SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 14

SANDERS CUP CONTEST

A WIN FOR OTAGO SOUTHLAND BOAT SECOND Sailing a good race, the Otago boat Eileen won the third race in the Sanders Cup contest at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. Val, the Southland boat, which was second, also put up a good performance, holding the leading position on two occasions. She was unlucky in not winning. A very disappointing display was made by the Wellington boat, Lavina, which was last for the greater part of the race. A new mainsail, which she was trying out, may have been partly responsible for this, although lack of Vfind must also have been a factor. A drizzling rain in the morning, and tin almost total lack of wind gave rise to forebodings as to the prospects for the race in the afternoon. The rain ceased before mid-day, but the sky •was still overcast, and there was a light northerly blowing when the race started. The course was a windward and leeward one, starting from off the Gladstone Pier, thence a beat to a buoy on Battery Point, thence a run to the pile near the Pile Light, three times round, and finish at the starting line. Manoeuvring for Start. All the boats carried three men and used leading jibs throughout. There was some clever manoeuvring for the best of the start. It looked as if Irene •would be left, but right on the gun she shot through between Lavina and Val and took the windward position, with Eileen last. All four worked short boards down the north shore. Off Officers' Point Irene had Lavina and Eileen nicely under her lee. Irene and Lavina continued along the shore, Eileenand Val standing further out. Splitting tacks shortly afterwards, Irene only just weathered the Otago boat Eileen then stood away across tne harbour, and lost her position. Irene, Lavina, and Val had a good tussle: for the mark, and rounded in that oicler, the Canterbury boat four s ®F° nd ? ahead of Wellington, with Southland another three seconds away. Eileen was 53sec later. ... Forman was particularly smart witn Irene's spinnaker. Lavina had momentary trouble with hers. On the run, Val soon overhauled the others, and took the lead. She held the advantage all the way to the mark. The first round was completed as follows: Val .. •• 3.39.10 Irene • • 3.39.29 Lavina . - •• 3.39.35 Eileen .. • • 3.39.51 Southland Boat Leading. Val held on to the starboard board too long, and lost some of the wind under the breakwater, Irene weathering her. Lavina had dropped well to the rear. Eileen essayed a long board out into the harbour, but on coming inshore again had not improved her position. Val stood right into Gollan's Bay, and lost position. Lavina stood away on port tack out into the harbour. Irene rounded the Battery Point buoy 29sec in front of Val. Eileen was another 33sec away, and Lavina was lmin Bsec behind the Otago boat. The run for the pile was slow, the wind being light, and no change in position took place. It was noticeable that in the light, following wind Irene was better trimmed than Val, her next astern, which was dragging a little by the stern in each small swell. The pile was turned for the second time as follows: — Irene .. .. 4.22.54 Val .. .. 4.23.12 Eileen .. .. 4.23.48 Lavina .. .. 4.25.19 Standing out from the shore, Eileen was soon in a position to challenge the two leaders. Val, pointing slightly better than Irene, was moving up, and soon afterwards, to the delight of the Southland supporters, again took the weather position. The two worked short boards down the shore. Coming across on a long board from mid-harbour, Eileen went into second place, Irene being well to leeward. Otago Takes Lead. The position was becoming exciting, and both Southland and Otago supporters were on their toes. Off Sticking Point Val was only just to weather of Eileen, with Irene several lengths away. By this time Lavina seemed hopelessly out of the race and was a long way astern. Eileen and Irene stood into Gollan's Bay, but Val put out for a few minutes, and coming about again was weathered by Eileen. It was a hard light for the mark. Eileen weathered the buoy first, with Val 37 seconds away. Irene rounded 10 seconds later and Lavina was nearly five minutes behind the Canterbury boat. The relative positions remained almost exactly the same on the run for the pile. Eileen drew out by nine seconds, rounding 46 seconds ahead of Val, which was again 10 seconds ahead of Irene.

The excitement of the spectators was tremendous as the three leaders, close hauled, fought it out for the finishing line. The Otago boat held her own, however, and crossed with more than a minute to spare, amid a tremendous burst of cheering from the spectators on the Gladstone Pier. Val and Irene made a fight for second place right up to the line, the Southland boat being less than a length ahead. The finish was:— Eileen (Otago), 5.26.45 .. 1 Val (Southland), 5.27.55 .. 2 Irene (Canterbury), 5.27.58 3 Lavina (Wellington), 5.33.32 4 Canterbury now has two wins in Ihe contest and Otago one. Two Races To-day. Two races have been arranged for to-day, at 10.30 a.m. and at 3 p.m. Should Irene win the morning race the contest will be ended, and there will be Bo race in the afternoon. N.Z. YACHTING COUNCIL SPECIFICATIONS OF BOATS The New Zealand Yachting Council net yesterday morning to consider the 14ft one design class specifications. There were present: Messrs G. R. Curtis (Canterbury), chairman, M. Smith Canterbury), J. L. Jukes and O. A. Moller (Wellington), A. Challis and T.' Anderson (Otago), F. J. Biggs and E. K, S. Pasley (Southland) and J. T. Hobbs (secretary). The chairman said that for some months cast the associations had been concerned with the tightening up of ■the 14ft class specifications. General agreement had been reached on the revised specifications with the exception of certain reservations and alterations suggested by Wellington, these being mainly technical. _ The words "clean heart kauri" were included in the clause specifying materials, in place of the word "kauri." Planking and Stem. The planking specification was altered to provide for not less than two roved nails between frames. rne stem specification was made to provide for either a natural grown bend or straight timber, sided two

inches, deleting the words "rabetted as shown on plan," apron and dead wood to be of three-inch sided timber, or stem and apron rabetted out of threeinch timber. It was decided that gunwales should be 2£in x fin, tapered on for'ard end l|in x gin, taper to start not more than 3ft Gin from for'ard end only, all deck bends to be checked in and dovetailed. Messrs Jukes and Smith are to present a report of the fixing of the position of the kingbolt hole in the centreboard. In the rigging specification it was decided to leave the use of a spreader on the mast optional. CREWS AND DELEGATES ENTERTAINED SMOKE CONCERT HELD Last night the visiting crews and delegates were entertained at a srnok* concert in the Lyttelton Club hall, by the Canterbury Yacht and Motor-boat Club. The hall was filled with one of the largest gatherings of yachtsmen and yachting supporters who have ever met in. the port, and the proceedings were enthusiastic. The Mayor (Mr W. T. Lester) presided. The following toasts were honoured "The King," "The New Zealand Yachting Council," proposed by the Mayor and responded to by Messrs G. R. Curtis and O. A. .Moller; "The Visiting Delegates and Crews," proposed by Mr H. W. Harris, president of the Canterbury Sailing and Power-boat Association, and responded to by Captain w. J. Keane and Mr N. Blair (Wellington), Messrs T. Anderson and I. Mo Grath (Otago), F. J. Biggs and H. Hansen (Southland), and M. Smith and aSinclair (Canterbury*: "The Canterbury Sailing and Power-boat Association and Affiliated Clubs," proposeo by Mr E. K. S. Paslcy (Southland) and responded to bv Messrs J. T. Hobbs ana H. A. Rhind; "The Lvttelton Harbour Board," proposed by Mr C. E. Brow" and responded to by Messrs \V. T. Lester, W. K. McAlpine, and J. Bowden. and "The Press and Radio," propose by Mr F. Hobbs, and responded to oy Mr H. Camp. h , Entertainment was provided % Messrs W. Toomey and D. McW" (songs), and G. Titchener and Aia» Brown (humorous items).