THE SANDERS CUP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1924, Page 8

THE SANDERS CUP

AUCKLAND WINS FIRST RACE

LOCAL BOAT A GOOD SECOND

The first of the series of races for the Sanders Memoriall Challenge Cup and the 14-foot yacht championship of New Zealand was successfully' sailed in fine weather this morning. Initial honours go to the Auckland boat Rona, which finished about 80 seconds ahead of the Wellington representative, Peggy. ' The disappointments caused by the weather on Wednesday and Thursday caused a. set-back of two days in the racing^ schednle, and with the: idea of making up the lost time the delegates from the various competing .provinces decided at a meeting yesterday afternoon to hold two races to-day,; and a third to-morrow morning. -..The fourth race, if it is necessary to hold any more than three, will take place to-morrow afternoon. •• To-day's event was sailed in a moderate southerly wind, which varied'little as the' race proceeded. Sailing conditions were good. The course chosen by the Sailing Committee was about eight iautical miles in lengthy equivalent to about 9J ordinary miles. It lay from/the starting-line off Point Jerningham, tKence around a marked boat off Ngahaurariga, back to and around the Jerningham buoy, keeping all marks on the starboard hand—twice round, finishing across the /starting line. , The race was thus- sailed over a straight course twice round, and was within view of the city and Oriental Bay from start to finish., : The crews were as follow: Rona (Auckland): Messrs. J. Gifford (skipper), H. Brown,.W. Smith, V. Lidgard. . Konini (Hawkes Bay): Messrs. Neil Gillies (skipper); I. Gillies, S: Gillies, W. Anderson. ; p eggy (Wellington): Messrs. E. Bailey (skipper), J. Gendall, I. M'Greeor A. G. Crawford. " , Linnet (Canterbury): Messrs. S. Sinclair (skipper), R. Sinclair, W. Morton. June (Otago): Messrs. C: v Frerich (skipper), D. Patersori, A. Booth. ' Murihiku Messrs T. Bragg (skipper), W. Johnston, T. Bragg. Ihe 'contestants were sent away by the five flag start method at about IOiSO a.m., 20 minutes later than the fixed starting: time. The Auckland boat was the. first across the line, followed by K.oiuni (Napier), June (Otago), Peggy (Wellington), Linnet (Canterbury), and Murihiku (Southland). Ail immediately set spinnakers, and Konini passed Rona into the lead position.'-An even line was maintained on the commencement of the run with the wind towards Ngahauranga, all competitors being well up with the exception of Murihiku, which lay about ten yards back. The breeze remained steady, and a mile out from'Jerningham, Konini-stiir held a slight lead from Rona,' Linnet, June', and Peggy being in close touch. June temporarily gained on Rona, but was passed by Linnet, which further closed up in the next few minutes. All rounded .the first buoy m a close procession. Rona was the first to turn, leading Konini around the flag by 2 seconds, and heading Linnet by Bsec, Murihiku by 22sec, June by 40sec. and Peggy by 45sec.::: ::' On the. beat back against the'wirid, the Auckland boat, soon manoeuvred to leeward, followed' by Canterbury and Hawkes Bay, all three sailing on the starboard tack, Otago, Southland, and Wellington taking a port tack. Of the former trio Rona had the best way on, out owing to the increasing .separation between the two groups it was difficult to judge the relative: positions, Rona. Konini, and Linnet, by standing well inshore, gained smoother water. Another tack brought Rona well over to windward. Sailing a middle course, Peggy was well in line with Rona and Konini, which [seemed to favour Jhe calmer sea off Kaiwarra. Linnet stood well, out'into the harbour, where she was liable to lose the, wind, and June and Murihiku were about ISO and 200 yards respectively behind the leading line. Three-quarters of a mile from Jerningham,! after working on short tacks, Rona was within closest distance of the turning buoy. She/ led the "field" around the mark, Peggy following lmin 13sec behind. ■ The other boats turned as follows:—Linnet lnfin 18sec, Murihiku 2min 45sec, June 2min 53sec, and Konini 3min 25s sc. Konini spoilt her position by standing 'too far over to the east before tacking m. to the turning buoy. The relative positions were-maintained oh the spin to Ngah'auranga. , The last three boats Ko--nini; June, and Murihiku kept well together, while Peggy surrendeded her second place to the Canterbury representative, Linnet. The order of turning themarked boat at Ngahauranga was as fol 7 lows :—Rona, Linnet, ■ 1 mm ■■ 19sec ; Peggy, lmin 55eec; Murihiku, 2min 40sec; June, 47sec; and Konini, 2m.in 53sec. ■ -■■"..'•• A battle now commenced oh the last lap against the wind. Rona, Peggy, and 'Linnet, took the starboard tack inshore towards the Hutt road,, while the others stood out towards the middle of the harbour. June and Konini made closer in towards Kaiwarra, passing between the steamer Rama and the surrounding hulks and the shore. Interest in the race became intensely keen as the little boatß,. tacked about in. face of the wind in order to make a good run across the finishing line. Finally Rona and Peggy made a last board, practically simultaneously, and ran for the home line on an angle. Rona, which had maintained the leading position practically all the way,' finished first, having covered the course in 2 hours and about 12 minutes. Peggy finished second, lmin 20sec behind Rona; June third, 2min 25sec after the winner; and Linnet, 3min 7sec; Konini, 3 min_ 47sec; and Murihiku, 4min 12sec behindThe winning crew were loudly' cheered from the crowd on the point as the boat crossed the line, and each of the other boats was applauded' on.' finishing. The race_ was an interesting one from start to finish, and was evenly contested throughout.