SANDERS CUP TRIALS

Evening Star, Issue 18503, 10 December 1923, Page 9

SANDERS CUP TRIALS

WINIFRED AGAIN WINS. commons unsattsfaotoev. Disheartened and perplexed are both judges and crews over the adverse weather conditions which have prevailed, with one or two exceptions, for the-San-ders Cup trial races. While Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury are being favored with good sailing breezes in which to try out their ’boats, Nature appears to have forgotten Otago entirely in this respect. The conditions, owing to the absence of a wind which could be called a true sailing one, were bad enough a few Saturdays ago, but on Saturday afternoon were by far tho most adverse since the trials commenced. The trial was not, strictly speaking, a -sailing race —it was just a drifting match over the greater part of the course—and Winifred, as usual, seemed to have all the luck. It cannot be said that the boat won solely through good seamanship, but her skipper fGen, Kellett) certainly showed judgment by manoeuvring his boat into such a favorawe position when the contestants were struggling to make Challis’s buoy. The race needs little description. It was a foregone conclusion that Winifred would again prove tho winner. Juno, which has been looked upon as a heavy-weather boat, was a surprise on the day. She appeared to ho in lighter trim than usual, which probably accounted for her success over Heather. Kia Ora’s showing was very poor, she being well in the rear of tho other boats throughout the race. One© Winifred had rounded Challis’s she opened up a substantial lead, maintained it, and crossed the line 3min 22sec ahead of June. A« showing the unfavorable conditions which existed during tho race, a comparison may bo taken between this one and the sixth race, when June sailed twice round the course in_ lb 44min 9scc, whereas on Saturday Winifred’s time for once round tho course was close on two hours. Heather lost the benefit of what little wind there was on the return from Challis’s, and finished 19rnin ssec after Winifred, while Kia Ora crossed the line 20min ssec behind Winifred. Each of the boats carried a light crew of three. Tho crows were as follow : Winifred : G. Kellott (skipper), C. Connor, A. Davidson. Heather : W. J. P. M'Culloch (skipper), F. Goodwin, J. Gardiner, Kia Ora: A, ' Wiseman (skipper), "Togo” Watson. F. Percy.

Juno: C. French (skipper), A. Booth, W. Gardiner.

The wind was very light from the east when the boats lined up for the start. _ A fiplendid start was effected, Heather being the first away, with June and Kia Ora together, closely followed by Winifred. Winifred was flho only boat to sot her spinnaker on the run to the Three Legs, but it was of little use to her owing to the direction of the_ light breeze. The other boats set leading jibs, which appeared to be of more benefit. Heather maintained her lend, and was tho first to round the Three Legs, followed by Juno Ssec later, then Kia Ora 35scc behind Heather, and Winifred 2sec behind Kia Ora. After rounding the boats stood on a long lead to Challis’s buoy. The two leading boats (Heather and June) held a breeze for some rime, and opened up tho distance from tho other boats, which did ne>t appear to be getting much wind at this stage. oUortly after this Juno drew level with'Heather, and Winifred also made (bettor progress under the influence of a fresh lead, while Kia Ora. made little headway. June now went into the load, and (rridually increased th" distance from Heather. Heather and Winifred stood well towards the Peninsula, while Juno sailed more to leeward. Immediately before rounding Challis’s buov all the boats made a s"Hcs of short boards. Previous to this Winifred had worked into first place, and she rounded the buoy at 4 p.m., exactly one hour after the starting gun. Juno rounded 25scc later. Heather 3(Lec behind Winifred, and Kia Ora Wmin later than Heather. On the run hack to the Three Legs Juno was the first to set her spinnaker, and was close.lv followed in this move by Winifred and Heather. Winifred’s sails were drawing nicely under the influence of a very light breeze from the north-oast, and she continued to gain over tho two following boats. For a time there were various chances made in the position of the sails of Winifred. June, and Heather. Heather dispensed with her spinnaker about this time, and hoisted it again later on, while Winifred and Juno changed their spinnakers from side to side. Juno now opened un a big Had from Heather, and improved her position slightly on Winifred. Kia Ora was a long distance behind. and failed to hmwove her position on He lending boat. Win ;r red rounded the Three Lean smin 35s''c ahead of June. On the short boat to the finishing lino June gained considerably on Winifred, while Kia Ora gained an advantage over Fee flier. Following are the correct finishing times C. Fneight’s Winifred ... Ih 56m Os—l V I>. Francis’s Juno ... Ih 59m 225—2 V T p. M'Oulloch’a ’ Feather 2h 15m 3s—3 ?> F T v-vin’s Kia Ora... 2h 16m Ss—4 The following table shows the placmga of the boats in the, ten races sailed to

Tho officials for the day were : Judges —Messrs 0. G. Pmith. E. Davys, and J. D. Cameron; timekeeper and starter, T. Anderson. Tho follow-up boat was Mr IV. Henderson’s Fan. Should the weather conditions prove favorable, further tost races will be sailed over the same course this evening, also Thursday and Friday evenings, starting at 6 o’clock, and on Saturday afternoon, if necessary.

ROHA’S DOUBLE WIN. THE AUCKLAND TRIALS. IPeb United Press Association.! AUCKLAND, December 9. Ron a. again scored a double win in the test races to decide the defender of the Sanders Cup. The first course was a triangular one, a westerly wind affording a fair test, on all points of sailing. The competitors wore Kona, Queen March, and Joan in the first event. From a good start Ron a drew slowly ahead of Joan, rounding the first mark ahead,_ Queen March being 31&eo behind. Rounding the second mark Ron a led by 15sec from Queen March, Joan rounding ssec later. On tho beat back to tho starting point Rona showed her old form, beating Queen March by 68soc, Joan being another 72sec astern. In the second test the course was a windward and leeward one. Rona was first away, followed foy Joan, Queen March being to windward. Rona slowly worked ahead, but Queen March crossed her. Rona rounded the weather mark 28sec ahead of Queen March, which was sscc ahead of Joan, All set their spinnakers to starboard for tho long run against the tide to tho finishing Off the western wall Rona had a load of o4sec from Queen March, which was lOsec ahead of Joan. Rona continued to lead, but Queen March and Joan made up some leeway. Nearing the finishing line Joan caught up on Queen March, passing the post Isec ahead of her. Rona wo ft by 20sec.

LINNET STILL WINNING. [Pee United Press Association.^ CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. The Linnet won two more races yesterday against .Secret, the only competitor. Linnet has now won three, Secret one, and the fifth will be sailed on Saturday next. Yesterday’s races were sailed in a strong breeze aad a good sea. Secret had

a new helmsman, who had never sailed a 14-foot one design yacht before. He was beaten by 3min Msec. In the afternoon race Linnet only won with Imin 47soc to spare, although Secret made several mistakes.

date :— 1st 2nd 3rd 4ih 5 th Winifred ... . ... 6 1 0 1 0 T feather ... , ,. 1 4 4 0 0 Juno ... 3 2 0 3 1 Kia Ora ... . ., 0 3 3 3 0