on the winner, the English boat Magic, over a course of 15% miles, she cannot have done so badly as the cables implied. If there had been any working to be done, it is probable that the Aucklander would just about have won.|

Petrel, the speedy Auckland-built yacht owned by Commodore S. M. Dempster, is again the champion of the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Sydney. She gained her victory on Saturday in the second event in connection with the championship, and al though there is still another race, the position of Petrel is unassailable, as she has scored 6 points, while Scotia, the next on the list, has only 2.

A cable states that Sir Thomas Lipton is willing to have a fourth try for the America Cup, provided the measurement rules governing the contest are modified. It was only to be expected that the owner of the

three Shamrocks would be anxious for a change, as he has conclusively proved that it is not possible for a yacht to be built strong enough to cross the Atlantic with any chance of successfully competing with the Gimcrack racing shells of the New York Yacht Club. If both competitors were real yachts and not useless racing machines, far more good would be done to the sport by such contests than is at present the case.