CORNWELL CUP RACE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 11

CORNWELL CUP RACE

First Win to Lyttelton in Exciting Contest

WELLINGTON UNPLACED

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christchurch, Jan. 25.

Hundreds of spectators witnessed the first Cornwell Cup race to-day, and the utmost excitement prevailed when, after a hard tussle, first against Wellington, and later against Christchurch, the defending crew for Lyttelton, R. Hendry and S. Sillars, secured first the victory of the series, winning by a margin of liuin. Bsec. The course was intended to be a windward and leeward one, but the vagaries of the wind made it impossible to define it as such. All boats got away to a good start, Lyttelton leading. Lyttelton rounded the first mark 20sec. ahead of Wellington, with Auckland, Porirua, Christchurch, Dunedin, Manukau, Plimmerton, following in that order. Porirua overtook Auckland, and went into third position, and Christchurch later beat Auckland for fourth place.

Off Sticking Point, Wellington assumed the lead, with Lyttelton second, Porirua third, and Christchurch fourth, but Lyttelton soon went to the front again. Wellington, later picked up a south-easterly slant which took them into the lead, but Lyttelton rounded the mark right on Wellington’s stern, with Auckland, Porirua, Christchurch and Manukau close up. Lyttelton went to the front.

Wellington had just sheeted the spinnaker home when, due to mishandling, the sail dropped into the water. The wind was changeable, and off Officers’ Point the order was: Lyttelton, Christchurch, Auckland, Porirua, with the others well strung out. Plimnierton retired, and a light easterly provided a run to the finishing line, all carrying spinnakers. Finishing times are as follow:— Lyttelton, 4hr, 18mln. IBsec 1 Christchurch, 4b r, Ifimln. 24sec 2 Auckland, 4lir. 21min. 2sec 3 Porirua, 4hr. 23min. fisec 4 Wellington. 4hr. 2Smin. 50sec 5 Manukau, 4hr. 3Gmin. 20see 6 Dunedin. 4hr. 45mln 7

CREWS IN THE CONTEST

Three Local Representatives

Tlie crews who are taking part in the contest are (the skipper being mentioned first in each case) :—

Lyttelton, Ri Hendry and S. Sillars; Auckland, V. 0. Field and F. R. BellBooth; Christchurch, O. White and T. Bassett; Manukau, D. McLeod and D. T. 11. Donovan; Otago, E. W. Walker and A. J. Spratt. Parcmata representing Porirua Harbour, is represented by It. Parkin, 19 years, and J. Coleman, 16 years. This is Parkin’s third attempt to win the Cornwell Cup. In last year’s contest at Wellington lie wasl in charge of the Wellington boat, and the previous year competed at Auckland. At Wellington last year be secured two wins and came second in tlie final race. This is Coleman’s first year in Takapuua yachts. He also has the distinction of having been selected as a lightweight for the crew of Lavinia, Wellington’s representative in the Sanders Cup races, to bo held at Lyttelton next week.

Plimmcrton isl represented by Ken Pickering, 17 years of age. 10st., and H. B. Redward, 16 years, 10sL Pickering is making his first attempt to win the cup, and is experiencing his first season under sail. He is described as a very promising yachtsman.- Redward is a brother of Plimmerton’s last year’s representative. Like Pickering, this is his first season of yachting. Wellington’s representatives are Ron Julian, 16 years, list., and Jack Nolan, 17 years, Ost. 81b. These two boys were selected out of 27 candidates, and no decision was reached until 17 trials had been held. The forward hand, Nolan, has been recommended by tlie Wellington Sanders Cup selector to act as forward hand in the Lavinia. Both boysl have two or three seasons’ yachting experience.

CORNWELL CUP’S ORIGIN

In Memory of Gallant Boy The Cornwell Cup was given by Walker and Hall, Auckland, in 1923, for interport competition (not inter-provincial) between two-men crews sailing in boats of the J 2ft. Gin. design class promoted by the Takapuna Boating Club, Auckland. The cup is dedicated to the memory ot John Travers Cornwell, boy, first class, of H.M.S. Chester, who remained, at his gun, though mortally wounded, during the battle of Jutland on May 31, 1916. The Victoria Cross was awarded after his death. The first, contest was organised in 1924, under the leadership of Mr. O. A. Moller, then Commodore of the Takapuua Boating Chib, Auckland, now chairman of the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motorboat. Association. Rules were drawn unp similar to those of the Sanders Cup contest, with a few exceptions. Any port is entitled to be represented by on's crew'of two boys under, the age 19, and at least I7st. must be carried in each boat, whether live.or dead weight. Boats are drawn for prior to each race, so that uo crew Shall have one boat more than once until it has sailed in them all. The first crew to win three races will win the contest. It is interesting to note that since the introduction of the type of boat in 1920, at least 65 of them have been bunt in New Zealand. On the eighth occasion <m which rite contest has been held Auckland has won on six times, the cup being lifted by Lyt--1 tclton on the other two. .i