AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 872, 22 November 1906, Page 12

AQUATICS.

(By

“ The Reefer.”)

The North Shore R.C. will hold their second “At Home” on Saturday, when Dr. Guinness’ trophies will be competed for.

The West End R.C. will hold trial fours on Saturday for Vice-President Lloyd’s trophies.

The famous canoe Tilikum has been given a motor installation, being probably the only “ dug-out” so fitted. Mr. H G. Ingersoll is the present owner of the “ round-the-world” cruiser, whose visit to Auckland in charge of Captain Voss is well remembered.

The Devonport Yacht Club’s first cruising race was a great success. The handicaps were: —Thelma, scr.; Rainbow, lmin; Moana, 6minj Ida, lOmin; Aorere, 15min; Ngatira, 16 min; Ladye Wilma, 16min; Mahaki, 22min; Gloriana, 24min; Tiro, 25min; Freda, 26min; Janet, 26min; Uira, 30min; Eileen, 33min; Iris, 38min; Freak, 48min. It was virtually a free reach all the way down to Awaroa Bay, Waiheke, the finishing point. The feature of the race was the great go between Thelma and Rainbow, which had a rare bout all the way. Thelma led Rainbow over the starting line by thirteen seconds, and at the finish was ten seconds ahead, which shows how even was the sailing. The times at the finish were: — Thelma, 4hr 44min 33sec; Rainbow, 4hr 44min 43sec; Moana, 4hr 51min 30sec; Ida, 4hr 54min 20sec; Ngatira, shr 2min 24sec; Mahaki, ihr 6min 30sec; Janet, shr 6min gSsec; Ladye Wilma, shr llmin 30sec; Freda, shr 21min 40sec; Tiro, shr 21min 50sec; Iris, shr 30min 20sec; Eileen, shr 36min lOsec. On working this out it is found that Janet narrowly wins from Rainbow and Ida.

Working out the finishing times of a sailing race gets on one’s nerves the practice is so utterly stupid. _ It yachtsmen were not so conservative they would abandon this relic of the last century forthwith. Although I have listened to many, I have never yet heard a single good argument in its favour. Much is talked of. the waning interest taken by the public in yacht races in the Old Country, and one hears the same thing here. Can anyone suppose that if the result ot a horse race could not be known until the judge and timekeeper had worked out the figures, or until one saw the result in next morning’s paper that much interest would centre m “ the sport of. Kings ?” Of course not; neither would there be in a toot race, cycle race, rowing race, or any other competition if so idiotic a nietnod obtained. Over in Sydney they give the handicaps at the start, the result being that the club steamers following the various races are crowded to excess. The reason of this is obvious, for the public can take an intelligent interest in what they can understand, and the result means many a convert to yachting. Some of the clubs here, notably the Power Boat Association and the North Shore Yacht Club, do the same thing, but others still drowse along in the ways of our forefathers. . Wake up, boys, and give us something to look at.

The North Shore Yacht Club had a very successful handicap race on Saturday, sixteen boats turning out. The

following were the entries and handicaps:—Wairiki, . scratch; Thistle, scratch; Wairere, 2min; Speedwell, 3min; Tere, s%min; Rosina, 6min; Emerald, 6min; Glady, 9min; Maru, 9min; Peri, lOmin; Olympia, llmin; Hetty, 16min; Essie, 19min; Wareho, 20min; Waitangi, 23min; Wanderer, 25min; Nyanza, 26min; Eileen, 28 min; Vanora, 35min; Asta, 50min. The breeze was strong at the first, but it gradually petered out, and at the finish there was little more than a trickle of air, most of the competitors giving up. The times were very sensibly given at the start, and the first boat home won. They reached the finishing-line as follows: —Waitangi, shr 45min 20sec, 1; Glady, shr 49min 50sec, 2; Tere, shr 56min 35sec, 3; Speedwell, shr 56min 41sec, 4; Olympia, 6hr 6min; Essie, 6hr 17min. Mr. A. W. Parker acted as timekeeper, and Mr. W. A. Wilkinson as starter and judge.

The N.Z. Power Boat Association’s race for the motor dinghy presented by Mr. Jas. Reid and Messrs. Spinks and Whitson (Ryan and Co.), proved a very great success. The course was one of ten knots, Mr. F. Battley, the starter, sending them away as follows:—Tawiki, 3hr lmin 20sec; Venture, 3hr lmin 40sec; Rangatira, 3hr 9min Osec; Victory, 3hr lOmin 50sec; Ripple, 3hrllmin 50sec (30sec late); Sunbeam, 3hr llmin 50sec; Regal, 3hr 19min 57sec (17sec late); Lozier IL, 3hr 21min 50sec; Tempest, 3hr 22min 59sec (9sec late); Huia, 3hr 26min; Kotiro, 3hr Simin 58sec (18sec late); L’Aiglon, 3hr 22min 50sec; Matareka, 3hr 34min Bsec (19sec late); Rewa, 3hr 35min 34sec (4sec late); Baby Lozier, 3hr 58min 30sec (lOsec late) ; Slim Jim, 3hr 59min 44sec (14 sec late) ; Grey Witch, 4hr smin 30sec (28sec late). Alleyne, Ingrad, and Kapai, although entered, were nonstarters. The - race . was watched with keen interest by a large number of spectators assembled on the wharf and on the big liners Niwaru and Highland Monarch. The finishing times were: —Rangatira, 4hr 45min 55sec; Regal, 4hr 46min 3sec; Slim Jim. 4hr 46min 27sec; Ripple, 4hr 50min 20sec; Kot’ro, 4hr 50min 30sec; Iri, 4hr 52min; Victory, 4hr 52min 3sec; Matareka, 4hr 52min 33sec; Rewa, 4hr 53min 7sec; Tempest, 4hr 54min 15sec; Huia, 4hr 54min 41sec; Grey Witch, 4hr 55min 43sec; Tawiki, 4hr 58min Ssec; Baby Lozier, 4hr 59min 46sec; L’Aiglon. shr ’3min 27 sec; Loz’er IL, shr 7min Msec. But for a mishan to the engine which delayed her nearly six minutes, Regal must have won. Slim Jim also went very well indeed.