YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 5

YACHTING.

CONTEST FOR THE SAYONARA CUP.' FIRST RACE. THELMA BEATS SAYONARA. I IBY TJBLBOBAWMIIESS ASSOCIATION—COFrBKIHT,) (Rec. February 6, 110 am ) Melbourne, February 5. ; There was great interest in tho first oonr test for tho Sayonara Cup. Tho defender - was the Victorian jacbt Sayonara, and the . challenger was the Thelma (Sydney). At tho start a nice whole-sail south-easterly breeze . eprang up. Thelma was first over tho lino, , but Sayonara, shooting up, got to wind- , ward. ' i The wind freshening, Thelma gave a fine oxl hibition of her sailing qualities, moving faster , than Sayonaia. As tho eastern shore was approached the wind was alternately squally , and light. Thelma just held her own on the port tack, but gained on her rival on the j starboard tfck _ v , , Thus the race was fought out to thewind- , ward mark) where Sayonara had the adyanj tage. Sho made tho buoy, but Thelma missed j and had to make a short board to got round) . Sayonara being a minute to the good at this point. Sayonara was quick in hoisting a spinnaker, but could not break, the sail out. Thelma was slower to set kites, but did so without any mistake, and overtook Sayonara and obtained a good lead. - Thelma kept her position dll the way home, although it anjthing Sajonara decreased the load that had been given to her opponent through the trouble with her kites. 1 Thelma 1 won by 45 seconds! "II ' [Tho original yacht SayoWa sailod from ' Port Philhpto Port Jackson and won the i cup from the Sydney yacht Bona The owner t of the winner, Mi. A Golhn, then presented the cup for competition on a system of ohal--1 lenge similar to lhat governing the America Cup races - Sjdney yachtsmen are keen to j take the trophy back] j _—