WELLINGTON WIN FIRST RACE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 95, 16 January 1939, Page 14

WELLINGTON WIN FIRST RACE

Cornwell Cup Contest

plimmerton capsize SOON AFTER START

Taking the lead soon after the start, the ■Wellington crew won the first of the 1939 series of yacht races for the Cornwell Cup at Plimmerton on Saturday by Bmin. 50 sec. Auckland was second and Otago third. Plimmerton, the defenders, capsized when running down to the Barber Point mark the first time. Ihe race was not verv interesting lor the spectator, with the exception of a keen duel between Ota-o and Auckland Cor second place when beating up to the weather mark for the last time. . , . /■ The crews sailed in their own boats for the fira-t race, but will draw for boats for succeeding races. The competing crews are

Auckland; R. Robb (skipper), B. Donovan (forward hand). Manukau : 3. Taylor (skipper), P. Howard (forward hand I. Tauranga: R. Wilson (skipper), R. Wilkinson (forward band) Wanganui: B. Aitmt (skipper), S. Armit (forward hand). Plimmerton: T. Casey (skipper), J. Mullen (forward hand). Paremata; M. Coleman (skipper), A. Fisher (forward hand). Wellington: E. Wagstaffe (skipper), P. Cooke (‘forward hand). Dunedin: T. S. Camp (skipper), \V. A. Carrington (forward hand).

The course was windward and leeward, three times round, starting off the Plitnmerlon clubhouse, to a mark in Matin Bay. to another mark off Barber Point, finishing off the clubhouse. At the start of the race at 2.35 p.tn. there was a fresh north-west wind, but this dropped during the afternoon. All boats were reefed down. Auckland, Manukau, Plimmerton, and Wellington had the best of the start. Wanganui were over the line when the starting gun went, and had to be recalled, losing about half a minute. Auckland stood well off shore, most of the other boats working closer in, where there was better sailing. Sailing an excellent race, the Wellington crew had gained a lead of Imin. 10 sec. over Auckland at the weather mark, and were first round. Close behind Auckland were Wanganui, followed by Paremata 15 seconds later; Tauranga were only four seconds behind, and about 20 seconds later Otago, Manukau, and Plim'merton rounded in a bunch.

There were some exciting moments on the run down (o the leeward mark, the fresh breeze causing trouble with the spinnakers. Otago lost their kite, then Alanukau, and soon after the Plimmerton crew provided a thrill when their boat capsized. The crew righted the boat, but it immediately turned over again, and they withdrew from the race. There was no alteration in the positions of the leading boats when they rounded the Barber point mark. Wellington, however, had increased her lead on Auckland by about another 30 seconds. Tauranga, which caught a nice puff off the clubhouse and passed Paremata, were in fourth place. During the first half of the beat to the weather mark the Otago boat, Sailed very well by Camp and Carrington, overhauled Paremata, Tauranga, and AVanganui, and moved into third place. Auckland again stood well out while beating up to Maori Bay, and AVellington, closer inshore, gained more ground. The times round the buoy were: AVellington, 3.10.45; Auckland, 3.14.50; Otago, 3.15.35; AVanganui, 3.16.17; Tauranga, 3.17.50 ; Paremata, 3.20.55 ; Manukau, 3.22.15. With AVellington in a very safe position, chief interest centred on the effort of the Otago crew to pass Auckland. Beating up from Barber Point, Otago gained ground, and there was little between the two boats when they crossed tacks off the clubhouse. From there till nearing the weather mark the two boats followed one another very closely. Auckland stood in a little closer to shore near the mark and got a good break which carried her round 46 seconds ahead of tlie southern boat. Wellington by this time were at the leeward mark, beginning the beat to the finishing line. The finishing times and placings were: Wellington, 3.56.45 j Auckland, 4.5.35 2 Otago, 4.6.45 3 AVanganui, 4.8.12 , 4 Tauranga, 4.14.35 5 Paremata, 4.16.13 6 Alanukau, 4.21.20 7