YACHTING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 10

YACHTING

CANTERBURY RETAINS TANNER CUP GRAHAM MANDER WINS HIS THIRD RACE Winning his third race of the series of five, Graham Mander, sailing Pip, the defender, again won the Tanner Cup for the Tauranga class interprovincial yachting contest on the estuary at Mount Pleasant yesterday. It was not an easy win, for the Nelson boat, M.C., sailed by M. Amos, led for the first two rounds and was only headed by Pip at the windward mark in the final round. Conditions for the race were not good. The wind, slightly to the north of east, was very light and flukey and it was at one time doubtful if any of the boats would finish within the time limit of 2i hours. The course was windward and leeward, with the start on the wind. The boats were sent away at 1.46 p.m., Nelson being first across, with Auckland, Canterbury and South Canterbury following in close' order. Wellington crossed some distance behind the others. Holding on to the port tack longer than the others Auckland picked up on Nelson. The breeze dropped and some of the boats drifted back with the flood tide before catching the wind again. Nelson was the first to pick it up and Wellington, well back, was lucky enough to pick up a slant which carried him past most of the others. Bay of Plenty weathered Auckland and Canterbury. All overlaid the mark by a big distance. Nelson rounded the weather mark, the wells stake, 67 seconds ahead of Bay of Plenty, which was 23 seconds ahead of Canterbury, with Auckland a further three seconds later. . , , . On the run for the T stake, Aucklandoverhauled Canterbury, but the latter soon drew level again. At the turn Nelson was one minute ahead of Bay of Plenty, witfi Canterbury and Auckland together, and South Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay next in order. On the beat again, Canterbury weathered Bay of Plenty, but the going was slow. Nelson finished the first round with 57 seconds in hand over Canterbury, with Auckland another 39 seconds later, being five seconds ahead of Bay of

Plenty. At the weather mark Nelson had increased his lead to 80 seconds, Canterbury rounding barely a second ahead of Auckland. Canterbury drew ahead of Auckland on*the run, but at the lee maafc Nelson still had 80 seconds on the Canterbury boat. At the finish of the second round Canterbury* had reduced Nelson’s lead to 25 seconds, Auckland being nearly a minute later. Nearing the weather mark for the last time, Canterbury had closed up on Nelson. At the turn Nelsdn overlaid the mark a little and the Canterbury boat ■ slipped through and took the lead. The position was unchanged on the run for the lee mark. As the leaders turned the lee mark for the last time the wind freshened, and the beat, up to the finishing line was made in good timeThe finish was:—Pip (G. Mander) Canterbury. 2.34.0 p.m., 1; JM.C. CM.. Amos' .. Nelson. 2.34.25, 2; Kiwi (D. Jackson), Auckland. 2.36.10, 3; Cheetah (B. Southey), Bay of Plenty. 2.37.31, 4: Pacer IP. MeConachy), South Canterbury, 2.38.7. 5; falcon (D. Mills), Hawke’s Bay, 2.42.24, 6; Pluto (W. Yeats). Wellington. 2.45.33. 7. Thistle (Jean McKay), South Auckland, dtd not finish. Mellish Cup Contest An inter-club contest for the Mellish Cup for Tauranga class boats will be held this afternoon on the estuary at Mount Pleasant. Clubs from all parts of New Zealand will be represented, and there will prqbably be from 16 to 18 starters, sailed single-handed by hoys and girls under 16 years of age. The first race will start about 1.15 p.m.