SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 12

SANDERS CUP CONTEST

ANOTHER WIN FOR BETTY SECOND PLACE TO OTAGO Half Moon Bay (Stewart Island), February 18. A keenly-contested race sailed this afternoon over a triangulai course on Paterson’s niet resulted in the Canterbury champion, Betty, registering her second win. It was the second race for the Sanders Cup and was more interesting from every point of view than the first race, as at no stage did the winner have more than one minute and a half lead from Eileen. There was great excitement when Betty rounded the last mark, leading the Otago boat by wily 32sec. Bail the wind not dropped, the issue would have been in doubt until the finish.

Avalon’s perfonyance was very disappointing, as she is the best equipped and the picture boat in the contest, but she did not show her usual brilliancy in to-day’s light weather. Murihiku again sailed a good race, the boat being well handled by the veteran Stewart Islander, T. Bragg. The Wellington boat, Wellesley 11, again inade a very poor showing, and her sailing performance to-day indicates that she is far below the standard of the other boats. She was hopelessly last from the time she turned the first mark until the finish. The other four boats had returned to their quarters in Thule Bay long before Wellesley crossed the finishing line. The weather was cloudy but tine when over twenty-live large launches, several steamers, and the tug Southland moved

into Paterson’s Inlet at 1 p.m., carrying between (MW and 700 people, while a large number lined the various vantage points along the shore. The wind was light from the south-west when the boats representing the five provinces were sent away to a perfect start at 1.30 p.m. It was not a true wind, being very light at certain stages of the race. The start was from a buoy off Thule Bay, thence to a mark off 'the western end of Ulva Island, then to a mark off Price’s Point. it

was a full nine-knot course, and the direction, of the wind gave the boats a lead, a beat to windward, and then a long run to the line. All the boats with the exception of Wellesley, were close to the line af gunfire. Eileen was the first to cross the line, followed closely by Murihiku. Avalon, Betty, and then Wellesley 11. It was a broad lead to the mark off Ulva Island. The wind was very light, but of sufficient weight to fill the sails. Wellesley held the weather position, while Eileen and Alurihiku were well to leeward.

Betty sailed into the lead after the fleet had covered three hundred yards. When abreast of Ulva Island, the Otago boat moved up to windward and held second position, Wellesley was still to windward, but was not sailing as fast as the others. Betty held a good lead after sailing half a mile, but Eileen steadily gained on the champion. Nearing the mark, Avalon held third position, Alurihiku fourth aad Wellesley last. The fleet sailed well to windward off the mark, and sheets were eased before making it. It was a beat to the mark off Price’s Point. Betty, Eileen, and Murihiku went about, immediately after rounding the buoy, and sailed on a long leg up the centre of the inlet. Avalon and Wellesley carried straight on after rounding on a short leg towards Waifuna on the south shore, then broke tacks and headed for Price’s Point. The wind was still light from the southwest, and all the boats still carried leading jibs. Bettv led the Otago boat by 3(lsec. at Hie Ulva Island mark, but the Canterbury boat increased her lead on the close haul. Betty, Eileen, and Murihiku headed for Hyan’s Creek, and sailed close inshore before breaking tacks. Avalon now appeared to hold a handy position. Wellesley at this stage, was nearly a quarter of a mile astern of Avalon, When Betty and Eileen crossed on opposite tacks the Canterbury boat had a lead of over one lain. Wellesley made another tack to starboard, her skipper preferring open water. Patrick broke tacks when near the weather short, and the Auckland boat now held fourlli position. Eileen sailed remarkably well on a leg to starboard. Betty had to make one short board to fetch the mark nt Price’s Point Betty gained 30sec. on Eileen on the beat to. Price’s Point, and Murihiku sailed from last to third position on the beat. Avalon and Wellesley (lid not improve their positions when sailing in the centre of the inlet. Spinnakers were set smartlv for the run to the starting line. Wellesley’s spinnaker was set in 12see.. the sail filling immediately. _ She rounded the mark. The wind fell light, and the boats made slow progress for a time when within a short distance of

tlie line. Murihiku and Avalon wen in close company, while Wellesley was a long distance astern. Betty did not gain I on the Otago boat on the run, but Muri. i hiku gained llsec. on Eileen and 2sec. on Avalon. It was again a lead to the mark oft Ulva Island. The breeze was now fairly fresh and steady. Murihiku was to windward of Avalon, and the Otago boat had dropped to leeward. The lour leading boats sailed steadily for the mark. Betty now led Eileen by Imin. Msec., the Canterbury champion gaining half a minute of the lead to Ulva Island. Betty made a short board before breaking tacks, while Murihiku and Avalon stood across the inlet on a long leg to port. Eileen stood towards the south shore, before breaking tacks. Betty was now sailing right into the eve of the wind, and the Otago boat was also sailing well into the wind. Wellesley was 12min. astern of the leading boats, while Betty ami Eileen laid for the mark off Price’s Point. Murihiku and Avalon held in until close inshore at Ityan’s Creek. The Southland boat sailed faster than Avalon on this leg. Andrews sailed straight across the inlet on one long Ijoard before breaking tacks to fetch the mark. The Canterbury boat sailed very fast on the close haul, and Eileen also sailed remarkably fast. Andrews misjudged his distance near the buoy, as also did Kellett, and both skippers had to make a short board before rounding. The Otago boat showed her sailing powers on the close haul, as she gained nearly Imin. on Betty, and the Canterbury boat had a lead of only 32sec. when the last run to the line was commenced. Avalon overhauled Murihiku on the last tack to the buoy, but the ■Auckland boat was over three minutes astern of Betty. Spinnakers were again smartly set. The wind fell very light, and the boats moved along at a slow speed. After sailing a quarter of a mile, the Otago skipper made a quick change with his sails, the main sheet being swung to port, and the spinnaker to starboard, with the hope of carrying a better breeze. The change, however, did not prove beneficial, as the Otago boat did not gain on Betty, and the Canterbury champion sailed over the line to register her second win by 40sec. The official sailing times were:— Betty—2hr. lOmin. 2Ssec 1 Eileen—2hr. Timin. B«ec 2 Avalon—2hr. 12niin. 44sec 3 Murihiku IT—2hr. 14-min. 2sae. 4, Wellesley IT —2hr. 22min. Msec. 5 The third race will be sailed on Monday afternoon, over a windward and leeward course. WEEK-END RESULTS PORT NICHOLSON CLUB A ladies’ race was held by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club on Saturday in a light nor’-wester. The yachts Marangi, Ailsa and Mana made a good race of it during the first round, but in the second round Marangi drew away. The boats were sailed over No. 3 course, from the wharf, round Jerningham and Coromandel buoys, and then round a mark boat off the wharf, twice round. The result, skippers handicaps and corrected times being given, was: — Marangi (Mrs. B. Clarke), scr., 3hrs. 55m in. 54sec 1 Ailsa (Mrs. J. Helgisen), Imin. Msec., 4hrs. Smin. 55sec 2 Mana (Mrs. J. E. Cull), 12min„ 4hrs. smin. lOsec 3 Venus (Miss'N. Berge), 12min„ 4hrs. Bmin. lOsec 4 Nanette (—), ISmin., 4hr. llmin. 42 sec 5 Linnet (Miss Collett), 17min., 4hrs. 17min. sGsec 6 WORSER BAY CLUB A race held bv the Worser Bay Boating Club, started under the Mark Foy system, resulted Karkariki (lOmin.), 4hrs. 21min 1 Spitfire (13min.), 4hrs. 21min. 45sec. .. 2 Gypsy (scr.), 4hrs. 46min. 45sec 3 EVANS BAY CLUB Two ladies’ races .were held in light weather conditions over the week-end by the Evans Bay Club. The course for keel yachts was from the starting line up to the buoy off Shelly Bay, round the buoy off Shag Point, then to the finishing line. Handicaps and corrected times only are given. The rac© resulted :— Wairere (scr.), lOhr. 57min. 35sec. ... 1 lolanthe (3min.), llhr. 7min. 52sec. .. 2 Venus (4min.), llhr. Simin. 34sec 3 Linnet arrived too late to start. The centre-boarders sailed twice round the course within the bay. Nautilus was I well sailed, and finished first, but corrected times saw the race go to Sylvia. The boats secured a good start. The race resulted : — Svlvia (Smin.). lOhr. 50min. 33sec 1 Nautilus (Imin.). lOhr. 54mm. 45sec. 2 Illinois (7min.). lOhr. 55min. 25sec. ... 3 Tni (Imin.), 10hr. 56min 4 Two special races, for heelers and cen-tre-boarders, will be sailed for special trophies on Wednesday at Evans Bay. The races start at seven p.m. PAREMATA CLUB Three races took place during the week-end, a fresh northerly prevailing at the start but fading to a light breeze half-way round the course. Resuits are as follow: — First Class Sailing Boats. —Kotuku (34min.), Ihr. 181 min., 1; Ariki (lOJmin.), llir. 2fimin., 2; Kuini (scr.), Ihr. lOmin., 3. Ibex was the only other starter. Second Class Sailing Boats. — Arahiwi (Smin.). Ihr. 22min„ 1; Miloed (scr.), 2; Jza (lOmin.), did not complete the course. . Launch Race—Cygnet. 1; Till, 2; Robt. E. Lee 3. Grey Cat, Trixie, and Katrina also competed.