THE RACING DESCRIBED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11739, 29 January 1924, Page 11

THE RACING DESCRIBED

THE FIRST EVENT ' AUCKLAND BOAT JUST WINS Racing was continued yesterday in the Sanders Cnp competition, when the three surviving boats, Rona (Auckland), Linnet (Canterbury), and Murihiku (Southland), began to fight it out for the final victor. Eaoh had won one race, and some boat required to win another two in order to annex the cup. The crew# were as follow: Rona—Lingard, W. Smith, and H Brown. Linnet—S. Sinclair, R. Sinclair, IV. Morton, and C. Williams. Murihiku—B. Bragg, Johnston, A. Booth, and T. Bragg. There was a fresh northerly breeze earlier in the morning, hut this died away to fitful gusts as the boats manoeuv red for the start. Tire 6tart, which took place at 10.35 a.m., was a good one, Canterbury croesing the line first, followed by Auckland, and the Murihiku last. The breeze fell away just after they crossed, and the three boats manoeuvred for the weather position, Ronal finally getting it, but lost time in setting its leader, so that Linnet got the advantage, with Murihiku next making a fine run although the wind was almost imperceptible. The three boats were almost becalmed for a couple of minutes, and then when the first puff of wind came. Linnet led away, with Rona some 50 yards back, and Murihiku a similar distance back last. On the beat up to the Coromandel buoy Rona gradually crept up tp I.innet until she took the lead 300 yards from the turn. Linnet, however, forged ahead again, and turned the buoy three seconds in the lead; Murihiku was some 50 yards behind, hut brought about too soon and nearly fouled the buoy. After hanging in indecision for a "while, she had to fetch about again and heat hack into position before turning, finally getting around lmin 25sec behind Linnet. Linnet got its spinnaker out first, and leapt away with the lead. Rona attempted to put up its spinnaker, but one of the lines pot loose and the sheet blew out free* Her crew pulled it in and set the leader, hut in the meantime Linnet still further increased her lead. Rona’s crew made another attemot to set tho spinnaker hut it appeared to foul the halyard, and it was not until the third attempt that it was finally set properly. Linnet rounded the home buoy at 11.13, the Rona 75 seconds later, ana the Murihiku 2min 13sec later. LINNET IN LUCK, The Linnet struck a strong puff of wind as ?he turned, and heeled crossing Rona’s hows, the latter boat having to give way to her. The breeze had freshened on the heat back to Coromandel, and the Linnet maintained her lead, striking the wind fir*** as they got out into the bay. Alt three boats stood further out toward# Somes Island on their heat though the first one, recognising that would be unable to mako the buoy in one leg as they did before, with the exception of a short hike at the start* The Linnet made a short ta*k halfwav to the buoy, but thereafter her new let her travel. Beth Linns* and Ron a’a crews were pinching their boating to lay the mark, hut ■Munhiku was a long way to leeward. Linnet rounded the buoy at 1.30, Jf 9 }™ the Rona <*osec behind. Murihiku was very slow in getting round, finally turned 3*minutes behind the Linnet. The Canterbury crew had their spinnaker out within half a minute of rounding, and shot away like a greyhound. Rona did not attenjp her spinnaker but 31 minutes after rounding the buov, put out her leading jib instead. Linnet had so far increased her lead that comment was free on the officials’ launch tb a I there was now only one boat in the race, but almost immediately tho complexion of the race changed. The I.innet lost the wind, and her spinnaker fell slack, hut Rona’s leading jib still held tho breeze, so that she rapidly overhauled the leader and things prom isod to be interesting on the final lap. Linnet turned the homo buoy "at 11.-H.15, and Rone losec later, and immediately set out after the Canterbury boat, nearly catching her, but Linnet then drew slightly awav. Then when she was some 30 or 'JO yards ahead, she made a short tack across Rona’s bows to gain the weather. She lost ground, and it was doubtful whether the Linnet’s skipper had gained or lost by the move. Another tacx sa w the position but little changed, hut the Canterbury boat again began to forge ahead. Murihiku away_ in the rear, rounded tho home buoy 5. to seconds behind the leader. 'Contrary to expectations, the Linnet was getting the better of the weather beau and each tack put her still further in the lead. \ UCKLAND BOAT GETS THERE. It seemed at this stage that Linnet was heating the crack Auckland boat fair and square on the wind. It was the final piece of seamanship at the Coromandel buoy that cost Linnet the rare. Rona's skipper laid his boat dead on the mark, while the I.innet was blown to leeward. Excitement was intense as the boats came up to the buoy, but it was then seen that Rona had it, and she slipped in and rounded 36 seconds ahead of her rival. The Linnet stood out to leeward, and then fetched about, but even then failed to make it, and had to tack again. It was bad judgment on her •kipper’s pnrt, tho first he had shown in tho lace. On the run for home, Rona again set her leading jib, while Linnet nut out her spinnaker, and, under its influence, at first gained ■.lightly on the leader, but fell away let ween puffs. Tho Rona kept right in, and crossed the line 36 seconds

ahead of the Linnet. The Murihiku did not finish, but ran straight into the boat harbour. The finishing times were: Rona, 12.11.14 1 Linnet, 12.12.16 2 Murihiku (approve), 12.22.34 3 The reason for the Rona’s crew not setting their spinnaker on the run home each lap was stated by the skipper after the race to be that their crew was too light. They realised this after their attempt in the first lap, and thereafter contented themselves with the leading jib.