THE FIRST RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 8

THE FIRST RACE.

WIN FOB AUCKLAND. LIGHT WEATHER SAILING. tßy Telegraph.—Special to "Star."; , LYTTELTON, this day. The first race of the seventeenth contest for the Sanders Cup was sailed on Thursday afternoon in a light but steady breeze from the south-west. The Auckland boat Endeavour, well handled by Doug. Rogers, won by 6m 55s from Canterbury's defender Colleen, with

Lavina, Wellington's challenger, which competed at Auckland, third, 5m 4!»s later.

All carried three men. The Auckland crew was D. Rogers (skipper), R. Rogers (main sheet) and R. Bell-Booth (spinnaker). The race started at 2 p.m. over a windward and leeward course of three miles sailed three times, and the tune limit was three hours.

The first leg was a beat to the Pile Beacon above the entrance to the wharves, thence down harbour to the mark off Battery Point and back. This gave a true windward and leeward test, the wind being steady all through the race.

From a very good start the Canterbury boat Colleen crossed the line half a length ahead of the Endeavour, which was on her weather side, followed by Lynette (Otago), Lavina (Wellington) and Rawene (.Southland), close together. Canterbury drew ahead in the first few minutes on the wind to Pile Beacon, but half way to the mark the Endeavour met her on opposite tacks and weathered Canterbury. From this time the Auckland boat led throughout, and Otago, judging the distance well, beat Canterbury round.

Times of rounding the first mark: Auckland 2h 11 in 40s, Otago 21i 12m 30s, Wellington 2h l'im 255, Southland 2h 14m 356.

Spinnakers were smartly set for the run down harbour to Battery Point. All made good time, aided by an ebb tide. Auckland gradually increased its lead, sailing well in the light breeze, although on the Waitemata harbour she won all her trial races in a fresh breeze. Auckland rounded the lee mark the first time lm 10s ahead of Otago, which was 20s ahead of Canterbury, and Wellington was 3s later with Southland a furtlier lm 30s behind. All stood inshore for the short leg oil the port tack, Auckland working up on the Lyttelton side of the harbour, with Canterbury, Otago and Wellington further out.

Endeavour was now sailing at her best, and gained on each board to the weather mark, which was rounded: Auckland 3h 0m 50s, Canterbury 3h 5m 455. Otago 31i Gin 255. Wellington 3h 7m 50s. Southland 3h Dm ss.

In the second run down harbour spinnakers again drew well, Auckland gaining slowly while Canterbury drew clear of Otago, with Wellington not far behind. (Southland's new boat Rawene was not sailing like her northern namesake. Times round the lee mark the second time were: Auckland 3h 17m 455, Canterbury 31i 22m 40s, Otago 3h 23m 355, Wellington 3h 24m 50s, Southland 3h 27m 4os.

Again Auckland's skipper sailed a good course on the beat to Pile beacon, keeping to the Lyttelton side of the harbour, and was first to get the benefit of a stronger breeze from Governor's Bay. Southland stood across towards Diamond Harbour in the hope of a lift, but did not get it. Endeavour, with sails sotting to perfection, was much ad mi rod on the way she was sailing, and with the breeze a little fresher there was no danger of being outside the time limit. Kntleavour rounded the weather ma - , k the last time 3h 48m 30s, Canterbury 3h 54m 30s, Wellington 3h s!hn 20s, Otago 3h 50m 255. Southland 4h lm 50*. Again Auckland's spinnaker work was smart and she gained steadily on *h2 last run to Battery Point, rounding at lh 4in 555. < anterbury 4h 11m 30s. Wei lington 4h 15m 30s, Otago 4h 15m 40s Southland 41i 10m ss. No change took place in the final beat up harbour except that Wellington sailed better and drew ahead of Otago. The finish w|s: Kndeavour (Auckland), 4h 33m 48s. Colleen (Canterbury), 4h 40m 40s. Lavina (Wellington), 41i 46m 31s. Lvnette (Otago), 4h 50m 375. l'awenc (Southland), 4li 53m lis. The Auckland crew received an ovation from about 500 spectators on Gladstone Pier, and also from the other crews as they finished. »