SANDERS CUP WON BY AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25713, 27 January 1949, Page 6

SANDERS CUP WON BY AUCKLAND

YACHTING

Superior Windward Ability TWO RACES HELD YESTERDAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 26. The Auckland X class yacht, White Heather, retained the Sanders Cup with two easy wins in the fourth and fifth races held to-day. Her superior windward ability was not a moment in doubt. Auckland beat South Canterbury by four minutes and Northland by minutes in the fourth race this morning.'The light southerly freshened in the afternoon, but White Heather beat Northland by three njinutes. and the third boat. South Canterbury, by four minutes. Spectacular proof of Auckland's windward qualities was given in the final race. Away to a poor start. Auckland crossed the line at least 20 seconds astern of the fleet in one board of the half-mile. On a starboard tack she had climbed so far to windward above the other five yachts that experienced yachtsmen could hardly believe their eyes. At the end of a short beat to windward she was first round the buoy by 15 seconds after being on the wind only seven minutes. Most interest in the race was provided by the neck-and-neck contest between Northland (E. Wilkinson) and South Can-

terbury (H. Kingham). Sharing the honours with a second place, they worked strenuously in both the morning and the afternoon as first one and then the other took second position. 23-year-old Skipper The skipper of the 1949 Sanders Cup holder, James Young, is 23. He is a boat builder by trade. With the assistance of his crew he built the White Heather last year. His crew comprises Leonard Riley, aged 20 (forward hand), Ronald Lamb, aged 19 (mainsheet hand), and F. Swanberg, aged 27 (fourth hand). Swanberg sailed in only the first race. As a good luck charm the White Heather had a small sprig of Scots white heather tucked under ner tore deck. Auckland secured its first win in the second race in a light southerly on Tuesday morning. Canterbury and Northland, the only other boats to secure first places, won the fir.-t and third races respectively. Wnile previous Sanders Cup races have usually been won by seconds, with the result in doubt for several races, Auckland beat the fleet by four minutes, four minutes, and three minutes respectively in the three races she won. Detailed results were:— Fourth race (start 10.35 a.m.): Auckland (White Heather, J. Young), 12.38.39, 1; South Canterbury (Gallina. H. Kinghem), 12.42 48, 2; Northland (All Black. E. Wilkinson), 12.43.23. 3; Otago (Manihi. T. Lamb), 12.45.8, 4; Canterbury Victory. R. Priddy), 12.45.22, 5; Wellington (Kitty. C. Stutter). 12.53.52, 6.

Fifth race (start 3.25 p.m.): Auckland. 5.17.18. 1; Northland. 5.20.32. 2: South Canterbury. 5.21.45, 3; Otago. 5.21.48. 4; Canterbury, 5.23.15, 5: Wellington, 5.25.10.