AUCKLAND WINS SANDERS CUP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 99, 6 February 1948, Page 5

AUCKLAND WINS SANDERS CUP

YACHTING

FINAL RACE AT DUNEDIN

DUNEDIN, Feb. 5

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 5. By winning the fifth race in the Sanders Cup contest this morning, Bettina (Auckland) won the trophy for the next 12 months. Bettina went into the lead shortly after the start, and was never seriously threatened. Although at times she lost time before the wind, she more than compensated for this on the beat. The race was sailed over a triangular course in full sail, with a north-easterly wind and bright sunshine. The result of the race was: Auckland (Ihr 49 min 58see) 1, Otago (lhr 51 min 23sec) 2, Canterbury (lhr 53min 25sec) 3, South Canterbury (lhr 54min 34sec) 4, Wellington (lhr 56min 24sec) 5, North Auckland (lhr 58min ISsec) U; Southland (2hr I min 58sec) 7. Stewart Island retired. The Auckland crew was S. A. Mason (skipper), T. E. Mason (for-rd hand), A. Mason (mainsheet hand), and G. R. Mason (fourth man).

WORLD 18-FOOTER CHAMPIONSHIP

TITLE WON BY CROW’S NEST (P.A.) ■ AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. Crow’s Nest, of Australia, to-day won the world 18-footer yachting championship by finishing first in the second race from Top Dog, Top Weight, and Australia IV, the other three Australian challengers. Crow’s Nest won the first race last Saturday, and although there is one more race to be sailed, she has an unassailable lead on points. To-day’s race was sailed in a fair north-east wind over a 10-mile triangular course. Beverley, of New Zealand, was the first to reach the first mark after a beat of about two miles, but as in the first race, the Australians, with their greater area of sail, proved superior off the tvind, and halfway to the second mark, Crow’s Nest and Top Dog both sailed past Beverley, and were not again headed. Top weight and Australia IV subsequently passed Beverley. Australia IV had a torn spinnaker. Fleetwing, the light weather boat of the New Zealand fleet, gave a disappointing performance, and Matara, the champion Auckland boat, was never closer than seventh of the eight competitors.