SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17983, 29 January 1924, Page 11

SANDERS CUP.

DECISIVE WIN FOR RONA.

INTERESTING SAILING

(spictii to "the jurss.")

WELLINGTON, January 2S

Tho final races for tho Sanders Chip ■were got oft to-day, when Bona, the Auckland boat, by winning both in tho morning and afternoon, established her supremacy over tho other boats. There wero only three boata left in the final stages. The course this morning was meant to bo a beat and a run. When this was decided the wind was north-easter-ly, but it eooh went round to tho north-west, so that tho coarse actually became changed to a quarter wind down to the Kaiwarra buoy and a close-haul back. The first race was the most interesting of the series and the most exciting. Linnet rather jammed Rona up to the starter's boat, and got away first. Murihiku was not cleverly manoeuvred and lost ground at tho start. Inshore at the starting-point there was a light puffy wind, and it Boomed as if it might prove another Murihiku day. Soon Bona was getting scarcely enough wind to givo her steering way, and fell into last position. She, however, hung on patiently to weather tho others, but had to tako down her leader, which waa pushing • her to leeward. About half-way to tho first buoy Linnet had established a fair lead, but Rona began to reduco it gradually. The breeze freshened, and (presently the two leading boats, Linnet and Eona (the latter had displaced Murihiku), had a ding-dong "go" for tho buoy. They rounded it almost together, Linnet ia the lead. Immediately their spinnakers flashed out in tho bright sunlight and filled in. «• steady breeze, but Rona lost control of hers and in tho minute or so that it took to recover the rope, Linnet considerably increased her lead. Murihiku was well behin'd. Tho wind had changed blightly, so that tho course became nclose haul instead of a run on the way back. Murihiku's crew blundered at tho buoy and fell further behind. The breaze freshened at the start of the (second round. Linnet stood a little too far out and had to make a short board to improve her position, bho rounded tho buoy only 45sec ahead of Rona. Tlio latter had gained on tho run back. 'Linnet soon had her spinnaker out, but liona was content with her leading jib on Iter spinnaker boom. Off the Queen's Wharf Linnet temporarily lost the wind and Rona crept up to within fifty yards of her yntil she, too, got in a calm patch. The wind was now coming in puffs, and each boat seemed to bo alternately favoured. Murihiku was practically out of tlio raoe. Rounding the buoy Rona was only 16sec behind her chief opponent. It was now quite -apparent that it was going to be a groat race between the two leading boats. Thero was some manoeuvering on short boards for the better position. Tho two skippers were watching each other like boxers in tho ring. There was a crew of juveniles in the Eona and a wily, elderly man at tho helm in the Linnet, but Lidgard, in the Rona, was as cool as a veteran, and handled his boat like tho master sailor - ho undoubtedly is. Not for one moment did he lose his head. He patiently awaited his chances. At one stage tho three Auckland boys wcro sitting out on the gunwale like monkeys on a fence, in order to give their boat every chance. They were fighting for the weather position. There were a few short tacks, and Rona got somewhat the best of the position, and was now standing well up to make tho buoy. She cut in ahead o£ Linnet at tho right moment, and was first round, t>6 seconds ahead of Linnet. It was a splendid bit of work. Rona, on tho run home, held to her leading jib. Linnet hoisted her spinnaker, but was slow in getting it out. The two boats in a fresh breeze ■ were almost "planing" through the water. The Linnet's grdiitcr sail area began to reduce the gap, &nd thero seemed a chance that slio wight altogether make up the lost distance, but tho wind at tho finish | was not altogether favourable for tho I spinnaker. Rona was taking no chances, and got home 36 seconds ahead ! after a most exciting race. The finishing times were: — hr.. min. sec. Rona , .. 1" 11 14 Linnet .. ■ 1" IS 1® Murihiku .. 12 22 34

The final ruco was a straight" course of a mile from Point Jerningham to the Kaiwaxra buoy, four times round. With the wind fresh, the race was, barring accidents, an almost certain win for Itona, but once again, harbour breezes showed hoiv fickle thpy oould be. An interesting stage of the race was reached on the second round. When Hon-1 and Linnet wore nearing the Jerningham buoy the breeze died away and the sails began to flop idly in tho faintest of breezes. It became almost a drift. Practically tho two boats wore becalmed, but Linnet crept into the lead and rounded tho buoy in the load to a lusty cheer from a knot of onlookers on shore. Murihiku had made up her lost distanco somewhat ill the light wind. Tho boats had been going for nearly an hour. On tho third round tho whole complexion of the race underwent a dramatic change. Halfway to tho buoy Eona was last, but her cute young skipper stood well out to starboard of the other boats, where he saw a chance of catching a freshening breeze. He was soon in it to windward and Ahead of tlio fathers standing more inshore. It was a clov«r bit of sailing. For a brief spell tho wind again dropped and tho boats wore once more in tho doldrums, but Bona wan the first to get tho new breese, which camo along from the Kaiwarra shoro. Soon she was. well ahead with Iter spinnaker out and eventuall/ left the others far behind. Tho Maunganui from Sydney, came into harbour and dropped anchor in tho middle of the course to await the port health officer, but her presence did not interfere in any way with tho race.

Kona, holding the "wind well, rounded tlie buoy far ahead of the and sailed away merrily for the Point Jerningham baoy. Linnet had difficulty in making the Kaiwarra buoy. She was 20J minutes later than Kona in rounding it, and by that time Bona was around tlio Jerningham buoy, a mile ?liead. Kona maintained her lead on the last lap,' and rounded the Kaiwarra buoy still far in the van. It now became a question not of beating the Linnet, but a race against time, for if the wind failed she could not complete the course in tho three hours' time limit allowed. Sho had about 20 minutes in which to do tlie run home. She took no rinks. Going to windward of the Maunganui. she streaked for homo with her leading jib ss well aa her spinnaker oat, to catch every possible breath of wind. She crossed the mark with a fair margin of time in hand. When the gun went, Linnet was still about a mile behind, and Murihiku far away.

It was a clevcrly-sailcd race, and the young skipper and the three other boys who were with him deserve high praisefor the. way they handled their boat.

(Continued at foot of nexfc coituna.)