YACHTING CORNWELL CUP SAILING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27563, 21 January 1955, Page 5

YACHTING CORNWELL CUP SAILING

CONTEST WON BY AUCKLAND

ISSUE DECIDED IN FINAL RACE

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, Jan. 20. Auckland, the defending champions, retained the Cornwell Cup yachting trophy at the 1955 contest, which ended on Nelson harbour this afternoon. None of the 16 crews taking part secured the three wins necessary to win the trophy outright, the contest being decided for the first time on a points system. Until the eighth race, which was sailed this afternoon, the final result was in doubt. Christchurch, with two wins io its credit, was strong favourite for the title, with Auckland. Manukau, and Lyttelton in the running. Sailed over a windward and leeward course in a fresh northerly, the final race proved a triumph for the Auckland skipper, Peter Spencer, and his forward hand, M. Handly. They crossed the finishing line first to win by one minute from Picton (N. Vercoe and C. Norton). Picton had the bad luck to lose their forward hand at a critical stage of the race, but Vercoe made a quick rescue and sailed on into second place. Auckland’s win. the‘crew’s first at the contest, gave it the trophy by a narrow margin from Christchurch, last year’s runner-up. This was Auckland’s third successive win and their twelfth success since the Cornwell Cup contest was started in 1924. This morning’s race, sailed over a triangular course in Tasman Bay. was the seventh of the series. It was won decisively by Manukau. who went to the front on the second beat to the weather mark and crossed the finishing line lOsec ahead of Auckland. Christchurch, winners of the fourth and sixth races, were in third place, followed by Hamilton. Final points in the contest (the best seven performances out of eight races counting) were:—Auckland. 375.24 points, 1; Christchurch, 351.51. 2; Lyttelton. 326.49, 3; Manukau, 316.92, 4; Picton. 269.85, 5; Hamilton 243.03, 6; Paremata. 234.19, 7; Tauranga. 231.44, 8; Wellington. 220.95, 9; Otago, 216.35. 10: Nelson. 190.93, 11: Kaiapoi 155.43. 12; Foxton. 146.00, 13; Wanganui, 142.23 14: Port Chalmers. 111.75. 15: Plimmerton. 94.64, 16. Results of today’s races were:— Morning Race.—Manukau, Ihr 30min Isec, 1; Auckland. Ihr 30min 20sec, 2; Christchurch. Ihr 31min 19sec, 3; Hamilton, Ihr 33min 16sec, 4. Then followed Paremata, Tauranga. Picton, Lyttelton. Wanganui, Foxton, Otago, Kaiapoi, Port Chalmers, Wellington. Nelson, Plimmerton. Afternoon Race.—Auckland Ihr 26min 34sec. 1; Picton. Ihr 27min 34sec. 2: Lyttelton, Ihr 27min 45sec. 3: , Otago. Ihr 28min 23sec. 4. Then followed Paremata. Kaiapoi, Nelson. Manukau Foxton. Christchurch, Tauranga. Hamilton. Wellington. Wanganui. Plimmerton, Port Chalmers.

NATIONAL IDLEALONG CHAMPIONSHIPS

OPENING RACE AT MOANA ON MONDAY (From Our Oivn ‘Reporter) GREYMOUTH. January 20. Idlealong yachts from many parts of New Zealand, representing 12 provinces— Auckland. Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, WeHington, Wanganui, Taranaki, Waikato, Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast—will compete for the national trophy, the Moffat Cup, at Moana, Lake Brunner, commencing on Monday next. It will be tl-e first time that the contest has ever been held on the West Coast and officials have been busily engaged in preparing for the races. Championship boats will be measured on Sunday and Monday mornings, and the first race will be sailed on Monday afternoon, with two further races each day on Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on the results. Should there be a

competitor with three wins in the first three or four events, then the title will have been decided, otherwise it will be decided by a .points system after five racs. The championships are being conducted by the West Coast. Yachting Association. Delegates and crews will be tendered a welcome on Saturday night by the Moana Aquatic Club, in conjunction with the West Coast Association, at a social and dance in the Moana Hall. There will be a benefit regatta on Sunday for the West Coast Yachting Association, to assist in meeting expenses, and about 20 yachts will compete in three events, for which trophies have been donated by the patron of the Moana Club, Mr L. Guiney, Mr W. Greenhill, and the Moana Club. The annual meeting of members and delegates to the national organisation will be held at Moana on Saturday evening. r