SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17936, 3 December 1923, Page 14

SANDERS CUP.

TRIAL ' RACES. LYTTELTON. The first two races of the Sanders Ccp trials took place at liyttelton on -Saturday and yesterday. The keen interest taken in the races was shown by tho largo crowds which witnessed the contests from tho Gladstone Pier and other vantage points of the harbour. Thj)j yachts and crews were as follows:. Linnet, owner and helmsman, S. Sinclair, spinnaker hand. J. Sinclair; crew, W Morten and It. Sinclair. Secret, owners, R. F. and P. Morrison; helmsman, £!• Morrison; spinnaker hand, J. Abernethy; crew, A. E. P.ound and~o. Allan'." . Lapwing, owner and helmsman,.P. .Ptdgeon; spinnaker hand, K. B. Scarnell; crew, E. 'Moon, H. Ledger. There was a stiff nor'-wester blowing on Saturday for the first race and a heavy jobble running up the harbour. It was really more than a_ full-sail breeze, but none of the boats reefed. Tho start at 3.10 p.m.. was exciting and nearly ended in disaster for Secret. Both Secret and Lapwing were over the line when tho gun went off, and had to recross. In doing so Secret gibed badly, her mainsail and boom flew up the mast and for a few seconds it looked as if she must capsize. However, smart work on the. part of her crew soon righted. things. Linnet made a beautiful getaway und rounded the. Pile Light stake 20 seconds ahead of the other two, Lapwing being three seconds ahead of her club mate. All shaped away towards Diamond Harbour, but in mid-channel Linnet camo about and made a short board towards tho piey." The others followed, but were well to leeward. About again on tho port tack Linnet increased her lead. When off Purau, Linnet carried away her peak halyards. Kolling in the trough of the sea ii was tricky work reeving new halyards, one of the younger members of the crew having to climb the mast to'do so. The accident cost Linnet seven minutes sad much ground. In the meantime Secret had drawn away from Lapwing and was in the lead. She was splendidly handled at this stage and rounded the buoy at 3hrs smin ; Slsec,, bein 6min ;34 sec ahead; of -'Lin-' net. ' On the " run Secret seemed dubious about setting a spinnaker, but after about three minutes did so. Linnet, attempted to set a spinnaker as soon as she rounded, but again bad luck attended her for the sail would not break and it was a couple of minutes before it was cleared. Lapwing was then well behind and did not risk - n spinnaker. From then on she lost ground steadily and it was scon apparent that she had no chance, barring accident. With her shallow box-bow she is doubtless a fast craft in light weather, but-oh her present showing is outclassed by the other two in a seaway. Secret rounded the stake at 4hr smin 20seo and Linnet at 4hrs 12min;. ssec, Lapwing •ihrs 14min. Secret followed her previous course but Linnet got in a couple of beautiful boards which brought , her . oit. PuraU.. It was apparent that she was regaining, her' lost ground and slia rounded the buoy 2min 15sec after Secret. Then commenced the most exciting part of the race, the run for the finishing post. Secret, in the lead, steered a bad course to near the middle of the harbour with the result that with about three quarters of a mile to go she had to take in her apinnaker in order to cross over inside the mark. Linnet took a straight run for the line, and was overhauling the Redcliffs boat rapidly. Booming down the wind' with her spinnaker well _ skied Linnet made a glorious sight At timos she seemed to lift nearly out of •the water. The excitement among the spec-,, tators.. was' intense as tho boats nearedth'e line and a cheer went up as Secret crossed first. A mightier cheer followed as Linnet crossed 20 seconds later and it was ..realised that Linnet; after all her bad luck, had coma within, an ace of snatching- the victory on the post. The finishing times were: ~ .- lirs. min. sec. •Secret .. .. 4 ;j 7 t>s Linnet .. .. 4 58 15 Yesterday's Eace. Yesterday afternoon. - the 'wind' . .was much lighter, and, there, .was very little sea. Both Linnet and Secret yeduped their crews, -Linilet dropjping 'out Morten 7 and substituting -W. Watson f6f : 'J.■ 'Siisclair,' whllfi . Secret dropped out Allan. The race ' waß not so interesting as.:W3t of vious day.' Linnet again got the beßt of the start, with Secret close'on her quarter. Lapwing was caught napping; At the stake Linnet led by 10 sec from Secret, which was 26seo ahead of Lapwing. - Linnet/ mad? a very long board to opposite the fort,-and then had to' mnke two short ones, to fetch the buoy. Secret did hot hold" on "bo long, but made hor second board fairly Jong, a Wise move which gaip»d her much ground. She rounded the.buoy only 85sec after. Lin- 1 net. " Lapwing was Biriin, lOsee, later. Tho, slant of the wind did not -permit of spinnakers beiin® net on the. lead for the stake, • which Linnet, rounded, 2mi.iv 87, gee ahead of Secret. Lapwing was ibmin 58sec laSar; Linnet again, took a long log and. a short, one,- Secret following. Linnet had in-, .creased her I«ad to.-Bmln BOfieo at thebqoy," Lapwing-' being ISmin lOiSec behind' Secret, •'After rounding, both. Secret and-.. Lapwing, Jflbw gplhnnkers in; an 1 endeavour., to ' caibnLinnet, but with' little effect, ;JjlHnflt; Winning' by. 7mia 4Baeo. ' 1 Th« fialkhittif' t'lmej • were:— '' ' he.- mln. see. Linnet •! .. .. 3- 50 27 ' Secret '■ »« ». 8 68 12

AUCKLAND. x (PKES3 ASSOCU.TIO* AUCKLAND, Decembar '2. The first twQ Qi a series of triaia, t<) !y di)» olda the defender o£ tho Sanders >Oap waa. hold yesterday over : a windward' - and- • lae-'' ward course, Roria winning both 'against Joan and Queen March. The weather was ideal, with a whole sail breeze. In the first test Queen March worked to windward of Rona, until the latter altered her trim, which enabled her to close.up on the leader. At the first mark. Bona was ten seconds behind, with Joan another' seven seconds away. On the rim, Joan, passed both rivals, but on the- beat back again Bona went into, the lead, followed of' Queen March. At the finish Bona led by 13sec from Queen March, which was 395«;0 ahead of.Joan. In the second race Queen March held a lead ocroas the harbour, where Joan took charge.| At this mark Queen March headed Joan, with Bona 45 seconds behind the latter. The same order -waa kept on'the run.'-to. King's Wharf, Queen March ronnd--Ins the mark boat 21 seconds ahead of Jean, with Bona 10 seconds, astern. On the beat bock, Bona sailed through Joan's dee, and whan they' broke tacks, . Queen March Just" crossed Kona. The leaders now fought out a'great race, Queen March rounding the mark boat eight seconds ahead of Rana, with Joan 22 seconds later. Queen March kept her lead until halfway across to the finishing line, where she was passed by iiona within a hundred yards. Queen. March almost drew' levoi with ftona, but the • later managed to maintain • the lead long enough to cross the line one seebnd ahead of Queen March,' •which was 41 setbnds ahead of Jean,

OTAGO (rxass i-BSOCTATIOX TJSX-EGaiM.) . DUNEDIN, December 2. Two further Sanders Cup trials were sailed on Saturday,, and resulted in a doabls win for Winifred, while Heather -was second in each case. For the Becond race the skippers and crewa of the four competing boats changed , round,"