THE FINAL RACE

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

THE FINAL RACE

rona Wins easily FINE SEAMANSHIP AGAIN. To the afternoon, the course was a windward and leeward one from Point Jerningham to Coromandel and hack, making the oofirse four times. All the boats took their heavy weather crews for this race, as the wind was blowing very fresh at tho start. The crews were: Rona: V. Lingard, Brown, Smith, and Gifford. ~ _ Murihiku: T. Bragg, B. 'Bragg, J. Bragg, and W. Johnston. Linnet: S. Sinclair, J, Sinclair, Morton, and Williams. - The start was an even one, Rona and Linnet crossing the line at o.a, with Murihiku a few seconds behind. The two leading boats stood over towards the wharves, while Murihiku, on the opposite tack, worked over towards Somes Island. Pursuing their separate courses, Linnet and Rona-, who kept in company, got further away from Murihiku, until almost a mile separated them. RONA WORKS TO WINDWARD. Over near Pipitea Point the Auckland and Canterbury boats tacked back and forth seeking position, with Rona generally in the weather position, and establishing a slight lead. The three competitors converged as they neared the Coromandel buoy, and it was then seen that the Rona’s crew had worked her into a leading position, and she rounded the buoy 38 seconds ahead of Murihiku, which, coming up on the opposite tack, just cut in ahead of Linnet. The latter came round the buoy 48 seconds behind the Rona. The Aucklanders were smart in getting their spinnaker out, and plunged away in front, while Linnet next shook out her extra canvas, and began to overhaul the Southland boat. The Rona rounded Jerningham at 3.30 p.m., and Murihiku 65 secoqds later, with Linnet 85 seconds later than the leader. This time Ron* and Murihiku took the course towards the town, while Linnet adopted Murihiku’s former tactics, and ran out towards Miramar some distance before fetching about. The other two boats quickly fetched about, however, and all three kept over to windward. The breeze fell away when half the distance was covered, and Rona, which had shipped her heaw weather crew just before the start of the race, began to lose why. For a time it looked as if Murihiku might make the mark on her tack, hut she had to go about. Thfc wind pulled round to the north a few points, and the three boats had to put in a couple of boards before making the buoy. LINNET’S FINE RECOVERY. Linnet made a good recovery, and raced Rona for the mark, Rona finally getting round at 348 p.m., with Linnet 48 seconds behind. Murihiku, who waa coming up nicely, struck a dead patch, avd fell right away, finally getting round 3J minutes behind Rona. The wind died right away on the run back to Jerningham, there being hardly sufficient to fill the sails. Then it fell a dead calm, and Linnet drifted up alongside Rona, where the two boats lay rocking side by side, with not even steerage way on. The Murihiku,’which had never quite lost way, drifted down to within 50 yards of the becalmed leaders. Fitful puffs of wind began coming from the north-west, and Linnet went to the front, rounding the Jerningham buoy at 4.11 p.m., 33 seconds ahead of Rons, and 53 seconds ahead of Murihiku. The breeze freshened a little on the lead back, and Linnet began to draw away. The Rona put out her leading jib, and, a little to the weather of Murihiku, just kept, pace with the leader. She then stood away with the wind, while Linnet appeared to still fiuther Increase her lead, but when the breeze freshened, Rona got it first, and went ahead, while Canterbury and Southland struck it soft and fell away. winds kept the competitors hardly moving for five minutes, and then died away, so that they lay becalmed. BONE STRIKES THE BREEZE, i Rona worked out towards Somes Island, and Lingard’s judgment was rewarded by his striking-a good sailing breeze and making good progress and rounded Coromandel at 4.47.10. Muriniku lay becalmed half a mile back, and Linnet was in a similar position a ?uarter of a mile out towards Somes sland. Rona made slow but steady progress on the run to Jerningham, and rounded the buoy at 5.5.30. Linnet Sot the breeze then and came round oromandel at 6.7.15, 20min ssec behind Rona, and Murihiku got round 26min 3osec behind. The hreeve held for Linnet and Murihiku 'on the run down, and Linnet rounded .Jerningham at 5.21, and the Murihiku at 5.26.15 BONA AGAIN. It now became a matter of intense speculation, nof if whether Rdna would beat the other boats, hut whether she would beat the time Jinut, for the course had to he completed before 6.5 p.m., or it would be abandoned. She ran well over towards the wharves and then stood straight for the Coromandel, rounding the buoy for the last time at 6.37.45 p.m. She had the spinnaker out in quick order fur the run for home and victory. The breeze held steady, and she ran comfortably down, crossing the winning line a lap ahead of the other boats at 5.49.13 p.m., lomin 45see before the time expired. Linnet rounded the Jerningham buoy the last time at 5.35.5 p.m., and Murihiku one minute later. Although the crews must have heard the gun which announced that Bona had successfully defended the cup, they set spinnakers, and made a sporting race for second place. Linnet crossed the line at 0.11.45 and 22min 35scc behind Rona, with Murihiku sosec behind. This was tho order in which tho 6amo three boats finished last year at Auckland The finishing times were: Rona, shr 49min losec 1 Linnet. 6hr llmin 45sec ... 2 Murihiku, Ghr 12min 40sec 3 The following were the official times: Rona, shr 49min 15sec Linnet, 6hr llmin 4osec. Murihiku, 6hr 12min 40sec.