SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17982, 28 January 1924, Page 13

SANDERS CUP.

w PROTEST AGAINST RONA UPHELD. FOURTH RACE POSTPONED. iz?zziuL to ''rax rrsss/'j WELLINGTON". January -"■ If those connected with the management of the Sanders Cup contest J« Wellington wished to deliberately km all public interest in the event, they went the right way about it, to-day, :; s tiicv had done also on the first' day but of that more in its proper sequence. Tho course was Ihe same as the- triangular tine followed on Friday. -» s the little yachts emerged from the boat harbour in brilliant sunlight, tbeir sails tilling slowly to a. soft westerly wind and making long reflections of vivid white- on a smooth tea, they mado as preUy a picture as any marine water colourist could have wished forThe race this-morning ts rs t-im-'d t" r 10.30, but it was ' nearly cloven o'clock before a start was made. As the signal- gun went, it was teen that three of tho boats were rather crowded near tho officials' launch. Almost immediately the Rona accidentally touched tho June and cauaed her to foul tho launch. Linnet went off with the lead, Murihiku, Keeping rather eloso inshoru, being last.. Nevertheless it was a good start. Tin; lirst buov was rounded by Linnet 23 seconds ahead of. Rona, lvonini, June, Pcggv. and Murihiku tollowing in that 'order. Making the second buov, Juuo stood too far towards the "town and lost distance. Rona rounded this buoy still in the lead with Linnet, Murihiku, Konini .and Peggy following, and Juno a bad last, Urn and 50s 'behind Rona. Rona was sailing beautifully, with tho spinnaker out. She streaked ahead as steady as a rock, and it was plain that'she was a. flier. The third leg of the trianjjlo was completed in the following order: Rona 1. Linnet (close up) 2, Murihiku 3, Peggy 1, Konini 5, and June still last. * Linnet, on the first leg of the second round, goL her spinnaker under tho bows of her gall, and it seemed aa if it would foul her plate, but it was soon recovered and out again, but at the sacrifice of a slight distance. Rounding tho buoy, the order was Rona, Linnet, Murihiku, Konini, Peggy, June. On the next run towards Kaiwarra, Rona stood well up to windward and had all the others on her lee. She was lirst round tho buoy. Murihiku had sailed, into second place, Linnett, Peggy, Konini, and June tailing off in that order. At the end of tho second round the order was Rona leading Murihiku bv 1m 255, Linnet by lm 48s, Peggy by 2m 38s, Konini by 4m 4v5, and Juno by 4m 555. In tho laVt round tho wind had gono slightly to tho northward, but was now again more in tho west. Linnet fj;d now passed Murihiku with the aid of her spinnaker, and Rona. lost a little of her lead. Tho former was only three-quarters of a minute behind when she turned tho Jorningham buoy. AH the yachtsmen seemed pleased to see "'old Sam" going along so well in tho Linnet, hut there was never any doubt about the "Rona's ability to win. She wont for Kaiwarra on a long board to nor'ard. "standing up to it liko a ',-loomin' church,'-' as ono sailor put it, and again increasing her load. Murihiku and Peggy ttood in towards the town. The Canterbury boat was out with the "Rona and some others on the outside run. and it was soon evident that they had chosen the better course. The last buov was rounded bv Rona 57 seconds' ahead of Linnet. Murihiku was 2m 8s behind,. Konini 2m lis behind, and June just managed to get ahead of Peggy. As the boats were coming up ojithw tack, the Kent, a big Port London steamer lightly laden and high out of the-, water, came down tho harbour, but jrn.lla.ntlv altered her course so rs not to inter-"re with the little boats, an action that was greatly appreciated by all interested in tho race.

There was now a good north-westerly breeze, and Rona. -with her spinnaker out, went, sliding swiftly home, chased by The Linnet, also sailing ■well. Konini got a puff of wind in her spinnaker that; nearly sent her over. Kona crossed the line sls ahead of Linnet, which had gained a few seconds on the • run home. Konini iust heat Murihiku for third place, and June managed to struggle home a bit ahead of Peggy, who was last. The official finishing times of the race, which commenced at 10.5.1 a.m. were as follows: Rona. 12h 4!) m 40s. Linnet, 12h 50m 31s. Konini, 121 i 53m 10s. Murihiku. 12h 53m 20s. June, 12h 55m. Peggy, l'2h 55m 355. Protests and Deliberations. The winner was heartily cheered. But it was not all over yet. Protests were lodged by Otago and Canterbury against Ilcna for fouling June. The second race was fixed for 3 p.m., and the public gathered in considerable numbers to seo it. But there was no race, and once more they were doomed to disappointment. To the uninitiated the protest did not seem to be on the lines of good sporting etiquette, for the foul was so slight that it did not really affect the result of the race. Indeed, it was more to the disadvantage of the Rona than of the Linnet, and in any case the Otago boat had no chance of victory. So much was plain to everyone. The second point discussed by the uninitiated was why tho official or officials responsible had not decided the question of the foul right away, instead of waiting for a protest. Those conversant with the rules of the game will know the rights and the wrongs of the arguments that must ensue, but what angered the public was the unconscionable delay that took place in deciding what seemed to them, and also to the majority of yachtsmen, a simple case. The Sailing Committee, Messrs C. G. Smith (Otago), E. J. Kelly (Auckland), and W. Duncan (Wellington), with the powers of judges, met shortly after 2 p.m. to take evidence and decide the issue. Why it was ncccssary to take evidence at all was puzzling, for it was evident to the merest tyro that there had been a foul by the Rona. after waiting an hour, tho crowd became disgusted and as no information could be obtained as to whether there was to be another race or not, began to disperse. The minutes went by on leaden feet, the clock pointed to halfpast three, and still no decision. Four o'clock struck, and another section of the impatient public moved homewards. At half-past four thero was still no decision, and tho comments became more pointed and more emphatic than ever. Somo of the impatient one 3 began to beat a tattoo on tho windows of the clubhouse, whero the committee, was still deliberating. Shortly before five o'clock tnere was a rumour that there would be no race that afternoon, but there was no official notice posted. Those who had remained up to this time -were now interested only to hear the result of the long-drawn-out deliberations, and shortly before five p.m. it was announced that tho protest had been upheld, and that thero would be no Tace that afternoon. It was, of course, by this time too lato to start another race. Then the remnants of i tho crowd melted away quickly, hotly ! discussing the afternoon's proceedings las-tliex yen-tj, •• •