YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 15

YACHT RACING.

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

GOOD VICTORY FOR EILEEN. AVALON'S SKIPPER BELOW FORM. jIY SPINDRIFT. The 1930 contest for the Sanders Memorial Cup held on tho Waitemnta last week created a great deal of interest, not only in Auckland, but also throughout tho Dominion. Taken" all round, the weather was very favourable for the contest, giving tho crews an excellent opportunity of showing their skill in light, moderate and heavy weather. A threehours' limit was placed on all races, but only on one occasion did the question of time enter the minds of those concerned in the contest. That was in tho final race, when Eileen socured her third win which gave her the cup. 'lhe race started at 10.30 a.m., and finished at 1.20 p.m., or 10 minutes before tho time limit. A-t one stage of this particular event it looked as though tho race would not bo completed in time, but the breezo came away again and saved the situation. As far as the actual racing was concerned there were only two boats in the contest —Eileen (Otago) and Avalon (Auckland). The other two, Clyde (Wellington) and Colleen (Canterbury), were disappointing, and never looked like winning tho cup. Now and again Clyde would flatter tho hopes of her supporters by doing a little better than the others, but it was always a passing phase, and she would again take her place at tho stern of the Otago and Auckland boats. Clyde had arrived in Auckland with a big reputation, but sho failed to live up to it. Her skipper stated that sho had received rather a severe handling on tho train from Wellington to Auckland, and he was inclined to think that she had been strained. ]lacing in Akaroa last year Clyde was Avalon's greatest rival, and was only beaten by seconds for tho cup. Colleen and Clyde.

Like the Wellington boat Colleen only finished in two races. In the first she met with a mishap 12 minutes after the start, and had to retire, and in the third she was so far behind Avalon and Eileen that she withdrew. Her best point was running, and taken all round she made a better showing than Clyde. The winner, Eileen, was handled with great skill and'judgment by George Kellctt in all her races, and thoroughly deserved the cup. The skipper made no mistakes, and was too good for J. Patrick, skipper of Avalon, who sailed his boat very much below his usual form. In the first race, much to the surprise Of all those who were following the boats, Patrick actually mistook the green light buoy for the white light buoy in Rangitoto Channel, and it was only when Eileen had rounded the white light that Avalon's skipper discovered his error. It was indeed a serious one as it gave Eileen such an advantage that, bar accidents, the issue was never in doubt-.

Had Avalon sailed the correct course, however, it is doubtful whether she would have beaten Eileen, which was making better weather of it than Avalon in the rough water. Before the boats broke tacks after making a long board on port below the lighthouse Eileen was leading Avalon by about 150 yards and was pointing higher than her rival. Costly Mistakes.

Not only did Avalon's mistakes prove costly to "her, but it also misled Clyde, whose skipper followed the Auckland boat, never for the moment questioning the rounding buoy. The skippers concerned had no one to blame but themselves for the mistake, as they all received and signed written instructions as to the course.

In view of tlu; fact that there arc quite a number of buoys in Rangitoto" Channel, and to make sure thai such ail error will not happen in future, it might he advisable for the body controlling the races to place flags on rounding marks where there is a possibility of one buoy being mistaken for another.

In the second race, which was won by Avalon, her skipper made the turn at King's Wharf on starboard, instead of port, and it was only after being informed of his error that he rounded tho buoy the correct way. This cost Avalon lm 30s, but she had such a good lead from Eileen that she was able to show tho latter round the remainder of (he course.

The third race, sailed in a hard breeze, was the most thrilling of the contest and what appeared to be a runaway victory for Avalon was suddenly changed from a win to defeat through Avalon capsizing just beforo rounding tho Sandspit beacon. She then had a lead of about three minutes from Eileen and all the Otago boat had to do was to play safe and sail tho course by herself, both Clyde and Colleen having meanwhile given tip. The Final Race. The fourth and final race might have easily been won by Avalon had her skipper sailed the same course as Eileen after rounding tho Sandspit on tho first beat up to King's Wharf. Avalon had a comfortable lead from Eileen, but instead of standing up the harbour after getting some distance across it she carried on and went after Clyde, which had also stood well into Hobson Bay. Eileen and Colleen set a wonderful luff in the middle of the harbour and were able to lay the tide deflector and were soon ahead of both Avalon and Clyde, which had to ease sheets to fetch the deflector mark. This unfortunate move on tho part of Avalon was really the cause of her losing the race. Once in the lead Eileen maintained it and although Avalon did well in tho latter stages she was unable to regain tho lead, finishing 29 seconds astern of Eileen and losing tho cup for Auckland. Many enthusiasts who witnessed the last race expressed considerable surprise at no action being taken by tho judges when a foul occurred between Eileen and Avalon while tho starting flags were up, although tho gun had hot been f im ]- Light winds and calms spoiled the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron s annual race for tho Horton Bequest of £2O on Saturday. The event attracted tho largo entry of 10 keel yachts, and all faced the starter. Tbero was little or no wind before tho start, and a number of the yachts accoptod a friendly low, which resulted in Nga-Toa, Wairiki and' Kotuku being disqualified. Several of the yachts cast tho tow-line adrift just before the fivo minutes warning gun had been fired, but Nga-Toa, Wairiki and Kotuku were still being towed after it had sounded, and as the rule bearing on this question is very clear, tho officials in charge of tho racing had no option other than to disqualify tho three boats. It was rather unfortunate for Nga-Toa, as she sailed a great raco in the light air and wbuld liavo been an easy winner had she not been disqualified. Devonport Club's Regatta. Tho Dovonport Yacht Club will hold its annual regatta on Saturday. Tho Ponsonby Cruising Club will hold its annual picnic at Motutapu Island on Sunday. The forry steamer Peregrine has boon engaged and will leavetho ferries at 9.45 a.m. A good spoils programme has been arranged. Mr. Tj. Heard left on a fortnight's cruise in the launch Keffya on Friday last.. Tho boat will proceed as far north as Russell, where her crew will spend' several days deep-sea fishing. On Saturday week t.lio Akarana Yacht Club will hold a series of harbour races for yachts and launches. Tho keel yachts will competo for tho Commemoration Cup, the mullet boats for the Capt. White Cup, and tho 16ft. and 18ft.. classes for the Heolin Cup. Tho club championship for 14ft. classes will also bo decided on the same day.