SANDERS CUP CONTESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 14

SANDERS CUP CONTESTS.

•BETTY'S- SECOND VICTORY. RONA WINS FOURTH EVENT. : "BEST RACE OF SERIES." EXCITING FINISH WITH BETTY. [BIT TELEGRAriI. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LYTTELTON, Tuesday. The third race for the Sandei's Cup contest was held at Lyttelton this morning and resulted in a win for the holder, Betty, but not before she had been Strongly challenged by Avalon which, at one stago of the race, was in the lead. There was a dead calm when the executive met to decide whether a morning race should be held. It was agreed to hold tho race, with the usual time limit of three hours, but with tho additional proviso that should the first round be not completed within two houi's the race would be declared off. Tho course was a windward and leeward one, the same as in the first race. 'All the boats carried light weather crews. At tho start Betty just swung under tho lee of the starter's boat as the gun went and was first across tlio line. Next came Rona, Avalon and Peggy abreast, the Auckland boat being to windward. (Winifred was fifth and Murihiku last, but to tho windward of the Otago boat. Off the Gladstone Pier Betty, Rona and 'Avalon were closer in to shore, than the othprs and sho lost the wind for a time. [Winifred, Peggy and Murihiku, further out in the harbour, were moving up on them. Then all caught tho light wind, which carried tlicm for half a mile. Murihiku stood well out into rnid-harbour and was getting most wind. Tho wind freshened a little and Rona and Peggy drew away from Winifred, which dropped back to last' position. As in the previous day's race, Avalon was hanging on to Betty. All were parrying leading jibs except Murihiku and Winifred. Progress of the Race. Rona was drawing ahead of Peggy, but later Peggy picked up a favourable puff and drew up a little. Avalon.had closed in a little on Betty and was within four lengths and slightly to windward. Opposite GolJan's Bay tho Hawke's Bay boat drew levei and the two were running neck-anciVneck. Avalon was to windward and threatening to blanket Betty. Then Avalon took the lead. Betty went about end Gillies, patching Andrews' every move, followed suit. Both stood toward the north shore and Avalon made a short bo&rd and then back to keep to the windward of Betty. Rona had stotyl across to the other side : of the harbour and came about opposite the fort. This gave her all the wind there was and she picked up considerably. The weather-mark was rounded in the following order:—Avalon, Betty, Rona, Murihiku, Winifred. .Avalon was | 36 seconds ahead of Betty. The spini nakers were out. Betty had to pay off 1 to allow Rona, which was close-hauled j for the buoy, to get through. ; j Disqualification of Peggy. i Then an unfortunate incident put Peggy out of the race. She was to the weather 1 of Rona, which was still close-hauled on i the starboard, and Peggy < On ; the port ' | failed to give way to the>Auckland boat, ! which had: to bring up ; to avoid touching. ! Peggy was at once disqualified and re- : tired from the race. Rona turned?the ' mark minutes behind Avalon. Winij fred was a bad last, failing signally to show up he# light weather qualities. On i the run Murihiku moved up on Rona. ! The first round was completed in the ! following orderAvalon, Betty, Rona, j Murihiku, Winifred,*' Avalon was just I 10 seconds ahead of Betty. , Gillies made 1 a mistake in taking too round a turn and j Andrews, seeing his chance, slipped in , between and was once again in the lead. Rona was 4£ minutes behind Avalon at I the turn, having lost a minute on the run. I Murihiku Was 36 seconds behind the Auck- ' land boat. 1 Rona was carrying a fine breeze and i moved up fast on the two leaders. Ava--1 lon hoisted a leader, but Betty stuck to , the jib alone. Rona made a short board into the pier and camo away again fast. ! At Gollan's Bay Betty had a long lead ; on Avalon and Rona was closing up on ; the Hawke's Bay boat. Winifred and ' Murihiku were well behind and Winifred ; was close up' to the Southland boat. , Avalon and Rona, both flying leaders, i were more than* holding their own against j Betty. Rona was working out in midharbour, getting more wind and was i closing up all the time. Run for Finishing Line. I The weather-buoy was rounded in the following order: —Betty, Avalon, Rona, ' Murihiku, Winifred. Betty was lm 22s j ahead of Avalon and Rona was 2m 1.9s behind tho leader.. The run for the 'fin- ' ishing line was a long, strung-out procession. The finish was:— Betty .. ... ... ' . 1 ■ Avalon «.., r .,. 2 \- Rona .. 3 Murihiku A .. f . .• 4 Winifred did not cross tho finishing i line. j' The actual sailing times were:— Betty ... .. 2h 19m 20s (i Avalon ~.. .. 2h 20m 55s jf, Rona ... 21i 22m 50s j I • Murihiku .. .. 2h 29m 20s Betty thus won by lm 355. I I HOW RONA GOT IIOMII RACE IN A CHOPPY SEA. EXCITEMENT AT THE FINISH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LYTTELTON, Tuesday. The fourth Sanders Cup race was sailed this afternoon in a fresh north-easterly wind and choppy sea. It was easily the best race yet seen in this year's contests and it resulted in the Auckland representative, Rona, securing her first win. The course was a triangular one and there was a fresh north-easterly blowing. Andrews did not sail in Betty. With two wins in hand the Canterbury skipper said he felt it would bo more sporting to stand down in favour of his second in command, 1. Treleaven, as it would make the contest more interesting. Rona carried three men only. There was a beautiful start, all cross- ! ing tho line almost together. Avalon was first across half a length in front of Betty with Rona, Murihiku and Winifred close behind. Murihiku tried a short losing board and came out of it well as a'few moments later she weathered tho field- Peggy alone carried a leader. Some short boards saw Rona take the lead. Some Close Going. There was splendid going between Rona, Peggy, Betty, Avalon and Murihiku. Winifred was last. All stood right in to Officers' Point breaking tacks right inshore. Murihiku again weathered the others with Bona close on her. There v.-a» close going between all but Peggy, which bad dropped into last position. Betty weathered the Avalon and Winifred was showing up well. Rona and Murihiku were fighting for leading position at Gollans Bay. Rona was a little in the lead. The order at the Gollans Bay buoy was: Rona, Murihiku, Betty, Peggy, Avalon, Winifred. Rona was ten seconds ahead of the Southland boat. Both set leaders for the lend to Purau. Betty alone did not use a leader. Rona showed a great burst of speed on the lead and left Murihiku well

behind. The order at the Pumt buoy was: Rona, Murihikuj .Betty, Avalon, Winifred, Peggy. Rona had her spinnaker out quickly and was away on a fast run for the pile Tight. Murihiku was too slow with her' spinnaker. Betty had her spinnaker out in a flash and Peggy beat Winifred with her spectacular sailing on the run, all sails drawing well. Half vjay to pile light Rona had a big lead and it looked as if nothing could catch her. Murihiku and Betty were close together. Avalon came next and then Winifred, sailing well, and Peggy last. Opposite the moles Betty drew ahead of Murihiku. At the end of the first round the order was: Betty, Murihiku, Avalon, Winifred and Peggy. Rona was lm 20s ahead of Betty. Rona and Betty stood, across toward Diamond Harbour, Rona being a long way to windward. Murihiku and Avalon worked shorter boards on the north side; Winifred and Peggy beat up the middle of the harbour. Betty stood well over, but Rona came about and worked to midharbour. Betty had caught up on the Auckland boat a lot at this stage. Crossing on ;opposite tacks Rona weathered Betty by a dozen lengths. Betty still further reduced the distance between the two. It Was a great fight, for position at the buoy. Both were making heavy weather. Rona rounded sixteen seconds ahead of Betty. Betty had her leader out as she rounded, but Rona was slow with hers. It seemed then that the two were the only ones left in the race the others being well behind rounding in tho following order: Murihiku, Avalon, Winifred, Peggy. Rona gained on the lead for Purau buoy and rounded it 50s ahead of Betty. The others rounded in same order as at the previous mark. Rona and Betty had their spinnakers out smartly and the battle for the finish commenced. Off Diamond Harbour Rona caught an extra squall nose-dived anc] all but capsized. She lost control of her spinnaker for a short time. Excitement rose to fever heat as it was seen that the race would be one of the closest finishes in the history of the cup. Wing level with wing came Rona and Betty fairly booming down the wind. Sometimes Rona would poke her nose in front and sometimes Betty. A few yards from the line'Rona picked up and drew slightly ahead, winning by two seconds. Avalon had drawn up on the two leaders and was third to round. The finish was as follows:— Rona a . 1 Betty . . 2 Avalon . . , . ..• . . 3 Murihiku . ..- . .»■ ..4 Winifred . . . < * . 5 Peggy did not finish. Th»- sailing times were : Rona . . .r„ lh 47m 40s Betty . . . ; lh 47m 42s Avaion . . . lh 48m 10s Murihiku . . . . 11l 50m 20s Winifred . . . . 11l 50m 58s The fifth race 'will be sailed at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Betty now has two wins and needs only one more to hold the cup for another year. Avalon and Rona have one win each. Winifred, Murihiku and Peggy have been eliminated.