WIN FOR HOLDER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1932, Page 9

WIN FOR HOLDER

YESTERDAY'S RACE

THE BETTY'S SUCCESS

Yesterday afternoon's race in the Sanders Cup series was won fairly comfortably by the lietty (Wellington), holder of the trophy, despite a strong •challenge by the Canterbury representative, the Avenger, which was her principal opponent.

The race was sailed in a moderate southerly breeze. The course was the bine as that set for the morning race, a run from-the Fraser Rock buoy near Shelly Bay to a buoy off Ngahauranga, a beat back, another run down to Ngakaurauga, and a beat to Point Jerninghain. The crews were as follows:— Kangi (Auckland): W. JUatthews (skipper), N. Wing, T.'lreland, F. Oloke. Betty (Wellington): A. Johnston (skipper), D. Beaumont, I. Watt, J. Elliott. Avenger (Canterbury): G. Brassell (skipper), F. Fornian, R. Priddy, E. Sinclair, :

Heather: (Otago): C. Pettitt (skipper), J. MtGrath, A. Shanks, R. Reynold*. Val (Southland): I. Gough (skipper), Robertson, Jensen, A. Tinnock.

A start was made at 3.35 p.m., the Avenger's Bpinnaker being first out. With half the run covered the Betty had a substantial lead from the Aveuger, which was slightly ahead of the Heather, with the Rangi and Yal close Tip. Approaching the Xgahauranga buoy the Avenger and Heather began to move up on the Betty, and for a time, as the wind favoured first one boat and then another, the; three raced in company. . ■ There was an exciting race for the mark, which was rounded by the Betty only 2sec ahead of the Avenger and lOace ahead of the Heather. X' > Rangi and Val wers respectively 45sec and lmin behind the Betty, so that only lmin elapsed between the rounding of the five boats.

Spectacular racing was witnessed on the beat in the fresh breeze, the Betty and Avenger, which worked out into v the middle harbour, with the Heather, sailing together with the skippers getting every ounce of speed out of their boats. Over the early part of the journey the .Betty had the Canterbury representative just under her lee, but Brassell finally went about and sailed through the Betty's lee, and when the latter also went about the Avenger was to windward. After a short time, however, the boats split tacks again, and the Betty, which had recen-ed a good slaut of wind, was again m the lead. She was pointing higher than the Avenger, and continued to draw away At the Fraser Rock buoy she had an advantage, of lmin 20see over the Avenger The Heather rounded lmin 40sec further back. Botli the Rangi and Val had done tairiy well on their inshore course, and they Rquared away for the run 4min and 4min 20gec. behind the Bett}-. •" ' On the rnu to Ngahanranga the Avenger *et a leader as; well as a spinnaker, but made no impression on the Betty, whose leader was not set until nearly half the distance had been covered. The Wellington boat actually sained •on this lee, rounding lmitt 42sec in front of the Avenger. The HeatherY Val, and Rangi went round respectively 3m in 25sec. Smin lOsec and smin 30sec after the Betty. ' There -w.as little change in the order beating up to the finishing line, except that the Kangi passed the Heather and Val and sailed into third position. The Betty again took time out of the Avenger Official finishing times by the clock were •s follows:—•■ Betty ;' .... -.. shr 53min oßsec Avenger .-...';... Shr 56min •ft? 11*? -... 6hr 2min 40sec Heather ........ 6hr 3min lOsec Val .......; ..■..'- ohr omin 4sec