SANDERS CUP TRIALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 8

SANDERS CUP TRIALS.

RONA WINS THIRD RAGE.

QUEEN MARCH JUST BEATEN.

DECISION TO BE MADE TO-NIGHT.

Tho third race to decide the Auckland defender of tho Sanders Memorial Cup, the contest for which will bo held on the Waitemata, commencing on January 31, was decided on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in Rona defeating Queen March by 30 seconds,,

The course,, a windward and leeward one, was from tho rod buoy off Mechanics Bay, thence round the Sandspit Beacon, back to starling line, twice round. The competitors were Joan (A. Hodgson), Bona (A. Willet:s) and Queen March (A. E. Matthews). Tho boats were sent away at 2.40 p.m. before a very hard south south-west wind. Joan got the best of tho start, crossing the. lino at gunfire, with Queen March right on her stern. Rona rather misjudged the time and was six or seven lengths away when the last flag fell. It was a run to the Sandspit, and though it was blowing very fresh tho boats carried light sails, rising their leaders as spinnakers. Joan was very smart with her spinnaker, hoisting it immediately she crossed tho line. Rona was next to get hers drawing but Queen March was rather slow. All presented a very pretty picture as they bowled along at a great speed, with their spinnakers well "up in the air. Now and again trouble threatened them, but they all reached the Sandspit without mishap. Rounding this mark tho times were: Joan, 2h. 50m. 20s. : Rona, 2h. 51m. 15s; Queen March, 2h. 51m. 20s. Sheets were now flattened for the beat back to the red buoy. All stood well across tho harbour before breaking tacks. Rona was first to go round. Joan and Quoen March carried further on, but When they actually went about Joan was still in the lead. Sho carried on right inshore, but both Rona and Queen March kept further out. After they had got well across Hobson Bay Queen March made a couple of boards inshore, but Rona carried on and, failing tho better course, sho headed Joan before reaching the. Eastern tide deflector. The times on the completion of tho first round were: Rona, 3h. 23m. 205.; Joan, 3h. 24m. 10s; Queen March, 3h. 25m. 20s. Tho wind had now cased off considerably, the weather being ideal for a light weather test. Tho same order was kept in tho run back to the Sandspit, tho time. l ; being: Rona, 3h. 32m. 355; Joan, 3h. .53m. 12s; Queen March, 3h. 35m. ss. On tho beat to the finishing mark all the boats stood right across tho harbour, and when they came about Queen March crossed Joan. The race now became very interesting, and it looked as though Queen March would overhaul Rona as they approached the eastern tido deflector, but the latter maintained her position to the finish, which was timed as follows: Rona, Ah. 2m. 155.; Queen March, 4h. 2m. 455. ; Joan, 4h. 4m. 355. Rona thus won by 30 seconds. The officials in charge of the race were : —Smarter and timekeeper, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson; judge, Mr. E. J. Kelly. Three races have now been hold, two being won by Queen March and one by Rona. * A meeting of the Selection Committee will be held this evening, when the question of choosing the Auckland defender will bo considered. Should a decision.be reached, it will bo announced at the meeting of the Auckland Yacht and MotorBoat Association later in the evening. THE CANTERBURY SERIES. LINNET WINS THE FINAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] CHEISTCHURCH. Saturday. Linnet won tho final of the Sanders Cup trials at Lyttelton, defeating Secret this morning by two minutes.

THE WELLINGTON RACES. WELLESLEY'S FOURTH VICTORY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The sixth Sanders Cup trial race was sailed during tho week-end and resulted in a win for Wellesley by a closo margin. Thero was a fair southerly breeze blowing. Wellesley picked up<lhcr advantage on the windward beat. This makes four wins for Wellesley and two for All Black.