SANDERS CUP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 8

SANDERS CUP

SECOND WIN FOR RONA

TWO PROTESTS LODGED

■ The third race for * the Sanders Cup was sailed this morning in perfect weather.' The Auckland representative, 'Rona, won, Canterbury finishing second, but protests were against Rona by Canterbury and Otago for a foul at the start. ;

The course was a triangular one—the same as was sailed in the second race yesterday afternoon—from the starting line off Clyde Quay Wharf, around the Jerningham Buoy, around the Coromandel Buoy, and back to the starting line, three times around. The crews of the six provincial boats were:— Rona (Auckland): Messrs. V. Lidgard (skipper), H. Brown, W. Smith; ■ '\ Konini (Hawkes Bay): Messrs Neil Gillies (skipper), I. Gillies, L. Truville, Peggy (Wellington): Messrs. E. Bailey (skipper), A. Bailey, A. G. Crawford. Linnet (Canterbury): Messrs. S. Sinclair (skipper), R. Sinclair, W. Morton. June (Otago): Messrs. G. Kellett (skipper), A. Booth, and W. Gardiner. Murihiku (Southland): Messrs. T. Brays (skipper), V. Bragg, L. Cartenson. . ,

The wind aa the contestants were dispatched shortly before 11 a.m., was the I merest.puff from the west, but, it was very variable. A good start was made, Linnet crossing first, followed by June, Konini,. Murihiku, Rona, and Peggy, in that order. Three of the boats crowded close to the . starters' launch when the gun fired, Rona accidentally touching June, and causing her to foul the officials' boat. Rona eased up ahead of the Hawkes Bay boat, but Linnet took the breeze nicely and maintained her , lead. ■ All set full sail in order to catch all the wiiid available, and slow but interesting progress was made towards Jerningham. Linnet rounded, the buoy 25sec ahead of Rona, 36sec ahead of Konini, 44sec ahead of June, 50 sec ahead of Peggy, and 55sec ahead of Miirihiku. All made a short tack towards the wharves after Peggy being the first to go about, and Murihiku went into the lead slightly ahead of Linnet when another board in the direction of Coromandel was made. Peggy and June were well behind. The wind freshened considerably off Ngahauranga, and faster pace was made. Several short boards gave Rona the lead, followed 3Ssec later by Linnet, while Murihiku improved her position to third place, rounding 50 sec after the Auckland boat. Konini, Peggy, and June were respectively lmin 25sec, lmin4osec, and 3niitf 50sec behind the lead boat. With her spinnaker set, Rona now careered away with full sail, Linnet following 200 yds behind, with Murihiku close up. Lmnet was a good-quarter of a mile from the leader, and June wa3 well behind, while Peggy lost ground. The i first round was completed as f ojlows :— Rona in the lead of Linnet by 38sec Murihiku lmin ssec, Peggy lmin 31sec, I Konini 2min 20sec; and June 3min 30sec.

THE SECOND ROUND.

Jerningham buoy was made on the second riund in a straight run, Rose increasing her lead over Linnet /by 6sec, over Murihiku by 57sec, over Konini by 52sec, over Peggy by 54sec, and over June by lmin 2sec. On the beat to Coromandel, Murihiku ran into second place lmin 25sec from Rona. Linnet, Peggy, Konini, and June followed in that order,; 4min lOsec separating -the first and last boats. The intervals at the end of the second time round were: —Roria leading Murihiku by lmin 25scc, Linnet by. lmin- 48sec, Peggy by 2min 38seci Konini by ,4min 4sec, and June by 4min 55sec. ' ,

THE FINAL STAGE.

A well strung out "field",now commenced the third and final <run around the course. With the aid of a.spinnaker Linnet overhauled Murihiku, while the Auckland boat lost pace, and the distance between her and her rivals was considerably decreased. . Linnet , was within three-quarters of a minute of the leader when she turned the Jerningham buoy,, and the Southland boat Was 52sec back. Peggy made! up 10 seconds, Konini 45 seconds, and June-24 seconds. Murihiku and Peggy stood in towards the Queen's Wharf in commencing the long tack to Coromandel buoy, while the other boats took a board in a northerly direction. Linnet rounded the buoy 57sec behind Rona. Murihiku was 2min Bsec away. Konini 2min llsec behind. Rona. June beat Peggy for fifth place, passing her on the last tack. In a north-westerly wind the little, sailers' made fast time to the finishing line. Linnet closed up on Rona before the latter crossed the line, and a close dispute ensued between Konini and Murihiku for third place, the Hawkes boat getting the decision by a couple of lengths. June was some'distance away, fifth, and the local boat finished last. / The official finishing times of the race, which commenced at 10.51 p.m., were as follow:— Rona, 12h 49min 40sec : 1 Linnet, 12h SOmin 31sec 2 Konini, 12h 53min lOsec J 3 Murihiku, 12h 53min 20sec 4 June, 12h 55min 5 Peggy, 12h Ssniin 35sec 6 The winner was applauded by the spectators as she passed the Clyde Quay Wharf, and each of the other crews was hailed in similar manner as they returned jto the Boat Harbour.

When the crews got ashore a protest was lodged by the Otago representatives against Rona for fouling June at the start of the r9.ee. ' Canterbury also protested against the Auckland representative on a similar ground arising out of the same incident.