AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 10

AQUATICS.

(By

“The Reefer.”)

The North Shore Y.C. held a series of class races on Saturday, the day being very favourable for such, contests, although a trifle more wind might have improved matters. Class I. was won on time by the Gloriana (12m.), Thistle (2m.) being second, and Speedwell (4m.) third. In the Class 11. event Emerald (scratch) was first, Olympia (5m.) second, and Gladys (3m.) third. There were a dozen starters for the Class HI. race, which was won on time by Seahorse (Bm.), Mowhai (scratch) being second and Essie (6m.) third. Lorina (18m.) won the Class IV. event on time from Wanderer (scratch), with. Vanora third. Sweet Nell won the Class V. race, and Bantam that for Class VI. The yacht Mystery was flagship, Mr. Wilkinson acting as starter and judge, and Mr. A. W- Parker as timekeeper. * * * * The Hamilton regatta on Saturday proved a very enjoyable function, the attendance being a very large one, while most of the events were well contested. Waitemata won the junior fours (open), the junior fours (under 10st), and the senior fours. West End won the maiden fours, while North Shore won the maiden fours (open). One of the finest marine spectacles seen here for many years was afforded by the German four-masted barque Herzogin Sophie Charlotte, 2273 tons, which arrived from Bremerhaven on Saturday. She is a training ship, being, of course, very strongly manned, and is a very lofty vessel, carrying standing skysail yards. With a light north-easter behind her she came up to the anchorage under all sail, quite a fleet, of yachts escorting her in, the picture presented being a very beautiful one. The prizes won at the Anniversary Regatta will be paid over at the clubrooms, Queen-street, this evening at eight o’clock. * * * * The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will hold class racing on Saturday, together with a motor launch handicap. Entries close this afternoon at two p.m. * * * * Mr. Jagger has reported a very enjoyable voyage so far in the Thelma. The yacht is cruising to the northward, and was last at Whangamumu. * * * * The Australasian swimming championships were concluded at Christchurch on Thursday, the results being as follows: — Half-mile championship: Final —F. W. Springfield (Q.), 1; R. Healey (N.S.W.), 2; W. Mason (Vic.), 3; A. McMillan (N.Z.), 4. Won by thirty yards. Time, 12min 23 4-ssec. 220Yds Australasian breast-stroke championship: P. Matson (W.A.), 1; F. Truscott (N.Z.), 2; P. Menzies and A. Russell (N.Z.), 3. Won by six yards. Time, 3min 45sec. 250Yds Squadron Race: Australia beat New Zealand by eight yards. 100Yds Inter-colonial Handicap: A. R. narrower (Q.), 7sec, 1; H. B. Bennett, 14sec, 2. The championships were brought to a conclusion on Saturday, when some

fine times were put up. The events were as follows:— 220Yds Australasian Championship: H. Baker (N.S.W.), 1; A. D. Hill (N.S.W.), 2; A. narrower (Q.), 3. Time, 2min 38sec. 440Yds Australasian Championship: F. W. Springfield (Q.), 1; R. Healy (N.S.W.), 2; A. McMillan (N.Z.), 3. Time, smin 56 l-ssec. 75Yds International Handicap: J. Harrower, 18sec, 1; H. S. Williams, 14sec, 2; H. Gibbons, 15sec, 3. Australia beat N.Z. at water polo by 3 goals to nil.

The New Zealand rowing championships will take place on Lake Forsyth, near Christchurch, next Saturday. The clubs sending crews are the Lyttelton, Akaroa, Wellington, Union, Star, Avon, Otago, Blenheim, Christchurch Amateur, Picton, Wanganui, Canterbury, Waitemata, Invercargill, Port Chalmers, Oamaru, Civic and North End clubs. The regatta promises to be a great success.

I hear that Messrs. Bailey and Lowe are shortly to build a 7-metre boat for an Auckland yachtsman. The new rule encourages a healthy type of boat, and it will be good news to hear that the white-winged fleet is to be added to.

Mr. Thomas Fleming Day, editor of the American paper the “ Rudder,” has offered a cup to the Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron. It is for competition by the power launches of the squadron over a course of not less than 100 miles. The committee have accepted Mr. Day’s generous offer.

The Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron intend adopting the new international metre rule, and a sub-committee has been set up to deal with the matter. In reality the old rule has ceased to exist as far as Home waters are concerned, and therefore it behoves us to fall into line. For the benefit of those who have not seen it, I will repeat the formula for the new rule, which is—(L + B +IG +Zd +IVF— F) H-2

In answer to “ Racer,” Rawhiti was designed and built by Logan Bros., of Auckland. Sayonara was designed by Fife and built in South Australia. In reality she is a much larger boat than Rawhiti but the rule under which they were measured brings them together, owing largely to Rawhiti’s hollow section as against Sayonara’s V section. Here Sayonara is debited with 3.2 as against Rawhiti’s 7.58. This is the reason why Rawhiti received so small an allowance from her larger rival in the races for La Carabine Cup. The Logans could doubtless turn out a much faster boat than Rawhiti if built for the rule, which that boat was not.

Mr. J. M. Sanders, editor of the “ Sunday Sun,” and stakeholder for Messrs. Towns and Durnan in their match for the sculling championship of the world for £lOOO, informs me that the third deposit of £l5O a-side, due on the 6th February, has been made good by the representatives of each man. The race takes place over the Nepean championship course on the 2nd March, and the final deposit of £2OO a-side must be made good before noon on February 27.