THE SANDERS CUP

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11737, 26 January 1924, Page 6

THE SANDERS CUP

EXCITINC CONTESTS BONA (AUCKLAND) AND MURIHIKU .SOUTHLAND) WIN HEATS. FINAL TRIALS TO-DAY. As was generally anticipated the weather cleared yesterday, and the first real start in connection with the Sanders Memorial trials way proceeded with. Two races wen? run during the day, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Tho first fell to the Auckland champion Rona. while the second—decidedly the more interesting contest—.was won by the Murihiku, from Southland. Two additional races will be sailed to-day. The position as it now stands is that both Auckland and Southland have a representation in the final. A moderate southerly wind, hut good conditions generally, was blowing when a 6tart was made with the first race of the day from off Jerni ogham Point. The course lay from the starting point to a marked 'point off Ngahauranga. The boats then came back to the Jcrningham buoy, and again proceeded over the same course, finishing where they started from. The race was witnessed by large crowds on shore, particularly from the vicinity of Point Jerningham and Oriental Bay. THE CREWS. The crows were as follows :■ — Rona (Auckland). —Messrs J. Gifford (s), H. Brown, \V. Smith, V. Lidgard. Koniui (Hawke's Bay).—Messrs Neil Gillies (s), I. Gillies, S. Gillies, W. Anderson. Peggy (Wellington).—Messrs E. Bailey (s), J. GendrJl, I. McGregor, A. G. Crawford, ford. Linnet (Canterbury).—Messrs S. Sinclair (e), R. Sinclair, W. Morton. June (Otngo).—Messrs C. French (s), D. Fateraon, A. Booth. Murihiku (Southland). —Messrs T. Bragg (s), W. Johnston, T. Bragg. The contestants were late in getting away by some twenty minutes. The time fixed for the race to begin was 10.30 a.m. First across the line was the Rona, the others following in the following order:— Konini, June, Peggy, Linnet, and Murihiku. With spinnakers sot, the Hawke’s Bay boat passed the Rona (Auckland) and immediately got in the leading position. This lead was maintained by tho Konini with the Rona, Linnet, June and Peggy following at fairly even distances. A temporary gain was made by the June on tho Rona, but she was soon after passed by the Linnet. In a close procession the boats rounded the buoy off Ngahauranga* The Rona was the first to make tho turn, tho Konini being only two seconds behind. The latter, however, was ahead of the Linnet by eight seconds. Then came the Murihiku, the June, and the Peggy last. The boats then commenced the run back to Point Jerningham. The Rona began by manoeuvring towards leeward. The Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury boats, all three sailing on the startxmrd tack, eventually gained smooth water, while the others got into some difficulties. AGAINST THE WIND. Th& ‘contestants had to I)eat back against the wind. The Peggy by sailing a middle coursb was well in line w-itn the and Konini, which were leading a great deal of the time. The Rona eventually found the buoy first, and led the others round it, the Peggy (Wellington) following some lmin 13sec6 after the Aucklanders. The Linnet came round 1 min 18 6ecs later, and then the Muri- ! hiku (2 min 45 secs), June (2 min 53 i secs!, and Konini (3 min 25 secs). 1 These positions were maintained until Ngahauranga was reached again. The Rona passed round the mark first followed by the Linnet 1 min 19 secs later. The other times were Peggy (1 min 55 secs.), Murihiku (2 min 40 secs)? June (2 min 47 secs), and Konini (2 min 53 6scs). S ' THE RUN BACK. The boats had to fight the last lap against the wind in their run back to Jerningham. The Rona maintained the leading position practically all the way and was the first back across the flouring line. She covered the distance in 2 hrs and 12 minutes. The Peggy was .‘eooml, being 1 min 20 secs behind the winning boat. The June was third (2 min 25 secs), the Linnet fourth (3 min 7 secs) Konini fifth (3min 47sec), azid the Murihiku (who incidenfally won tho second race later in the day), came last with 4 ml™ 12 sec behind the winning boat.