SANDERS CUP

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 104, 28 January 1924, Page 5

SANDERS CUP

PROTEST AGAINST RONA UPHELD THIRD MCE GOES TO LINNET MURIHIKU, LINNET AND RONA IN FINALS Although Auckland’s representative Rona crossed the finishing line first in the third race for the Sanders Cup on Saturday morning, honours went to the Canterbury boat Linnet as the result of a protest by Linnet... and June that was upheld. Wellington, seems to be fated to bad luck in its Sandens Cup venture. Saturday dawned with every promise of a fine day’s racing. Brilliant sunshine and a, light northerly breeze made the conditions for sailing ideal. But an unfortunate incident intervened. At tho commencement of the race, scon, before 11 o’clock, Rona and June were fighting for weather positions, with the result that Rona fouled June, and collided with the starter’s launch. The race was completed before anything was eaid, Rona winning from Linnet by 60 seconds. Two protests were then put in the hands of tho sailing committee—one from June that Rona had fouled her, and one from Linnet that Rona had fouled the starter’s launch. The protests were entered soon after one o'clock, and the sailing committee, comprising Messrs. E. J. Kelly ((Auckland), C. G. Smith (Otago), and W. Duncan (Wellington), oa.me back .after lunch, soon before 2 o’clock, to discuss them. An Impatient Crowd. Meanwhile several hundred people had gathered around the boat harbour and other points of vantage to witness t'he fourth race, timed to commence at 3 o’clock. It was, perhaps, the biggest crowd that had ever _ assembled to wit> ness a .yacht race in tho history of Wellington. Three o’clock, and then 4 o’clock went by, and still there were no signs of the sailing committee finishing • their business. The skippers of the competing crows wene called as witnesses. Soon after 4 o’clock the crowd began to grow impatient, many B°}po away. The comment was free at the boat harbour. Someone pulled the flags on the mast over the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club to half-mast. At five o’clock a decision had been arrived at. The committee had discussed the matter for three hours, and had ruled in favour of Linnet. It "'as now too ate to commence a race, and the tourtn wTs put off until 10 30 o’clock this morning. "We had to thrash the whole thing out when railjob,” commented a member of the sail ing committee to a o rte f - Linnet, Rona. and Munhiku now remain to fight out. the final. Each boat has scored one win, and the first boat iff-E Linnet stand, an K e° tSr that The Third Race. The course for the third race lay from a line between, Clyde Quay wl L a * f and the starter’s launch, thence to Jerningham buoy, thence to a buoy off Kaiwarra, and back to the starting line. This course, which was sailed three times round, was about nine and a half miles m length. A start vas made at 10.50 o’clock. The boats and their crews (all light weather) were as Rona (Auckland): V. Lidgard (skipper), H. .Brown, and W. Smith- T Konini (Hawke’s Bay): Neil Gillies, lan Gillies, and L. Truyille. Peggy (Wellington): E. Bailey (skipper), A. Bailey, and A. G. Crawford. Linnet (Canterbury): S. Sinclair (skipper), R. Sinclair, and W. Morton. June (Otago): G. Kellett (skipper), A Booth, and W. Gardiner. Murihiku (Southland): T. Bragg (skipper), V. Bragg, and L. Carstensen. A good start was effected with tne exception of the fouling incident. Linnet was away first, followed by June, honini, Murihiku, Peggy, and Rona in that order. Spinnakers went out on the short run to Jerningham. . Murihiku stood over towards Oriental Bay, while Rona. was farthest to windward, with the others strung out in between. All the boats rounded Jerningham within 55 seconds of one another. Linnet , was first leading Rona by 25sec.. Konini by 36sec., lune by Msec.. Peggy by 50see., and ■Murihiku by 55see. On the beat to the Kaiwarra buoy Rona took the lead. She was handled in a masterly, fashion by her young craw. Peggy and June stood too far into town, and lost a' freshening breeze. Both dropped well behind. Rona rounded the buoy first, followed by Linnet 35sec. later, and then came Murihiku sflsee. behind; Konini Imin. 25sec. behind, Peggy Imin. 40sec. behind, and June 3min. 15sec. away. June’s captain, whose experimenting in past races had sometimes stood him well, blundered on this occasion. With all sail j=et quick time was made up to Clyde’ Quay. Rona rounded the home buoy 38sec. ahead of Linnet, followed hv Murihiku 65sec. away, Peggy Imin. 31 sec., Konini 2min. 20sec., and June 3min. 3flsec. Peggy had been unfortunate in the first round in her halyards coming away. She lost some time over the mishap. Rona continued on her winning way over the second round, and turned Clyde Quay again Imin. 25sec. ahead of Murihiku, Imin. 38sec. ahead of Linnet, 2min. 38sec. ahead of Peggy, 4min. 4sec. ahead of Konini and 4min. 47sec. ahead of June. The Hawke’s Bay boat had lost much time on the round. The third and final round was the most exciting. Linnet became a proposition for the leader. She began to overhaul Rona on the way to Jerningham, and rounded 45sec. behind the leader. She had made up a leeway of 53sec. in a mile. Murihiku had also caught up, rounding 52sec. behind Rona. Then followed Peggy, Konini, and June some distance away. Tho wind had freshened considerably. Although Linnet challenged Rona. for the rest of the way for first position the Auckland champion was neve’- headed, nnd she finished first The official finishing times were as follow:—Rona (12hr. 49min. 40sec.), Linnet (12hr. 50min. Slsee.), Konini (12hr. 53min. lOsec.). Murihiku (12hr. 53min. 20sec.), Jane (12hr. 55min.), Peggy (12hr. 55min. 35sec.).

VISITORS ENTERTAINED

PREPARED TO SACRIFICE THE RONA. The Wellington Yacht and Motor Boat Association entertained the visiting yachtsmen at a smoke concert in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on .Saturday evening. Mr. W. Duncan, president of the local association, presided over a large attendance of yachtsmen and their Jriends. Mi*. Dunam said that the local yachtsmen rejoiced to have the visitors with them. In speaking to the toast of “The visitors.” his Worship the Mayor, Mr. R. A. Wright, stated that he had found yachtsmen to be all true sportsmen, ana he felt sure that all other yachtsmen couldScongratulate the winning crew in the Sanders Cup contest, whoever they might he. (Loud applause.) He hoped the vis’tors would take nwav with them the best impressions of Wellington, and the hospitality of its people. Mr. J. B. Johnston, president of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat As-

sociation, replying to the toast, said that the yachting bodies of Wellington were fortunate in having the Mayor behind them. There had been some hard rumours about Auckland during. the past few days, but there was nothing in them. Much as the trophy was coveted. there ■was no other province in the Dominion that was more indifferent ns to where it would go than Auckland wa«. (Loud applause.) He assured his audience that the Auckland men would bo more unpopular if they came back with the Cup than if they came hack without it. It had been stated that if the Rona won the Cup this year it would be the end of the Sanders Cup. (Cries of "No, no.”) . "If she proves to he a freak, as some think," said Mr. Johnston, "the Auckland peonle will be prepared to sacrifice her on the altar of past success to save the Sanders Cup.” "The sailing of the Rona has been an eye-opener to us all.” said Mr. Moller, president of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat. Association. The greatest benefit of tho contest was the friendships made among .the yachtsmen. Otago had been fairly and squarely beaten in the race this year.” "It will not only be a disaster but a calamity if the Cup does not come to TTnlf Moon Bay this year," said Mr. Moffett, of Southland - , amid laughter. The homes of all the islanders would be open to the visitors.” Mr. McCarthy, of Hawke’s Bay, wished the winner of the Cnp every success, and wherever the next race would be held her assured his hearers that Napier would be there. Mr E. J. Kelly, of Auckland, in proposing the toast of the Wellington Yacht and Motor Boat Association, said that the visitors would be leaving for their home towns in a day or two, and Mr. Duncan would have to bear the brunt of all criticism. He humbly apologised for that. It was unfortunate that the people had been kept waiting that afternoon. but if it Jiad been possible the race would have sailed. Several toasts were proposed and responded to. Burin" the evening the nnzes won at the Itegatta were handed rto the winners bv the Mayor. Vocal items were contributed by the following: Stewart Nelson, P. ConneU, T. J. Jenkins, AV. W. Marshall, Phil. Barcham, and L. McAlister. Mr. Frank Thomas acted as accompanist.