SANDERS CUP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1924, Page 9

SANDERS CUP

RETAINED BY AUCKLAND.

FINAL RACE IN A CALM

The 1924 Sanders Cup contest concluded yesterday afternoon, when tha trophy waß won by the defending province, Auckland. Rona won the last race in a contest' in which the three sailers were several times- becalmed. The race was prolonged in consequence of the wind falling dead, but it finished a quarter of \an hour before'the time limit. '•■ 1 The crews were as follow: Rona (Auckland).—Messrs. J. Gifford (skipper), H. Brown, W. Smith, V. Lidgard, A. Willetts, and E.-Matthews..-.' Linnet (Canterbury).—Messrs. Si Sinclair (skipper), E. Sinclair, 0. .Williams* W. Morton. ■ .;.',. .; , Murihiku (Southland).—Messrs. : T.Bragg i (skipper),, R. Bragg;. V. Bragg, W. Johnston. •- _ '•...;."• A full-sail breeze blew from the northwest at the start, and the sea war-a joggle. A windward and leeward course was sailed from the Jerningham Buoy to the Coromandel Buoy, keeping the marks on the port hand—four times round,! a distance of between ten and eleven mileß. A good start was made, Linnet being the first to cross, followed by Rona and then Murihiku, the Canterbury and Auckland boats making to windward, and'the Southland representative to leeward. Murihiku later, made to windward, and held dose, while the other pair made several short boards. A series of tacks gave Rona the lead around Coromandel Buoy, by 38 seconds ahead of Murihiku. and 48 seconds ahead of Linnet. Rona was smart in,setting her spinnaker, whereas the others lost time. Linnet gained on the Southlander, and at the Jerningham Buoy Rona headed Murihiku by 65 seconds and Linnet by 75 seconds. '; '■' . ' . The wind died down considerably during the second run .to Coromandel. Murihiku set a leading jib,' and stooA well out. iirinet stood inshore, and made a remarkable recovery at the buoy. It was a close run to round the mark, but Rona weathered it 35 seconds to the good. The wind was very light at this stage, arid Linnet had trouble in going about, losing time thereby. Murihiku. by this time was well back. On the rer turn run to Point Jerningham One of those peculiarities of the weather occurred which sometimes alters the whole complexion of a yacht race. The breeze fell-completely away, and Linnet and Rona lay becalmed within five yards.of one another* Meanwhile, Murihiku waa more fortunate, and closed up to within a hundred yards. After about a quarter of, an hour the merest breath of wind came off-shore, and very slow progress was made towards ■ the' buoy, Linnet in the>lead. She rounded 31 seconds ahead of Rona and 54 seconds ahead of ■Murihiku. The breeze now freshened elightly from a more northerly direction, and Rona and Murihiku, each assisted' by -a leading jib, began to close up on the Canterbury representative. Rona stood further out than her opponents, and thus avoided a flat patch which they" entered. : The move presently gave her the lead, but again the breeze fell away. This time there was a wait of twenty minUtea to catch a fresh. The Aucklander's position was more favourable, and she benefited before the others felt it. .The gurt she received was sufficient to take her round the buoy and well on the way to Jerningham before tfie two other contestants had made -the mark. linnet struggled to find the same breeze, but it again fell completely, and she and Murihiku merely drifted . toward thai Coromandel Buoy; Rona was around the Jerningham mark before^ Linnet rounded Coromandel 20 minutes 5 seconds behind her, a^d Murihiku 26 minutes 35 seconds behind her. - The race arid the cup were now plain* ly Auckland's,-provided the course, which must be covered in three hours, could be finished in time. With an hour to go, Rona had a lap to cover. Lionet* made^ the Jerningham Buoy 15- minutes 30 seconds behind Rona, having gained 4 minutes 35 seconds on the leader, and Murihiku 20 minutes 45 seconds behind .the Auckland boat. Rona rounded the Coromandel mark. 32 minutes 15 seconds after passing Jerningham, and fender her spinnaker sailed away nicely to tha home mark, crossing the i finiihihg~line~ a quarter of'an hour before time elapsed. Linnet crossed the finishing line 22i minutes and Murihiku 23 minutes 25 seconds behind.Rona. v PRESENTATION OF COP.: '■■' \" The Sanders Cup was presented to tha chairman of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association,'Mr. J. B. Johnston, a» few minutes after the conclusion of the race. ' In handing the trophy back into th« keeping of the Aucklanders,' Mr. ,W. Duncan, chairman of the Wellington Association, congratulated the .winners on their victory, and commented on' the good feeling that had prevailed throughout the contest. Wellington had done: its best to make the contest successful., They realised that Rona the best boat, and he hoped this province would do better next year. It would probably hi represented at the next contest by a boat of the Rona design. , In reply, Mr.-' Johnston - expressed thanks for the hospitality accorded to the visitors during their stay in Wellington, and spoke in terms of appreciation of the manner in which the lo'car association had' conducted the arrangements. Auckland's victory was due principally to the skippers >of \jhe Rona, Messrs. J. Gifford and V. Lidgard, and their young crew. The tbasft of "Rona and her Crew", was then, honoured, and the owner, Mr. Jack Gifford, responded. ; The winners were also congratulated: by Mr. A. Moffett, a Southland yachtsman.