SANDERS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 45, 23 February 1931, Page 15

SANDERS CUP.

RONA HAS A WIN.

AVALON'S HARD LUCK,

LIMIT EXCEEDED IN SIXTH RACE

(By Telegrapti.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, Saturday. After six raccs the winner of the Sanders Cup has still not been found. The fifth race this morning resulted: — Rona (Southland) 1 Petty (Wellington) 2 Avalon (Auckland) 3 Colleen (Canterbury) 4 Eileen (Otago) 5 Betty and Colleen have won two races each. In the fifth race Rona beat Betty by 31 seconds. All got away together in a light northwesterly, Betty to windward. On the beat down the harbour Avalon assumed the lead, and rounded first, with Betty a few minutes astern, and then Rona, Colleen and Eileen. The first two fought all the way to the next mark, and rounded in the same places, two seconds apart, with Colleen, Eileen and Rona next. After the beat to windward they rounded the mark as follow: — Betty, Rona, Avalon, Colleen, Eileen. With spinnaker set, Rona overhauled Betty, and rounded the leeward mark one second ahead, with Avalon, Colleen and Eileen next. The Southland and Wellington ooats continued their duel all the way to the windward mark, which Avas rounded in the following order: —Rona, Betty, Avalon, Colleen, Eileen. A fierce fight ensued between Rona and Betty, but Rona rounded the final mark first, in 2h lm 15s. The sixth race was held over a triangular course in squally weather. A north-westerly wind was blowing. On tho run to the first mark a squall nearly capsized several of the competing boiV and forced all but the Avalon off tlie-r courses. The--latter opened up a good lead and rounded the mark 37 seconds ahead of Eileen. Rona was next, with Colleen fourth and Betty last. The wind had now veered to, the south-west, and had freshened. The Avalon lost time in changing to the working jib, and Rona assumed the lead. Colleen was second, and then came Avalon, Betty and Eileen. Rona was still first at tlie next mark, with Colleen one minute astern. Betty retired at this stage. Rona maintained the lead, and, rounding tho Castle Beacon, Avalon was second. Then came Eileen and Colleen. The next leg was comparatively slow, the wind having fallen. There was no change in the positions. After rounding tho buoy, Colleen took the lead. Avalon was second. On the first run of the third round, Colleen, Avalon and Rona were level. Eileen was well astern at the Castle Beacon. Avalon led Colleen, but Rona soon took the lead from both. At 5.15 p.m. the last round was commenced in a light breeze. There was little chance of a completion of the race. Rona was leading by a minute from Avalon, and then came Colleen and Eileen. Heading Rona on the final thresh, on which she travelled over 3 minutes faster than the Southland boat, Avalon looked all over a winner as she started on her run' for home, but time again beat her. The time limit, three hours, expired when she was GO yards from the finishing line. Betty retired aftei being damaged in a heavy southerly squall.