Commodore S . M . Dempster , 1905--07 .
The yacht Rawhiti , W . M Marks , defeated Bona . J . E . Chinney , in one of the first ocean races in 1906 . As was the practice in those days the race was followed by a steamer- in this case , the Newcastle & Hunter river $ teamer Newcastle .
In 1905 methods of staning were improved . Coloured nags were used forcacb yacht and the time a yacht came under the control of the staner was altered .
The monthly general meeting of 9 August 1906 spelt out the stanlng instructions t0 read :
When the lime is given at the finish five flags shall be hoisted five minutes before the Stan , after which the yachts in the race shall be amenable to the rules . 1bc five nags shall be lowered one at a time . at intervals of one minute . the lowering of these flags being the signal to stan . An ensign shall be displayed on aseparatcstafftodenote the starter ' s boat . When time is given at the start the ensign shall be hoisted five minutes before the last yacht ' s staning t . irne , and lowered after the last yacht ' sstaning time . One minute beforetbestaning time of each yacht :, her starting flag shall be hoisted . after which she shall be amenable to the rules . The lowering of such nag shall be hersignaJ lO stan .