SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 6

SANDERS CUP CONTEST

FIRST RACE TO CANTERBURY WELLINGTON BOAT OUTCLASSED Dominion Special Service Half Moon Bay (Stewart Island), February 17. Betty, the Canterbury champion, had a runaway victory in the first Sanders Cup race, sailed this afternoon on Patterson's Inlet. The holder of the cup went into the lead within half a minute after the start. She led throughout and won a fast sailed race by 3min. ISsec. from the Auckland boat Avalon. Betty's sailing powers were a revelation to the five or six hundred people who followed the race in launches, small steamers and the large tug Southland, and also to the hundreds who commanded a splendid panoramic view or the whole stretch of Patterson's Inlet from peaks and rocks along the bushclad shores.

One of the features of to-day's race was the Auckland skipper's persistent efforts to draw level with the Canterbury champion, and although Avalon gave a fine exhibition of her , sailing qualities, she never ‘gave Betty’s skipper any cause for worry from start to finish. George Andrews sailed bis boat with skill and„ judgment. The Otago boat sailed very fast before the wind and was the third best boat as regards all-round sailing. Eileen was proved exceptionally tast in light weather, and should the wind be light for- the second race she should be prominent. Murihiku IT has been brought up to the mark, and her performance to-day was a vast improvement to her exhibition at Lyttelton last year. Wellesley II was a big disappointment. She was prominent for a time after the race started, but after that the hopes of her Wellington supporters went by the board, as she fell further and further astern as the race progressed. The race, which was sailed iu very fast time, was spectacular throughout. Ono of the most thrilling incidents of the race was towards the close, when Murihiku II and Eileen fought out the issue for third place, the Southland boat crossing the line 2sec. in the lead of Otago. Wellesley finished Bmin. fisec. later than Betty. The competing boats and skippers were: Bettv G. Andrews. Avalon J. Patrick. Murihiku IL .... Carroll Hansen Eileen [ G. E. Kellett Wellesley II B. White The official sailing times were:— Betty, Ihr. 21rain. 25sec 1 Avnl'on, Ihr. 24min. 43scc 2 Murihiku. Ihr. 25min. 13sec 3 Eileen. Ihr. 25min. 45sec 4 Wellesley, Ihr. 29niin. 31sec 5 The second race will be sailed on Saturday afternoon, starting at 1.30, over a triangular course.