SANDERS CUP TRIALS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 9

SANDERS CUP TRIALS

WELLESLEY’S FIRST WIN. There was a hard south-westerly blowing last evening, when the last of the Wellington Sanders Cup trials was held. The course was the usual one—from the starting-line between the Clyde Quay Wharf and the boat harbour wall to the buoy at Point Jerningham, from there to the Coromandel buoy, and from there back to the starting-line. 'The three boats got away together on a broad lead to Jerningham. All Black soon took the lead, and Wellesley occupied the second position until the buoy was reached. All Black rounded the buoy 30 seconds ahead of Wellesley, with Peggy 30 seconds further back. On the beat to windward, All Black maintained her lead, although Wellesley, carrying full sail, appeared to be going very well. Peggy soon got about twenty yards to windward of Wellesley, while All Black was about twenty yards to windward of Peggy. It was not long before Peggy shipped a sea, which compelled all hands to bail. brom now on Peggy's position could not be otherwise than hopeless. The boats kept well in to the shore, and on going about again, All Black was about fifteen yards ahead of Wellesley. As the boats approached Kaiwarra some very hard squalls were experienced. Wellesley, however, appeared to revel in these, managed to get to windward of All Black, and succeeded in rounding the Coromandel buoy about 1 minute and 15 seconds ahead of her. At this stage Peggy was about half a mile down to leeward. On the way to the finishingline, both Wellesley and All Black showed a great turn of speed. By this time Peggy had withdrawn from the race. There was little between All Black and Wellesley on the run down to the fimsh-ing-line, but Wellesley was able to cross the line a minute and a half before AU Black. Altogether, the race must be described as a very good one, and was marred onlj bv the fact that Peggy was forced to withdraw from jt before the race had reached its most interesting stage. It has not been decided whether any more trials will be held, but there is a chance that the boats will be tested once more next Saturday.