AVENGER WINS

Evening Star, Issue 21006, 21 January 1932, Page 8

AVENGER WINS

" ♦ 1 '■” SANDERS GDP FINAL STERN BATTLE WITH BETTY WELIINGTON BOAT CAPSIZES By winning the fifth race in the Sanders Memorial Cup contest on Wellington Harbour this morning Avenger justified her name and Avon the trophy from Wellington for the ensuing twelve months. The course was a windward and leeward one, starting with a beat from Clyde quay wharf to a buoy in Kaiwarra Bight, and then a run back to Clyde quay; three times round. All boats carried heavy crews, and Val was close-i’eefed.

A good start was made by all the competitors, and Avenger, which started on the starboard tack, at once put the remainder of the boats about. Betty and Avenger again outpaced the remainder of the fleet and fought for the weather position. Avenger went ahead of the Wellington boat, but was some distance to leeward of her when off Pipitea wharf./ Val’s skipper was sailing his own course and was well away from the rest of the ‘ fleet. Shortly after passing Pipitea wharf Heather, on the port tack, failed to give way to liangi on the starboard tack, with the result that a foul occurred, and the Otago skipper showed his sportsmanship by withdrawing from the race. Avenger continued to improve her position on the beat, though she appeared 1 to be making heavier weather of it than Betty, which was sailing very well. At the conclusion of the boat to the weather mark Avenger rounded almost one minute ahead of Betty, liangi, after working short boards, was next and. Val fourth. With the wind astern leading jibs were set as spinnakers, and the boats flew down wind. Betty made up slightly on Avenger, and was only 1 20sec late at the leeward mark. Val I was nearly 3min after Betty, and liangi another smin back. Brassel was ] sailing his boat 1 much freer than Johnston, and she was standing up to the 1 wind better. Avenger drew away from Betty on the beat, and, when the two boats crossed tacks, had plenty to spare. The breeze at this time commenced to veer through north to east. Betty found a favourable slant and climbed to weather, leaving Val a good distance behind. A hard fight between Avenger and Betty ensued on the beat, and the latter boat was at one time in the lead. Brassel, however, outsailed his opponent and showed fine judgment. At the mark Betty was 13sec behind Avenger, with Val 7min / back, liangi was another smin astern. With the wind free, spinnakers were set, as the wind was falling, and Avenger was within an ace of capsizing, but was saved at the last moment. Betty, however, passed her and rounded the leeward buoy 9sec in the lead. On the beat for the last time Betty was well to weather but rather astern of Avenger. The positions were unchanged at the buoy at Kaiwarra, and with the wind behind them they raced for the finishing mark. Avenger was sailing faster than Betty, and as she drew almost level with the Wellington boat the latter capsized, leaving Brassel to sail Avenger over the lino more than a mile ahead of Val. Brassel lowered his spinnaker and finished without mishap. A GREAT BATTLE tfETTY OVERTURNS IN WINNING POSITION / (Special to the ' Stah. ] WELLINGTON, January 21. Capsizing in the high wind half a mile from the finishing line, Betty, which was slightly in the lead in the fifth Sanders Cup race this morning gave the race to the new Avenger, and the Cup to Canterbury. The official'times were: AVENGER: 12h 38min 37sec. VAL • 12h 52min 40sec. RANGI: lb ,2min 30sec. The race was a wonderful tussle between Avenger and Betty, which trailed each other in turn throughout the whole course. Brassel (Canterbury) was beaten on the wind by Betty on the last slog to windward, and could not have come 1 home first if Betty had not capsized. The race was sailed in a hard northerly wind over a windward and leeward course from Clyde quay wharf to Coromandel hulk (off Kaiwarra), back to Clyde quay, three times round. It was ’ a difficult start on the wind, and Heather got away first, followed by Avenger, Betty, Val, and ‘ Rangi., Avenger and Betty soon pulled out to the fore, and Betty was not long in getting to weather of Avenger. It was a very hard beat in rough seas up to the first mark at Coromandel. Betty held the lead for half the journey, but when Avenger and Betty split tacks it was seen that the Canterbury boat had a slight advantage, just weathering Betty. Betty up to this stage had’ been beating Avenger on the wind, and then went on a long board. Avenger saw the mistake, and by a succession of short boards succeeded in rounding Coromandel hulk SOsec ahead of Betty, and Val was third and Rangi fourth. Heather retired. The wind was blowing too bard on the run down to Clyde quay for the boats to set spinnakers. Avenger held the lead all the way from Betty, and rounded the mark, SOsec ahead. Val was third and Rangi fourth. Commencing the second round up to Coromandel, Avenger rounded on the starboard tack and weathered Betty. Brassel’s boat seemed to be going through the water faster and was sailing more freely than Johnston’s. Betty seemed to get “ jammed.” Avenger and Betty stood over on the port tack for a long while, Avenger holding Betty under her lec all the time. Avenger had Betty in an awkward position, and Betty could not get out of it without breaking tacks. Avenger at' this stage appeared to be sailing perfectly, going through the water in fine style and working up to windward constantly. Brassel wont about halfway across and weathered Betty, but Betty evidently got an unexpected puff, and a moment later was sailing in tho windward position and loading. It was merely a fluke ! and duo in no way to any fault of . seamanship on tho part of Brassel. Tho race was very interesting at this | stage, and devolved into a ■ battle of , tactics between the two skippers. Approaching Coromandel hulk, Avenger on tho port tack, went about, and weathered the mark. Betty stood put too long, and overlaid the mark, being round lOsec behind Avenger. There was no doubt that Johnston was completely out-manoeuvred. \ | This hulk marked the completion of i

half the course. On the second run down to Clyde quay the boats set spinnakers, as the wind had dropped somewhat, whereas tho-first time down they merely used leaders. It was a great x run down, and when Avenger received a hard squall she all hut capsized. The boats took a tremendous risk in setting spinnakers in such a hard wind. Betty rounded the mark at Clyde quay 7see ahead of Avenger. The boats worked up harbour similarly to the previous heat. Betty, as before, stood out well, and Avenger occupied the windward position. Approaching Coromandel hulk, tho final mark, Betty weathered Avenger, and both were making towards the hulk on the starboard tack, Brassel failed to weather the hulk without going about, as he did previously, and rounded the mark Imin lOsec after Betty. Avenger set her-spinnaker, forcing Betty to do likewise. It was a risk, but Betty took it, and failed, capsizing shortly afterward. Avenger sailed home unopposed. Val was third, 1} miles behind; Rangi fourth.