SIXTH SANDERS CUP TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 17

SIXTH SANDERS CUP TRIAL

WELLESLEY WINS EXCITING RACE.

A stiff nor'-wester and a heavy sea were the factors with which the three 14-foOters, the Wellesley, the All Black, and the Peggy, had to contend for the sixth Sanders Cup trial last evening. Thrills there were in, plenty, especially when the small yachts were on the thrash up to the Coromandel buoy, and at times it seemed a miracle that there was not a capsize. For the lead to Jerningham Buoy, which was commenced at 6.8 p.m., the Wellosley carried full sail, while the All Black had one tuck in, and the Peggy a couple. The latter, for once, was under her working jib. This leg was not without incident, the water coming aboard freely and keeping the crews hard at work bailing. It was evident at this stage that the Peggy was ill at ea.se in the heavy weather, even with her scanty sail, but she kept on. In the lead, the All Black was doing well, and she rounded the buoy at 6hr lomin, the Wellesley rounding at 6hr 15min 18sec, and the Peggy at 6hr 16min Bsec.

Once round, the Peggy found the heavy seas very little to her liking, and after a few boards she came into the wind while her-crew set to work bailing out the water. After some delay she stood on her course again, but obviously had no hope, although her qualities on the wind might have helped with a lesser handicap. The beat to Coromandel proved the skill of the skippers to the utmost. Now on top of a wave, now down in the trough, but always right side up, the All Black and the Wellesley struggled on, the latter boat pointing up better than her opponent, and gaining with every board. Passing the steam-yacht Surprise, the boats split tacks, and it could be seen that the Wellesley had got to weather. At one stage, Skipper Crawford, in the All Black, could have kept his boat ahead had he gone about, or so it appeared to those in the following launch Taniora, but his usual good .iudgment failed him and he stood on. The Wellesley gained the mark at 6hr 39min, and the All Black followed round at 6hr 40min 15see. The Peggy was a quarter of a mile behind, and Selector J. Gendell signalled Skipper Sterling to run for the Boat Harbour as the boat was apparently heavily handicapped. Meanwhile the Wellesley and the All Black were planing for the finishing line, scooting across the tops of the waves like speed, boats. Occasionally a gust of wind would strike thsm, and seem to lift them completely from the water, and there were moments when both were nearly on their beam ends. The Wellesley increased her lead slightly, and finished at 6hr 49min 30sec_, the All Black crossing at 6hr Slmin.

The All Black and the Wellesley uave now had one win each.