SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 21004, 19 January 1932, Page 4

SANDERS CUP

BETTY WINS FIRST QUALIFYING RACE AVENGER'S BIG LEAD IN MORNING RAGE TIME LIMIT ROBS HER OF VICTORY [Per United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, January 18. Tlie first race iu the twelfth Sanders Cup contest was sailed to-day, but was called off when no boat reached home after the time limit of three hours had expired. Tho course was a windward and leeward one, from Evans Bay to Ngahauranga, but owing to a change in the wind from the north to the south, giving the boats- a beat both ways, the time limit expired before any boat crossed the finishing line. Avenger (Canterbury) was away first after gunfire, and Heather (Otago) last. The Wellington boat (Betty) was also slow in getting off tho mark. Avenger and Val (Southland) led the fleet, and after racing for an hour the positions were: Avenger, Val, Heather, llangi (Auckland), and Betty. At 11.30 clouds began to bank up towards the south, and the southerly breeze freshened. The Canterbury boat was first round the Ngahauranga mark, three minutes before Heather. Betty was 10 minutes behind, followed by Val, two seconds later, and Rangi last. At this point the wind changed to the south. Mist and rain came on, and by tlie time the Evans Bay mark was reached Avenger had increased her lead by two minutes. Heather was still second, with Betty five minutes later, then Rangi and Val, one minute apart. The race then developed into a procession, Avenger gradually increasing her lead. When the finishing gun was fired at 1.15 p.m. Avenger was only 200yds from the line. RESAILED RACE

Sailed in a strong southerly breeze, the first qualifying race in the Sanders Cup contest this afternoon resulted in a win fbr the Wellington boat Betty. Betty and Avenger put up a great fight for leading position during the first half of the race. The course was a windward and leeward one, set from the buoy off Shelly Bay to Ngahauranga, to Shelly Bay, to Ngahauranga, and back to the finishing line at Point Jerningham. It was only when half the course had been covered that Betty established herself in a strong leading position, and Avenger always kept tenaciously behind her. A fine start was made at 3.35 p.m., with a goodly breeze from the south behind the boats. Spinnakers _ were quickly set. The Avenger, as in the morning race, was easily first over the line, followed by Rangi, Betty, Heather, and Val. Betty from the start began to creep up on Rangi and Avenger, until when about half a mile had been covered she had reached a position about 75ycls behind the leading boat, Avenger, with Heather following very close, third.' Two-thirds of the way across both Avenger and Heather were overtaking Betty. Avenger fell back a little, leaving Betty to fight for the leading position. First one went to the fore and then the other. However, when the Ngahauranga buoy was reached Betty rounded two seconds behind Avehger, with Heather eight seconds behind Avenger. The other boats, Rangi and Val, rounded within one minute of Betty. The wind still held on the long close haul across to Shelly Bay. Betty and Avenger had a sterling tussle. Right until the boats were under the lee of Point Halswell did they keep together, and it was impossible to determine which was leading. Johnstone at this stage was holding Betty very close to the wind, but Brassel w r as sailing the Avenger very much more freely. Betty, however, got the weather on Avenger, and when the Shelly Bay buoy was rounded she led from Avenger by Imin 20sec, with Heather Imin 40sec behind Avenger. Rangi was fourth and Val fifth. On the second run across to Ngahauranga the positions were not altered, and Betty, on the run, had gained by 20sec from Avenger by the time she had rounded the mark buoy at Ngahauranga. Heather was third, Val fourth, and Rangi fifth. It was a hard slog in the face of a strong wind on the final beat up to the finishing mark at Point Jerningham. It was apparent that Betty could not be beaten shortly after she had begun the homeward journey. Rather remarkable was the way in which Rangi crept from last to third position on this final beat, but the race to all intents and purposes was a foregone conclusion when the last buoy was rounded. Betty crossed the finishing line 2min 4sec ahead of Avenger. The official finishing times were:— ■ Betty, 5h 53min 56sec. Avenger, 5h 56min. Rangi, Ch 2min 40sec. Heather, 6h 3m in lOscc. Val, 6h smin 4sec.