BETTY WINS SANDERS CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19564, 17 February 1927, Page 12

BETTY WINS SANDERS CUP.

-r —— — AUCKLAND BOAT SECOND. THRILLING RACE. ) RONA'S FINE PERFORMANCE. BEATEN BY EIGHTEEN SECONDS. [EY TELEGRAPH.- —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LYTTELTOX, Wednesday. The contest for the Sanders Memorial Cup was concluded at Lvttelton this morning, when Betty won the fifth race, Canterbury thus retaining the trophy for another year. It is almost certain that next- year's contest will bo held at Stewart Island. This year's contests have proved conclusively the superiority of the Rona type of boats over the pre-Rona type, as ,Winifred (Otagoj and Peggy (Wellington) were completely outclassed. Ihe great disappointment of the contest was the poor showing made by Murihiku 11. There is no denying the fact that Southland's new boat is every bit as fast as Avalon, and it is, quite evident that m her first contest Murihiku was badly rigged and not sailed to the best advantage. Rona's performance throughout the contest stamps her as a boat almost equal »to Betty, but the latter has just enough superiority to claim the title of the champion of her class for the Dominion. Rona showed io better advantage than any of the contestants on a " leading wind. Avalon, whose showing was erratic, was always prominent in all the races, but in the ■ final to-day there were mistakes on the part of her skipper. This is the first time the Hawke's Bay representative has qualified for a Sanders Cup final. Betty's record in this contest is equal * to Rona's in the 1923 and 1924 contests, OS the Canterbury boat'secured three first und two second placings.- Rona's performance in the five races sailed was »lso creditable,- as she secured one first one second, two thirds and a fourth place.' Rona suffered a disqualification i n tha first race for fouling Peggy, and ■the Auckland boat therefore had to for- " feit one of her placings. One result cf the contest being held at Lyttelton which may come as a surprise to many Canterbury people is the tribute paid by all the visiting yachtsmen to Byttelton Harbour as an ideal yachting harbour. Speaking of-the harbour, the official starter and timekeeper, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, of Auckland, who has been official starter for the Sanders Cup races since the inception of the contest in 1921, said he considered that Lyttelton was quite equal to either Auckland or Wellington from a sailing point of' view. _ Details of the Race. The ■ course for- -the final .race was a \ Windward and leeward one. , .There was a light to fresh north-easterly wind. All carried three men crews, as « vs: ~ Betty, G. Andrews, I. Treleave , R. G. Hampton; Rona, A E. Matthews, S. Chatfield. H.. K. Brown; Avalon, N. Gillies, F. Cloke, L. Turyille. Betty was just on the line as the gun went, and got' away with Rona on her qunvter within 10ft Avalon was a ew vards further to leeward. Betty and feona made a port tack toward Diamond Harbour, Betty working up to windward a tittle. Avalon made a short board into the pier and then went about on P °ln mid-harbour Rona went about and Avalon on'the opposite board weathered the Auckland boat by a couple of lengths. Then Betty went about and Avaleri endeavoured to weather her. She was - soo slow in com in it. about, however, and passed within a foot or two of BetWS counter. Rona was standing in tc> Otficers Point, and Betty stood i ight ill v'itH her, but well to windwaid. Avalon worked the mid-harbour course and vVas gettincr most wind, although she had a flood tide to contend witb-_ Betty and Rona. did not break tacks until right was working up to mid-harbour nod pointing well and left Rona; some 'distance to", leeward. Both were ill a better position than Avalon, which had stood too far into Purau and was making bard work of hauling out again. Crossing tacks Betty on the starboard weathered Rona on port by about lOOvds. Avalon //on starboard was another 150 yds. to leeward. Rona came about off the fort and was improving her position. At that time and Avalon were both on the starboard in mid-harbour, Betty having a bil? lead. Rona made another short board "toward the shore and then Betty rounded the weather mark lm 20s ahead of Rona. Avalon was 2m 45s behind the leader. Sun to Upper Harbour Mark. Betty had* her spinnaker hoisted before she rounded and broke it immediately. Rona also had her spinnaker in position, but it was slow in breaking, whereas Avalon tfas smart with hers. The wind had not increased as expected and the run to the upper harbour mark was fteady. Half-way up Rona hoisted a leading jib. The race was now just a procession. ' Avalon closed up on Rona. Bottv rounded the pile light 2m 50s ahead of Rona, having increased her lead by l£m on the run. Avalon was 3m 30s behind the Canterbury boat and had picked up 55s on Rona. On the beat all three boats worked the north shore for a time: then Avalon stood away into mid-channel. Bcttv and Rona stood right into Officers Point. Betty was about some timo before Rona and went away on port across to the south shore. Rona was using a leading jib and working between the north shore and rnidharbour. Avalon crossed on the starboard tack and stood into Sticking Point with Rona. On coming about Rona had weathered Avalon by a considerable distance. Betty then made a board off Diamond Harbour to Battery Point on the opposite side. As Betty crossed tacks with Rona it was apparent that the Auckland boat had caught up a little. Matthews was ficbting till the last. Avalon stood ricrht into the bay below Sticking Point before she went about. Great Effort by Rona. Betty and Rona were working short 'boards on the north shore evidently trying to work up to a position from which they could make a long leg for the weather buoy on the opposite side. Bona was / "working v.p to Betty and the hopes of the Auckland party began to rise. If she could only round the weather buov ahead there would be a chance. Crossing tacks Betty weathered Rona by a few yards. Both went about again and then "amid great excitement Rona weathered Bettv. Rona had caught up 4m 5s on the beat and rounded the weather mark 15s ahead of Betty. Avalon rounded 4m 5s behind Rona. Then commenced a great fight on the run. Rona carried a leading jib but Betty stuck to the small jib. The wind had died down considerably and Bcttv crept up on Rona. Two minute's more saw Betty leading by a length. It was a great co as thev ran almost level. 'Then Betty drew a little more ahead and at Battery Point was leading by three lengths. Rona changed her boom over and the two boats were running with opposite mainsails. Then Betty jibed and changed over also still a few lengths ahead. . ' j Matthews was trying to get up and blanket Betty but did -not succeed and Bettv drew ahead a little. Then Rona picked up a little more wind and drew up a length or two. It was too late. bowever, i and bettv finished 18s ahead •of Bona. Avalon finished third and last 13m 44s behind the winner. The official sailing times were:— Betty • • * • 2h 29m 12s Rona ,• « »„• 2n 29m 30s Avalon - *« «• 2'n 32m 56s