YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 93, 14 January 1929, Page 10

YACHTING

SANDERS CUR TRIALS FOUR RACES DURING •WEEK-END X . CLYDE AND ALL BLACK SHARE THE HONOURS This week-end four more races between boats of the Jellicoe class were sailed on the harbour to determine the AA’ellington repi-esentat.ive lor the Sanders Cup. Two races were sailed on Saturday afternoon and two yesterday, All Black and Clyde sharing the honours. On the whole, however, the performances of the latter boat were the more convincing, especially in the third race. This was a i-fal test of every kind of light-weather sailing .over .a lengthy course, and the Clyde increased Iter lead at practically every stage. In view of the fact that Akaroa has light weather six days otit of the week, it seems highly probable that this boat will be the one chosen.

The followiiig are the faces held by the sole selector, Mr. R. Duncan. The boats and skippers entered were, iri every ease, Clyde (N. Rowntfee), All Black (F. Harlen), AVellesley II (N._ Blair), AA’ellesley I (B. AVhite), and Miss Josephine (A. Sterling). First Trial. \ The first race started at the Clyde Quay AVharf. Clyde and All Black made the pace on the lead to. Jerningham, but the former dropped back owing to trouble with the ctritre-bOard.. Approaching the buoy Miss Josephine got All Black under her lee and slid past. Times at the buoy were: Miss Josephine, All Black (lOsee.), AA’ellesley II (16sec.), AVellesley I (20see), Clyde (21sec.). The wind was a moderate northerly and the fun began after rounding Jerningham on the long slog up to Ngahatirariga, the northern mark of the course. All Black, always good on a beatmp, here passed the Parcniata boat, and Clyde came up fast into third .'place. The order at the buoy was: All Black, Miss Josephine (50sbe), Clyde (Imin. lOstffi.). AVellesIcy II and AA’ellesley I were a minute or so" behind. Spinnakers were run out and the fourtoen-footers made good speed running down to the finishing i } t Jerningham. All Black won from Clyde by about a boat’s length. Second Trial. Another fine start was seen in the second race of the afterhoou, when the boats left Clyde Quay together on the lead to Jerningham. In front were Clyde, AVellesley 11, Mips. Josephine, with AVellesley I and All Black some distance behind. This position Was maintained to the buoy, AVellesley I just failing to take the Clyde’s wind before reaching the. buoy. . s . Tinies at the buoy were as follow:— Clyde, AVellesley I (4sec.), AA’ellesley II (Bsec.), Miss Josephine (SOsec.), All Black (58sec.). The boats next stood out toward the Shelly Bay buoy. AVellesley II slightly closed Clyde’s lead at this stage, the other AVellesley boat dropping back to third place. Times were :. Clyde, AVellesley II (ssec.), AVellesley I (35sec.), Miss Josephine (50sec.), All Black (62sec.). A long beat up to Coromandel buoy increased the intervals between the leading three boats, and All Black crept ahead of Miss Jostphine. Tiiries and order -were as follow: —Clyde, AA’ellesley II (21sec.), AA’ellesley I (42§ec.), All Black (16sec.), Miss Josei>hine (17sec.). A sensational finish was provided when AVellesley I, which had kept well out on the port tack nearing Clyde Quay, came in on ft fast slant just too late to catch the Clyde. Times at the finish were: Clyde, AVellesley I (3sec.), Wellesley II (25 sec.), Miss Josephine and All Black (liniii. lOsec.). Third Trial. Yesterday the weather was very misty, a light southerly rippling the Water. The five candiilatos were towed round to the Evans Bay bUby by Mr. AA’. Cable's launch Kereru,' arid this was taken as the starting point Of by fdr the longest trial held as. yet. All got away together, arid as the five coasted gently down the bay Clyde and. All Black drew slightly ahead. There was, however, scarcely a second between any of them. Clearing Point Hal Swell the breeze from the Heads was encountered, and the speed increased, Clyde increasing her lead considerably on the. run down to Somes Island. Times at the. northern, buoy were :— Clyde, AVellesley II (fiisfec.), All Black (lmin. lOsec,), Miss Josephine (Imiri. 20sec.), AA’ellesley I (lmin. 32sec.). After rounding Clyde went to windward, keeping, the rest well in her lee quarter. On the long beat up AVellesley II went on the starboard tack, the other boats standing over toward Karaka Bay. Clyde continued to gain, and at the southern blinker the times were: Clyde, All Black (4min. 30sec.), Miss Josephine (smin. 25sec.), AA’ellesley II (lOmin. 55 sec.), .AA’ellesley I (17min.). Little alteration in the positions Was noticeable after the run down to the finishing line at Somes Island. Finishing times -were: Clyde, All Black (7min. 25sec.), Miss Josephine (Siriiii. 6sec.); AVellesley II (llmin. 16see.), 'Wellesley I (17min.).

Fourth Trial. All_ the yachts were taken in tow by the Kereru again, and brought round to Point Halswell, where they sailed a fairly lorig course tip tb the Evans Bay buoy and down to the Jerningham. A fine start Was. made from between the launch and the Point Halswell beacon, Rountree in the Clyde holding the others off to leeward vin-y nicely. On the beat-iip Evans Bay considerable time elapsed as the. wind was by no means as strong aS (luring the morning. AA’ellesley II and Miss Josephine, went on the starboard tack, but struck slack water off Shelly Bay. The other three 'boats kept well out, and were soon well ahead. All Black sailed very strongly, and although to lee* ward of the Clyde, wfis able to outdis* tance her. Positions at the Evans Bay mark off Burnham AA’harf were: All Black, Clyde (3min. 2sec), AA’ellesley II (4rriih. 17sec), AVellesley I (Gmin. lOsec.). MiSs-Josephine (lOriiin. 7sec.); Spinnakers wei-e bai-elj’ filled in the run down to Jerningham. AA’ellesley II gained slowly On Clyde, and a stern battle for second place resulted, which ended in both bowsprits crossing the line at the same moment. Finishing times and order were: All Black, Clyde, and AA’ellesley II (3min. lOsec). AA’ellesley I (Gmin. 15sec.). Miss Josephine did not finish. AUCKLAND TRIALS By Telegrabh.—Press Association. Auckland, January 13. The first trial race to select the boat to represent Auckland in Akaroa on February J 4 for-the Sanders Cup, was held yesterday, in a steady westerly breeze. After a close race of over art hour's sailing. C. G. Macindoe’s new boat; A'al won. beating Bona by llsec., which finished only 3sec. ahead of Avalon. A’al was sailed by A. Matthews. Rona by A’; Lidgard. and Avalon by A. AVilliams, and each carried a crew of three.