History Of Early Racing In The Auckland Anniversary Regatta
HISTORY OF EARLY RACING IN THE
AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY REGATTA
A history taken from the 150th Regatta brochure of the 1990 Regatta‘When a scow race was first suggested the idea was seen as an amusing absurdity and there was only one entry. Broad-bottomed, unwieldy scows had their place – as workhorses in the tidal reaches.
“Hearing my father, Jim, talk of life on the scows,” said Frank Biddick, “It did have some glamour but it must have been dammed hard work and long hours. However, it was quite a prosperous business, especially moving cattle. The crews used to run the scows up as near as possible to the yards which had been specially built close to the waters edge. As soon as the tide was out the cattle were loaded and at high tide the scow would float off, hoist the sails, and get back to Auckland. To unload, the cattle were shunted overboard and made their own way to shore. In the off season my father used to get contacts for carrying sand or shingle or anything in that line that would keep the scows and crews busy.”
Scows could show a fair turn of speed when in reasonably calm water but when it got rough they couldn’t manage the short steep seas like the deeper boats.
Scows first raced in 1881 when the Makarau, Pukapuka and Totara competed and finished in that order. In 1882 Makarau and Totara raced against Olive and Lady of the Lake. In1883 there was only one entry. But to the joy of the 1884 committee, the scows lined up four strong on the 29th – Vixen 25 ton (J BidddicK), Pukapuka 37 ton (J Silva), Progress 49 Ton (J Johnston) and Result 56 ton (K McDonald). All were on scratch and in working canvas only. Their course lay from the south side of the flagship, through Rangitoto Channel, round Tiri, back through Rangitoto Channel to the flagship.
The weather was bright and pleasant with a very light wind from south, the water almost as smooth as glass. Later a fresh southwest breeze sprang up. All the vessels except Result made a good start at 8.00am.At the Tiri Passage the times were Vixen 10.19.2, Pukapuka 10.27.20, Result 10.29.3. But it was more or less the end of Result’s race – while running past Cambria Rock her centreboard struck with such force that the case burst and water flooded in. Soon she was half full of water. Fortunately the ss Ringarooma hove in sight, rescued the crew and towed Result to safety. Meanwhile Vixen and Pukapuka sailing well, entered the Rangitoto Channeland the results of the race tell the story. Vixen 3.20.15, won a picture valued at 5 pounds given by Sargood, Ewan & Co and 30 pounds while Pukapuka 4.43.45, won 10 pounds.
After the race Vixen was protested. The public were not sympathetic believing that her opponents knew full well that she was ‘different’. (The Biddicks had realised that a scow did not require a completely flat bottom and had some built to order by Charles Bailey with only a narrow flat area and a round bilge). The scows did not compete again until 1890 while round-bilged scows were excluded until 1902.
