SANDERS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 7

SANDERS CUP.

GREAT THIRD RACE. Win for Canterbury—Wellington Just Misses. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") LYTTELTOX, this day. The Sanders Cup third race was sailed in a fresh breeze. Canterbury finished l:)s ahead of Wellington, which led over half of the course. A race each has now been won by Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury. The third race started at 3 p.m. on Friday over a windward and leeward course three times, nine miles. All boats carried full crews of four men, the breeze being the hardest of the contest, although not "dirty/ , Auckland's crew was D. Rogers (skipper), K. Rogers, R. Bell-Booth and W. Parkes. All the boats carried smaller jibs, and at gunfire Auckland was first away on the weather end of line, with Canterbury, Southland, Wellington and Otago ill this order, all within 255. The boats stood offshore on the port tack, Auckland holding on longer than Wellington and Canterbury, which made a board inshore, and when they met Auckland coming ill Auckland weathered them both by two lengths. All eontinned beating down Lytlclteu shore for the weather mark. Wellington and Canterbury now stood offshore, and when they returned both weathered Auckland," but all were close. Times round the weather mark were: Wellington 31l 17m 5Us, Canterbury :ih ISin 255, Auckland 3h ISni r>o?, Southland 3h ISm 555, Otago 3h 19m 455. Spinnakers went up quickly for the run up the harbour to the Tile beacon mark. Canterbury gybed over on the run up and lost her spinnaker sheet for a few seconds. Wellington increasing her lead and Canterbury dropping hack to fourth place. All boats were now going like steamers, beating the officials' boat on the run up. Auckland now drew up on Wellington, and Hearing the mark was almost on equal terms with Wellington, both rounding together. Southland was third, half a minute behind the leaders, with Canterbury close up and Otago a minute later. 'Wellington stood inshore and Auckland followed, lint left her and stood out. When they again crossed tacks Wellington was in the lead, with Southland third and Canterbury closing up again. It was a long beat down to Battery Point mark, and the boats were at close quarters as they worked down past Gladstone pier, where about 400 people were watching the race. Wellington and Auckland now had a great rare, only a few lengths separating them for a time, but later Wellington drew away, and off Sticking Point Canterbury, which had been slowly gaining on the leaders, weathered Auckland io take second place. Canterbury-Wellington Duel. The race was now very interesting, easily the best of the contest. Barely a minute separated the five boats. Xearing the mark Canterbury weathered Wellington, and took the 'lead, and the rounding times were: Canterbury 4h 44m 503, Wellington 4h 45m ss, Southland 4h 45m 40s. Auckland 4h 4(im Os, Otago 4h 47m 50s. On the last two boards in a frrsh breeze nml sea Auckland fell back a bit. Spinnakers went up , smartly for the run up harbour to Pile Beacon, Canterbury leading by a dozen lengths and both Canterbury 'and Wellington skippers were doing their best to hold or gain the lead. Wellington came up on Canterbury halfway down to tiie mark, and regained the lead. Southland was third, Auckland and Otago next. Wellington rounded the pile at 4h Om us, Canterbury 41i fim 15s, Southland -ill 0m 355. Auckland 4h 7m l.*s, Otago 4h Sin 20s. On the third beat down harbour Wei-1 lingtou and Canterbury kept close, together, working board for board across the harbour and back flgain. Neither skip-] per made a mistake here or his lead would have been lost. Wellington and Canterbury drew further ahead of the other three, and the weather mark was

rounded for the third time by \\ ellingtnn :tt -lit 20iii 20s, Canterbury 4h 2!) m 555, Southland 4h 31m 10s, Otugo 3:! m 3.55, Auckland 4h :i4m 7s. A Great Finish. The two leading boats set spinnakers in quick time in spite of the hard breeze, Wellington drawing further ahead of Canterbury. Wellington, which carried her spinnaker in opposite gvbo to Canterbury, now appeared as if her skipper thought the race finished on the run.up. This was not so, as to complete the three rounds they had to round Pile Lteht again and beat back to the starter's boat. Oil' Gladstone Pier the Wellington skipper realised this, and gybed over and reset his spinnaker without diverting from his course to any extent, but Canterbury, sailing steadily with everything drawing well, overhauled Wellington and a great race ensued for the lee mark. Canterbury ran right up on Wellington, and when both had stowed their spinnakers, was inside Wellington, gaining the lead and the weather berth. Times now were: Canterbury Ih llm (te, Wellington 4h 41 in r>s. '.Southland -111 42m S.is, Otago 4h 45111 40s. Auckland 111 45m l:i>. Another great light took place between Canterbury and Wellington to the linishing line. Canterbury's skipper kept Colleen on the weather of the Wellington boat on the short beat to the finishing post, and one of the best races in the history of the contest finished: Colleen (Canterbury) .... 4h 4Sm lls Laviiiii (Wellington) 4h 4Sni 24s Kawcne (Southland) 4h 4!) m 21s Endeavour (Auckland) .. 4h 52m -j7s Lynetto (Otago) 4h 52m 57s The next race will start at 10..'!0 a.m. on Monday, and the (ifth at 3 p.m.