LAST RACE

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 228, 26 September 1934, Page 7

LAST RACE

lII' RETAINED.

f RAINBOW WINS. THE SIXTH CONTEST. |Two Protest Flags Hoisted, But Mr. Sopwith Withdraws. ( ■ ; .MARGIN OF 55 SECONDS. P.A.— Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Hcceivcd 1 p.m.) NEWPORT, September 25. Rainbow won the sixth race of the lAmerica Cup series from the British iehallenger, Endeavour, by 55 seconds/ Both yachts flew protest flags when crossing the starting line. Mr. Sopwith later withdrew liis protest. A British official wireless message etates that as Rainbow had won three and Endeavour two of the races for the America Cup, and as the trophy goes to the yacht first winning four races, today's race created especial interest, heightened somewhat by the controversy regarding the protest episode in the fifth race.

To-day's eoursc was a triangular one of 10 miles on each leg, and there was an 11-knot breeze at the start. Endeavour got away first and took the windward berth. Almost immediately Rainbow hoisted a protest flag and Mr. Sopwith, mindful of the Yacht Club Committee's recent ruling, at once hoisted a similar flag on Endeavour in order to preserve his rights. Tho British vessel rounded the first mark nine seconds ahead but Rainbow gained on the second leg, leading at the second turn by 2 minutes 40 seconds. On the last stretch Endeavour gained .some of the lost ground, but Rainbow ,was first to cross the finishing line with about 55 seconds behind. Previous Contests. -Tear. Winner. Challenger. Owner. •1851 America Aurora Li Marehant •3570 Magic Cambria J. Aslibury '1871 Columbia Livonia J. Aslibury 1876 Madeline Countess Canada Duffcrin ISSI Mischief Atalanta Canada 1885 Puritan . Genesta Sir R. Sutton 1556 Mayflower Galatea Lt. W. Ilenn, R.N. 1557 Volunteer Thistle J. Bell 3 893 Vigilant Valkyrie 2 Ld. Dunrav'n 3595 Defender Valkyrie 3 Ld. Dunrav'n 1899 Columbia Shamrock 1 Sir T. Lipton 1901 Columbia Shamrock 2 Sir T. Upton 1903 Reliance Shamrock 3 Sir T. Lipton 3 920 Resolute Shamrock 4 Sir T. Lipton 3 930 Enterprise Shamrock 5 Sir T. Lipton 3934 Rainbow Endeavour T. Sopwith Our yachting correspondent writes:— Tho famous cup will once more be Retained by the New York Yacht Club, their representative, Rainbow, having "won four out of six races. In spite of protests and other incidents in which the Endeavour and her crew came off second best, it must be admitted that Mr. Sopwith has put up the best fight for the cup in the S3 years of its history, the margins on both sides being very small compared with former contests.

The record of the finishing times in ihe fifteenth contest is as follows:— First Race. —Endeavour won 2m lis. Second Race. —Endeavour won by 51s. Third Race.—Rainbow won by 3m 265. Fourth Race. —Rainbow won by lm Is. Fifth Race. —Rainbow won by 4m Is. Sixth Race.—Rainbow won by 555. This is a difference of only 12m 39s en all races, an average of 2m 61s per race. In the 1930 contest the total difference was 18m 19s in three races, as Shamrock V. did not finish in one race. In the 1920 contest the difference was 29m 10s. The first race, on September 15, did rot finish within the required time of 6J Jiours. When the time expired Rainbow was a mile ahead of Endeavour.

The race was retailed on September 17 over the windward and leeward course. Rainbow was away 2g ahead rt the start, and she rounded the turning mark 21s ahead. On the run home, Endeavour passed Rainbow and won by 2m lis. The second race, on September 18, was sailed on the triangular course. Rainbow got away first, but Endeavour was jouml the first mark 15s ahead. She increased her lead at the second mark to 1m 295, and finished 51s ahead. The third race, after being postponed for a day, was sailed on September 20. The wind was light at the start. Endeavour was first away on the windward and leeward course, and she rounded the outer mark Cm 23s ahead. A change of wind favoured Rainbow, and she won by 3nf 265. The fourth race was sailed on September 22, Mr. Sopwitli having asked for one day's spell. This was over the triangular course, as in the second race, and resulted in two protests being made by Mr. Sopwith against Rainbow, which were thrown out by the New York Yacht Club's racing committee, Rainbow winning by 1m 15s. The fifth race was sailed on Monday in a 15-knot breeze on the windward and leeward course. On the run out both had trouble with their spinnakers, and on the beat home Rainbow finished 4m Is ahead. In the final race there was trouble at the start, Rainbow and Endeavour both flying protest flags. Endeavour was first away, and led Rainbow by 9s at the first mark. Rainbow passed Endeavour and led on the second leg of the triangular course by 2m 40s. On the final leg Endeavour did better and picked up on Rainbow, which won by 555. Mr. Sopwith withdrew his protest at the finish. No doubt Mr. Sopwith missed the smart handling of extra sails by his original crew, which helped him to win eight of the twelve trials in England. Mr. Vanderbilt showed quicker judgment and better command of his vessel and crew in the last four races, and retained the cup for the New York Yacht Club.