SANDERS CUP TRIALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 14

SANDERS CUP TRIALS.

RONA WINS FIRST RACE. AN INTERESTING CONTEST. The • first of the series of trial races to decide the Auckland challenger for the Sanders Memorial Cup was sailed on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for Rona, owned by Mr. C. G. Macindoe. Unlike previous test races this particular event was held in conjunction with the Ponsonby, Victoria, and Richmond Cruising Clubs' combined race for the 14ft. T and X classes. The boats chosen for the test were Rona, Joan, Nyria, and Iron Duke. Of these only Rona (A. E. Matthews) and Nyria (E. Swinnerton) faced the starter. However, in addition to the cup candidates, there were nine other 14-footers, including two ex-Jellicoe boats, Meteor and Resolute. The weather conditions were favourable, and the course gave the contestants a fair test in all poini;s of sailing, although the boats could have been given more windward work. . From a good start Mispah, Ngaio, and Resolute crossed the line in that order ahead of Rona and Nyria, but before the first buoy off tho western tido deflector was reached Rona took command, while Nyria ran into second place. It was a lead to the next buoy in Shoal Bay and both Rona and Nyria drew away from the rest of the fleet. Rona was sailing so fast that she actually passed the speedy 16-footer Namu, which was competing in another race. After rounding the Shoal Bay mark the boats hauled on the wind for the beat to the Rona buoy off Northcote. Tho times rounding the buoy were:—Rona, 4h 8m 345; Nyria, 4h 8m 365. Sheets were eased - for the run to the tide deflector. Nyria set her spinnaker and kept in the middle of the harbour and did better than Rona, which relied on her leader only. Nyria was now-gain-ing on Rona and it looked as if she would overhaul her. However, Rona saved the situation by setting her spinnaker, which improved her position. Rounding the tide deflector buoy the times were •—Rona, 4h 19m 51s; Nyria, 4h 20m 41s. On the lead to the Shoal Bay mark Rona gained another four seconds on Nyria and further increased her lead when she flattened sheets for the beat to the Rona buoy. On rounding this mark Rona was first to set her spinnaker and made great progress in the fresh breeze. Nyria did not bring her light sail into use until some time later and before she got it drawing Rona had the race well in hand and finally beat'Nyria across the finishing line by 1m 345. The times wera: Rona, 4h 43m 41s; Nyria, 4h 45m 15s. The second test will be sailed nest Saturday.

WINIFRED'S FOURTH VICTORY. LIKELY OTAGO CHALLENGER, [BX TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] '• DUNE DIN, Sunday, Winifred gained her fourth victory in the Sanders Cup trial races yesterday, and is likely to be chosen as the Otago challenger for the trophy.