AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1044, 10 March 1910, Page 13

AQUATICS.

SWEEPSTAKE RACE FOR MULLET BOATS. A sweepstake race for mullet boats was held on the Waitemata on Saturday afternoon, and attracted half-a-dozen starters, these being: Seahorse, Ellen, Mei, Rawhiti, Eileen, and Decima. Eileen, however, carried away part of the after-leach of her mainsail prior to the start of the race, the accident preventing her from participating in the event. The course was from the Queen-street Wharf down to the black buoy in Rahgitoto Channel, round this, up to the squadron mark and round the Chelsea mark, a dis-

tance of about six miles. A splendid start was effected, the boats getting off nicely, Mei having a slight advantage. Shortly after the start Ellen was forced to retire as the result of trouble with her mainsail. Rawhiti soon took all of the competitors, and had a five-minute lead on rounding the black buoy in Rangitoto Channel. Then came Seahorse, with Decima third and Mei fourth. Decima and Seahorse changed places in the run to the squadron mark, and consequently the other boats gained on her over the latter stages of the race. However, the Rawhiti was able to reach the finishing line well in advance of the other boats, the finishing times being as follows: — Rawhiti, sh. 21m. 265.; Decima, sh. 24m. 32s.;,Seahorse, sh. 27m. 21s. Mei did not finish. Rawhiti thus won the sweepstake of 25s . per boat and also the flag presented by Mr. Boonstra for the 20ft championship of Auckland (unrestricted). The duties of starter and judge were fulfilled by Messrs. Broome and J. Boonstra respectively, both of whom gave the utmost satisfaction.