CORNWELL CUP RACES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 101, 23 January 1936, Page 13

CORNWELL CUP RACES

Second Contest to Kaiapoi CHAPTER OF MISHAPS By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland. January 22. The second race in tlie annual contest for tlie Cornwell Cup for class Z 12ft. Gin. one-design boats was held at Bayswater this afternoon and resulted in a win for Kaiapoi by Imm. 2sec. from Christchurch. Lyttelton was third and Paremata fourth. A very hard easterly wind was blowing, and 12 boats started, but only four completed the course. Three boats Betty (Whangarei), Watt! (Tauranga) and Avon (Otago) broke their masts, and four others —Ma Peru (Manukau), Twink (Plimmerton). Rascal (Hamilton) and Vigilant (Auckland)— capsized, while Oi (Wellington) broke its rudder. The crew of Vigilant got their craft on an even keel again, but she was full of water ami could not continue in the race. Two further races will bo held today, Hie first at 9 a.m. and the second in the afternoon. The Plimmerton crew won the first race. A THRILLING RACE Strong Wind Breaks Masts Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 22. A series of mishaps which marred the chances of eight of the 12 boats taking part in the second race for the Cornwell Cup to-day made tlie event a thrilling one. Although the race was sailed in the sheltered waters of Shoal Bay, a very stiff breeze from the east made tlie handling of the small craft most difficult. ' Shortly after the start it squaxl struck the boats as they were setting spinnakers. It was apparent that only the most careful handling would be required, for under the strong wind the masts were bending ominously. The youthful skippers made every effort to nurse their craft, but the boats had not gone very far under their spinnakers before they encountered trouble, and within two minutes of one another Betty (Whangarei), Walti (Tauranga) and Avon (Otago) broke their masts a few feet from the deck, while Twink (Plimmerton) capsized. Oi (Wellington), which was the first boat to set her spinnaker, gave a wonderful exhibition of planing and had the misfortune to break her rudder after she had. established a good lead. The Manukau boat, Ma Peru, which took charge after Oi had been put out of action, capsized in the final round, while Vigilant, the Auckland boat, filled and overturned on the finishing line. Her crew very smartly got their boat on au even keel, but she was unable to continue in the race.

‘The Hamilton boat Rascal capsized as she crossed the starting line. All the crews were rescued by twe patrol launches.

New masts are being made to replace the broken ones, and these are expected to be ready in time for the boats to start to-morrow.