VANGUARD’S DOUBLE SUCCESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 January 1939, Page 2

VANGUARD’S DOUBLE SUCCESS

IN SANDERS CUP AND 14-POOTEB CHAMPIONSHIP RACE FULL COURSE NOT SAILED I United Frew A^sceutiool INVERCARGILL. 23rd January. Contrary to the general opinion that Vanguard was only a heavy-weather boat, she proved herself every bit as good a sailer in a light breeze in winning the fourth race in the Sanders Cup series at Bluff this morning. Bluff Harbour was as smooth as a millpond for the race, and an extremely light southwesterly breeze dropped away at times to a dead calm. Vanguard was sailed with great judgment. her skipper taking advantage of every puff of wind, and the run of the flood tide. She took the lead on the first leg of the race, which was three times round a triangular course, and the longer the race lasted the farther ahead she drew. From being a minute and a half ahead of the next boat at the weather mark the first time, she increased her lead to 10$ minutes at the end of the second round, and was sailed confidently over the final round to win easily by more than eight minutes. The Sanders Cup race was sailed in the morning and in the afternoon the New Zealand championship for 14-foot yachts was held. Three Southland boats, Irene, Rawene and Rosita, took part in addition to the Sanders Cup competitors. Steady rain fell during the afternoon, but there was more wind than there was for the race in the morning. Vanguard also won this event, putting up another great performance So light was the wind in the morning and so frequent the periods of almost dead calm that the full course of nine miles was not sailed, three rounds only being sailed instead of four. Even then it was thought at one stage that the boats would not complete the course within the time limit of three hours. However, in the concluding stages, the wind freshened -and all the boats made up time over the last two legs. All the crews were whistling for a wind, but the call of Vanguard must have been most seductive, for in the second round she caught whatever breeze there was and left the others becalmed well astern. Lavina found conditions to her liking for the first time in the contest, and. handled well by her crew, made up a great deai of ground on the last two legs to take second place. The Southland boat. Vorena. was never in the picture and finished last. The order of boats at the finish and their times were Wellington (Vanguard). 2.14.31; Stewart Island 'Lavina) 2.22.41; Otago (Lynette). 2.23.12; Canterbury (Huia), 2.26.11; Auckland (Marjorie). 2.27.3; Southland (Vorena), The order of the boats in the 24-footcr championship race was:—Vanguard (Wellington). 2.10.2, 1; Lavina (Stewart Island). 2.11.8, 2; Lynette < Otago), 2.12.47, 3; Huia (Canterbury), 2.14.42. 4; Irene (Southland'. 2.16.12. 5: Rawene (Southland). 2.17.35, 6; Marjorie (Auckland), 2.18.15, 7.

TRANS-TASMAN RACF. ABANDONED AUCKLAND. 23rd January. The projected ocean yacht race from Auckland to Sydney for the Trans-Tas-man Cup. which was to have been held this monthly by the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, has been abandoned through lack of entries. The only entrant, the 36-foot Auckland cutter Wayfarer, wilt nevertheless make a leisurely cruise across the Tasman, leaving about the middle of next week. One vessel was mentioned as a likely entrant for the race has withdrawn, and as no others have come forward, the club had no option but to abandon the contest.