CANTERBURY RETAINS TROPHY

Evening Star, Issue 21642, 10 February 1934, Page 12

CANTERBURY RETAINS TROPHY

FINAL SANDERS CUP RAGE SINCLAIR’S FINE SAILING GREAT RECOVERY BY M'GRATH Canterbury retained tho Sanders Memorial Cup, the blue riband of New Zealand yachting, in the sixth race of the contest, sailed on Lyttelton harbour this morning. Up to this morning’s race Canterbury and Otago had two wins each and Wellington had one. The race was keenly contested throughout, and Sinclair, the Canterbury skipper, thoroughly deserved his win, which was a popular one with the yachtsmen. At one stage of the race the winning boat was in last position, but by expert seamanship and sound racing tactics Sinclair saved the day. M'Grath, the Otago skipper, also gave a sterling performance, and after occupying last place for a considerable portion of the race he went out into the centre of the harbour, and found a good breeze which brought him up to second place. Tho race was sailed over a triangular course of nine miles, running from the Gladstone pier to Battery Point, the Quarry, and back to the starting line. Conditions were again unpleasant, the weather being. cold, with rain falling, and the wind very light from the southwest. The boats carried crews of three men.

Lavina made a beautiful start, and had her spinnaker set and drawing very quickly. A few seconds after the start the boats began to open out, and positions were as follow: —Val (Southland), Eileen (Otago), Lavin a (Wellington), Irene (Canterbury). The Southland boat began to draw away from the Otago representative, while Lavina opened out from Irene. By a smart manoeuvre Sinclair, the Canterbury skipper, weathered Lavina and came up under Eileen’s lee. The breeze commenced to freshen at this stage, and on. approaching the first mark spinnakers were smartly housed. Val maintained her lead and rounded about I2seo ahead of Eileen, with Lavina 16sec astern of the Otago boat, and Irene about sseo later. On the long beat to tho next mark the Otago boat soon began to draw away from the others, but Lavina subsequently displaced Eileen, Val maintaining her lead. At the mark Val led by about llsec from Lavina. Eileen was about 36seo astern of the Wellington boat and Irene another 40sec back. Val’s spinnaker hand gave a fine display at this mark, and had his kite drawing in a very short space of time. With the wind astern Sinclair, in Irene, and M'Grath, in Eileen, had a luffing match, the former climbing up on the Otago boat and attempting to pass to weather. M'Grath, however, flattened his sheets a little and forced his opponent to do likewise, till on one occasion both boats were almost close hauled with spinnakers set, M'Grath was steadily forcing Sinclair out into the centre of the harbour, and the Canterbury skipper finally Squared away for the mark, but the Otago man carried on to maintain his weather position. The boats were by this time a considerable distance off their course and were compelled to gybe in order to lay the mark; and another gybe was necessary to round. _ Shortly before reaching the mark Lavina and Val were becalmed together, but were nearly a minute ahead of the other two boats. Rounding the Battery Point mark for the second time, Val led by about ssec from Lavina, while Eileen was about another 50sec back' and about llsec ahead of Irene. . Shortly after rounding tho mark Val commenced to open out from Lavina and Irene weathered Eileen. At the quarry for the second time Val was about 26sec ahead of Lavina, Irene was about 71seo back, and Eileen was another 7seo astern. On _ rounding the mark Val received a nice puff and opened up a good lead from Lavina. Tho boats made a fine sight as they raced through the water in the somewhat fresher breeze with all sail set. Val began to lose ground and Lavina went to weather of her, with Irene coming across at a great speed. Eileen at this stage appeared to be dropping back. When the Gladstone pier mark was reached Lavina was about 15sec ahead of Val, and both gybed well and set their spinnakers smartly. Irene was about 30sec behind the Southland contender, and Otago more than a minute astern. Spinnakers were soon set, and Irene again showed her speed off the wind, passing Val and-closing up on Lavina. At the conclusion of the run to leeward Lavina led from Irene by about lOsec, with Val about 9seo back and Eileen another 57sec astern. , .. . With nothing to lose and everything to gain, M'Grath decided to break away from the other boats and suu his own course up the centre of the harbour. Iren© to catch Lavina, and Sinclair was sailing his ‘boat very well. He weathered the ton boat and took first position. At this stage M'Grath obtained the benefit of his break-away from the fleet, and found a good breeze in the centre of the harbour. He was ahead of the fleet, but some distance to leeward, but when the quarry mark was reached the Otago boat occupied second place, being about 40sec behind Irene. Val was 4sec astern of the Otago boat, and Lavina another minute back. With a short run to the mark it was seen that Irene could not be caught, though the Otago and Wellington boats were bringing up a fine breeze with them. Irene occasionally fell into calm patches, and tho other boats came up with a fine burst of speed, but could not catch, the leader, which finished with about half a minute to spare. Lavina was almost a minute behind the Otago boat, and Val about another half-minute back.