EILEEN WINS

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 4

EILEEN WINS

THSFiD SANDERS CUP RACE TO OTAGO GOSD VICTORY IN LIGHT AIR [Special it) the ' Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, February 7. The : wore enough supporters of Otago assembled on the pier at the linislnm, line to make a respectable cheer when the Otago boat, Eileen, won the third race in the Sanders Cup series. The race was sailed in a very light northerly air over a leeward and windward course. Starling off Gladstone Pier, the boat had a heat to Battery Point, and then ran to the pile light, three times round, ami finished on the starting line. Drizzling rain on a windless morning dashed the hopes of the competing crews, and the chances of the race seemed remote; but later in the day the weather cleared, and a light northerly sprang up, just about strong enough to make the .race possible. The rare showed that nil the boats do not sail host in light weather. Lavina (Wellington), for instance, fell back very early, and was well in the rear over the latter half of the course. Irene (Canterbury) finished third, but was with Eileen and Val (Southland) over practically the whole course. Val

made a.i excellent showing, and with little luck might have won. The Otagi skipper, however, sailed an excellent race, and Eileen was splendidly handled always. 'll the boats carried light wnathei crows of three. Eileen did not faro well at the start, and in the heat to the buoy was well iu the roar the order passing the buoy being Irene, Lavina, A'a I (close together), with Eileen udseo be hind. On the run to the .second mark Val overhauled the loaders and took the lead. The first round was completed as fol lows ; Val, 3h admin lOsec. Irene, Jlf admin 2!)sec. Lavina, ah .'Jlbnin Jusec. Eileen, 3h admin 51soc. Val lost her advantage going to windward, and was weathered by Irene. Lavina dropped to the rear and stayed there for the remainder of the course. Eileen took a long board into the harbour, the other boats staying inshore, and when Eileen came in again she had not improved her position. Irene rounded Battery Point

buoy 29sec in front of Val, Eileen another 33sec away, and Lavina 68sec behind Eileen. The run for the pile was slow, the wind being light, and there was no change in position. The pile was turned for the second time as under:- - 1 rene 4h 22min o-tsec. Val, 4h 23min 12scc. Eileen, Hi 2.‘!min 48sec. Lavina, 4h 25inin IDscc. Standing out from the shore, Eileen was soon in position to challenge the two lenders. Val, pointing better than Irene, was moving up, and to the delight of tiie Southland supporters, again took the weather position. Coming across on a long hoard from midharboiir, Eileen went into second place, with Irene well to windward. The position was now very exciting, and Southland and Otago supporters wore on tiptoe. Val was only just to weather of Eileen, and it was a hard fight to the first mark. Eileen weathered the buoy first, Val .‘37sec away, Irene lOsec later, and Lavina five minutes in the rear. The relative positions were unchanged on the run for the pile. Eileen drew out 9sec, rounding 46sec ahead of Val, which was still lOsee ahead of Irene, Excitement was intense as the three leaders, close hauled, fought it out to the finishing line Eileen held her own, and crossed with a minute to spare, with Val mid Irene making a close race for second place. The finishing times were:— Eileen, 51i 26imu 4osec. Val, 51i 27min Sosec. Irene, 5h 27inin 58soc. Lavina, 5h 33min 32sec. Two races have been arranged for to-morrow.