CORNWELL CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 19, 23 January 1929, Page 9

CORNWELL CUP.

RETAINED BY AUCKLAND.

TWO WINS YESTERDAY.

LYTTELTON A GOOD SECOND*

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

The Cornwell Cup will remain in Auckland's keeping for at least another year. This was decided when the Auckland crew, Rodgers and Carter, won the fiflh race of the series on Lyttelton Harboui yesterday. Auckland won the two races sailed yesterday, although in each case the Lyttelton crew, who had previously scored two wins to Auckland's one, pressed them all the way. The Auckland pair owed their success to better seamanship and the ability to make the most of the position when becalmed. The Wellington and Manukau crews made a highly satisfactory showing in the eontest, but the Dunedin crew's form was patchy at times. Christchurch was outclassed.

AucWand has now won the cup three years in succession.

The afternoon race was started in a fresh south-wester, which became very light in the last round. The course was again a-windward and leeward one. The starting-gun caught the Auckland boat across the line, and she had to recross. Lyttelton got much the best of the start, and Auckland was last, but iflen moved up. There was a fast run to the Battery Point, and soon after rounding the buoy the Auckland boat was in trouble, ami came up into the wind. She appeared to have carried away her spinnaker halyards, for she later resumed under mainsail only. The Lyttelton boat slightly increased her lead.

On the second round Auckland was in fifth pbsition. The wind threatened to die out altogether and became very fluky. Auckland sailed into second position when off Diamond Harbour; then all were becalmed and actually drifted back with the tide.

At five o'clock a light air moved Lyttelton and Auckland along for a time. The Auckland skipper, Rodgers, showed great judgment in making use of each puff. At 5.20 Lyttelton and Auckland were level, and Manukau was making some progress, but the others were well back. It now became a drifting match against time. A lucky slant of wind brought the Dunedin and Manukau boats up, and Auckland won with only 11 minutes to spare on the time limit.