SANDERS CUP THE RACE

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 5

SANDERS CUP

THE RACE

A duo west light wind was blowing, and Paterson’s Inlet was a sheet of almost smooth water, Eor nearly two hours the breeze eamo away steadily, but as the boats were on the iinal run lor the line the wind faded, and only fitful pulls helped the leading boats, Betty and Eileen, along. As a race today’s contest was intensely more interesting than the first series, lor at the finish only dfmiu separated four bouts, Wellesley 11. (Wellington) being out of the race proper. When the first beat was commenced Hetty beat Eileen by 40sce, Avalon by Imin 26scc, Murihiku lE. by 3miu IHsec, and Wellesley JE by llmin 52sec. The movements gave hundreds of spectators with practically no knowledge of yachting a splendid education, the skippers adopting different tactics on both rounds.

Betty’s first round tactics were followed in the second round by all the other boats, excepting Eileen, which, with Betty, stood over to the forestcovered eastern shore to fetch the windward buoy by mid-harbor tacks. Both Canterbury and Otago scored by taking this board, the boats holding the steadier and stronger wind than the boats off windward land. On the first beat others had worked the eastern side, but had not gained on the leaders, as the wind was steadier on all parts of the course. By taking the longer board into the eastern bays Eileen secured a better lay off than Betty for the windward buoy, lessening Betty’s lead by 26sec.

Undoubtedly the greatest disappointment. was Avalon’s sailing. >Sho had every chance, and was skillully sitiled and well manned, yet only on the run home did she show superior speed to Betty and Eileen. Lightweather crews were carried on all the boats, but Avalon’s was perhaps the heaviest. However, such a small extra weight was not the cause of her defeat. Avalon moved very sluggishly for the greater part of the race, and was at no time dangerous. She is clearly not sailing as well as at the previous two contests. Murihiku* IE gave no promise of being likely to win a race this year, and it is questionable whether she is as good a boat as the original Murihiku, which qualified for the final in five consecutive contests. Tom Bragg sailed her well early in the race, but lack of competition at Stewart Island during the summer ultimately told, the skipper being cutmameuvred by Avalon s helmsman.

AVellesley If. was outclassed. Whether tfie boat or Ibe crew is at fault is a subject for debate. Her defeats bare been so severe that it would be rather ridiculous to ascribe her poor shmviu.es to (be boat alone. Wellesley’s llmin inferiority over tenm'ile course is surprising. On Friday the boat was leading, cracks having opened up, and her mast was not stayed properly. Attention was given to these faults, but_ the boat sailed poorly. Her crew did not use much judgment. Moreover, the boat is amateurishly rigged, she having been fitted without regard to such questions ns windage, and the lightness ol the weather was to A\ ellcsley’s liking, the water being smooth. Yet tho Wellington challenger dropped astern quickly. At one mark she was 12min behind Betty, but she was brought home on a fresher following wind than that experienced by Betty and Eileen. The course was from a buoy off Tona to a mark off tho western end of Uloa, then down to Price's Bay buoy, and back to the starting line, twice round The maritime display was the finest seen in a Sanders Cup contest. Two cargo steamers, oyster trawlers, pleasure motor yachts, launches, and fishing cutters, numbering in all thirty, following the competing yachts. The crows wore:—

Betty, 2h 31min 50sec. Eileen, 2h 32min uOsce. Murihiku, 2h 33inin 26scc. Avalon. 2h 3omin 35scc. Wellesley, 2h 38miu 44sec

Eileen (Otago).—G. Kcllett, A. Booth, A. Hill. Betty (Canterbury).—G. Andrews, I. Trefeaven, 1!. Hampton. Avalon (Auckland). —J. Patrick, F. Blokes, R. Brown. Mnribiku Jl. (Southland).—!’. Bragg, E. Phillips, H. Hansen. Wellesley 11. (Wellington).—B. White, J. Bergwilkin.

The leaders were set at gunfire at 1.30 p.m., when all tho boats were on the wrong side of the starter’s boat. It was a poor start, Otago to windward crossing first, with Southland and Auckland close up. Twenty seconds later Betty went over tho line, followed osec after by Wellesley. Betty quickly worked to weather of the fleet, Wellesley following in her wake. On the lead across the inlet to Ulva Betty went to the front, while also improved her leeward position. Eileen fell off the wind for a short time, and after 7min had passed Wellesley was further to weather than Betty. Murihiku dropped slowly to leeward. Betty continued to draw steadily away, but Wellesley, Eileen, and Avalon worked well to weather of her. Out in the open water the race was on as tho fleet caught some strong pulls. Eileen was sailing splendidly, and Avalon was falling astern of her slowly. When the fleet was within distance of the eastern buoy Betty, which had eased off, was racing in front of Eileen, still out to weather of Avalon, Murihiku, and Wellesley. Betty opened out a 30sec advantage from Eileen, which was 22sec ahead of Avalon, on the lead. The order and times of rounding were; Betty, Ih 46min 14sec. Eileen, Hi 4Cniin 44sec. Avalon, Ih 47min 6scc. Wellesley, Ih 47min 19scc. Murihiku, Hi 47rnin 37sec.

Immediately on rounding, Andrews lose hauled Betty on the port leg across to the western shore, while Eileen stood on to starboard lor a minute. Murihiku followed Betty, while Wellesley and Avalon kept on to starboard, for a long time standing close inshore before going about foi the leg down to Price’s Bay. On tho thisish Miisihiku travelled pleasingly.

Second Race Betty Wins Again Eileen Beaten by 40 Seconds [From Our Own Reporter.] HALFMOON BAY, February IS. Although beaten, the Otago boat, Eileen, was lar irom disgraced in the second race to-day lor the Sanders Cup. Superbly handled by George Kellctt, Eileen chased Betty over the ten-mile triangle course, and it was indeed a stern chase. Eileen outsailed Betty on the thresh to windward m the second round, and she made the first run in the same time as the dclcnder. Betty was considered invincible after Friday’s display ol outstanding superiority, but George Andrews had an anxious time until the finishing line was crossed,, being only 40sec ahead of the Eileen. Otago has every reason to bo proud of the performance of her boat and crew. Betty was sailed faultlessly, and Eileen's commanding display was duo to her merits as a boat. There was nothing to denote Andrews’s superiority over Kcllett’s abilities. It was, alter all, a battle between boats, and Eileen showed that in light weather Betty cannot give much time away to her.

and reduced-Belly’s lead. Eileen, however, was out to weather of both, Betty and Murihiku, and striking a good wind, got an excellent slant off. Avalon and Wellesley worked their way off tho eastern shore, tbe Auckland challenger drawing slowly away Irom Wellesley. Betty continued right into Kvan’s "Creek, where Murihiku was falling off tho wind badly. Eileen was well to weather of both Murihiku and Betty. Avalon was catching a much steadier breeze in mid-harbor than the trio, and was getting a better lay oft for the buoy. At 2h 2min Betty came about, and crossed well in front of Eileen, whose skipper would have acted wisely in also breaking tacks. Munhiku seemed to lose the wind close inshore, and swung over to starboard 2min after.

Betty was sailing easily, and she glided over the smooth water a long way to weather of Avalon, 3min after Betty. Kcllott put Eileen about, and immediately the sails wore filled with steady breezes on the starboard thresh. Both Eileen and Murihiku showed excellent speed, but tho Otago boat was working to weather of Southland. Avalon"" was about 200yds to leeward of Eileen when she came about a long way off tho shore for another thresh to starboard. Her long board into Eastern Bay had not been beneficial. Wellesley sailed a Jong course, working on and off tho eastern shore, and sin was losing time in two legs from Ryan’s Greek. Betty rounded Price’s Bay mark Imin ahead of Eileen. KelJctr sailing tho Otago boat remarkably well. Betty had gained only .'’Usee on windward work Irom .Eileen. Forty-sis seconds later Avalon turned, and Munliiku spun around the buoy only Tscc later. Over 3min later Wellesley fetched the buoy. The times rounding were ; Belty, 2ii 11 min Msec. Eileen, 2h 12min 14sec. Avalon, 2h 13min. Murihiku, 2h 13min .(sec. Wellesley, 2h 16min 17seo. Spinnakers were broken out in excellent time by all the fov’ard hands for the long run back to lona. Island. Wellesley set the smartest, her spinnaker drawing within 12sec. M.urihika passed Avalon 4min after rounding Price’s Bay mark. The scene was a glorious one, unsurpassed in any previous Sanders Gup contest, the snow-white filled canvas lifting yachts along before the grand procession of gaily fairy-bedecked craft, ranging from tho tug Southland to the smallest of pleasure launches, Nearing lona, Betty still held the lead from Eileen, which was footing it as fast as Murihiku and Avalon, these two boats having a great light for third place. Avalon was on Mnriliiku’s stem twice, but the Southland boat spurted ahead again. Betty housed her spinnaker when 25yds off the mark, which she rounded exactly Imiu ahead of Eileen, the Canterbury defender not having gained a fraction of a second on the run. Murihiku gained I Isec on the leading boats before the wind, and Avalon was Isoc faster. Wellesley dropped another Imin llscc. Tha times of rounding were;

A steady breeze was blowing as tho boats came on to wind again, and they shot away like racehorses as tho sheets were hauled in for the lead across to tho buoy off tho west of Diva, and Eileen’s skipper followed Betty, Murihiku, and Avalon Both worked steadily np to weather, hut the leading boats were going ahead slowly. Eileen fell to leeward for a short time, Kellctt bringing her closer to tho wind by capable handling. Betty, however, was too fast on tho lead, on which she increased tho margin from Eileen by half a minute, while the Otago boat outpaced both Murihiku and Avalon. The Auckland yacht’s performances were distinctly below her usual form. Wellesley was already out of tho race. The Ulva mark was rounded in the following order Betty, 2h 49min 5-lsec. Eileen, 2h 51min 24sec. Murihiku, 2h 52min 44sec. Avalon, 2h 53min lOsec. Wellesley, 3h Imin 55sec. Betty stood over to Eastern Bay, and Eileen followed. Murihiku and Avalon swung over to port. Immediately on rounding Betty and Eileen kept on a starboard tack for several minutes, but neither went over so far as Avalon had done in tho first round. Eileen made a longer board. When Canterbury and Otago ultimately came about they both held a much steadier wind than Murihiku and Avalon, which caught only occasional puffs as they threshed over to Ryan’s Creek. Avalon weathered Murihiku on this leg. Tho wind was favoring Betty and Eileen as they headed up the inlet in more open water, Betty going further ahead. Avalon was first to break tacks off, and she went ahead of Murihiku. At the sumo time Betty, which had made a great leg from Ulva, changed over to starboard. When under the lee of Price’s Point Kellett pointed Eileen high, and when Betty passed ahead of her Otago supporters were elated at the closeness of the race. Eileen was only a short distance behind. Eileen also came about, and both tho leading boats tacked for the mark. Betty’s skipper made a raisjudgment, and the boat dropped to leeward of the mark, this requiring two more short legs and causing a dfcl.n of 4Ssec. However, Otago’s skipper made the same mistake, but lost only 13scc, Betty turning 32acc ahead of Eileen. Meanwhile Avalon was showing the way to Murihiku in tho beat to the mark, while Wellesley was over a mile away, still holding the mid-harbor course. The roundings were made as (follow: — Betty, 3h lomin lOsec. Eileen, 31) lomin 42sec. Avalon, 3h IStuin 44sec. Murihiku, 3h 20min 3sec. .Wellesley, 3h 32min 18seo.

Jt was not difficult to understand the enthusiasm of all tho spectators at tiro superb light being made by Eileen against tiic seemingly invincible Betty after the Canterbury boat’s run-away win on tho previous afternoon. Spinnaker wore again set smartly, the Muriliiku hands giving the best display Eileen’s spinnaker filled quicker than Betty’s, and it was apparent tiiat tho long chaso would be a stern chase. The boats glided along before a fickle wind. "Can Eileen catch Betty?” was the paramount question for discussion, and at times Eileen encouraged her supporters by making a forward move. How ever, the wind eased off, and ballooners were only filled. Betty and Eileen stood further out into the inlet, while Murihiku and Avalon followed an inshore course. With a mile to go, Eileen was gradually overhauling Betty. Avalon was holding the steady breeze,, and she glided away from Murihiku, and gained considerably on the leaders. The issue, however, was beyond doubt, Betty lifting across tho finishing line dying breeze only 40sec ahead of Eileen, with Avalon Imin 26sec behind, the Auckland representative having gained Imin 3Gscc on the run on Eileen and linin 28sec on Betty. As Betty rac.-d past the judges’ steamers in the inlet opened their whistles, and cheers were given by the big crowd, Tho finishing times were: Betty, oil 40mm 28see. Eileen, 3h 41min Bsec. Avalon, 3h 42min_44sec. Murihiku, 3h 44min 2sec. Wellesley, 3h 52min 20sec.

The third race will be sailed on a windward and leeward course on Monday afternoon.