SANDERS CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 16

SANDERS CUP

SECOND CONTEST

! WELLINGTON BOAT WINS I SKILFUL SAILING DUEL AUCKLAND CRAFT RETIRES [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Friday Sailing bis speedy craft with fine judgment in a stiff north-easterly breeze, Nigel Blair, the Wellington skipper, won his second race in the Sanders Cup contest this morning and gave his province, present holder of tho trophy, a commanding lead of two victories. ■.

Blair did not make a single mistake throughout a gruelling race and once Kitty had taken tho lead halfway through tho second round she was never headed. Each of the four men in tho boat worked as a team and, as in the first' race, this contributed largely to their victory. The Canterbury boat, Manihi, which held tho leading position for the first round and a-half, took second place after fighting hard all the way. Brasell never let up,' even when his position seemed hopeless, and tho race was full of interest until halfway through the Jast round, when it became apparent that nothing could catch tho Wellington craft.' Otago's Performance The Otago representative, Eileen, came third a long way behind the leading boat, but her performance was a good ono when it is considered that Cuthbert is sailing in his first contest as skipper against two men with more experience. The weather has been to his liking and he seems to bo getting as much out of his boat as possible. Aileen (Auckland) and Lavina (Southland) both retired during the third round, when they were a long distance behind tho rest of the fleet. The race ffgain created keen interest among the public and a good crowd lined tho wharves and the peninsula. After tho race it was decided that there would be no races in tho afternoon or to-morrow morning. The third contest will bo started at 2.30 tomorrow afternoon. Ba,ttle of Wits Tho race resolved itself into a battle of wits between two shrewd and experienced skippers, Blair and Brasell. Tho former always had tho advantage of weather position and ho kept Manihi well under his lee. Ho made Castlo Beacon for tho last timo nicely but Canterbury was short and had to go about again, thus giving Kitty a clear lead. Manihi gained nothing as they swept down to Waverley, Kitty being good half-mile in the/rear. Kitty kept on gaining on the run to the Kitchener Street pile and on the short beat to the finishing line. She won easily by lrn 21s, Eileen being sin 15s behind the leader. The race started at 10 o'clock. The finishing times were as follows: —Wellington, llh 51m 18s, 1; Canterbury, llh 52m 395, 2; Otago, llh 56m, 335, 3.