THE SANDERS CUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18999, 23 October 1923, Page 12

THE SANDERS CUP.

SEASON’S TRIALS OPENED. HEATHER WINS THE FIRST RAGE. 'Hie first trial race this season for the purpose of selecting the Otago representative boat to compete in the Sanders Cup contest for 14-footers was sailed under ideal conditions on Saturday. The race, which attracted a large number of spectators to points of vantage on both sides of the harbour, was won by Heather by 50 seconds, with Kia Ora second and Mona third. A light south-easterly wind prevailed. Tho course was from the Otago Yacht Club’s to Challis’s buoy, and had to be covered twice—a distance of nine to ten miles.

After a splendid start, the boats got away in a bunch, none of them being more than a boat's length apart. Winifred immediately withdrew on account of breaking the gudgeon of her rudder. Heather rounded the Three-legs mark closely followed by June. Kia Ora, Mona, Eunice, with Valrnai in tho rear.

Spinnakers were immediately set, and the fleet ran before the breeze, and Challis’s buoy was reached in the same order. On rounding the buoy tho fleet was favoured with a line breeze, 'which was steady but became fluky at times. Heather made a splendid showing, making the Three-legs mark in one board. Tho other boats were not. so ably handled, having to make several short tacks before rounding tho mark. At this stage dune dropped into fifth position, followed by lona, with Valrnai well out of the race. Heather maintained her position, crossing the line in the first round 55 seconds ahead of Kia Ora, with 10 seconds between Kia Ora and Mona, with not a minute between the next four' boats. The fleet maintained the same position to tlie end of the race, and Heather won after a fine race. Results: Heather (W. J. P. M’Culloch), 2hr l-4min 40seo 1 Kia Ora (“Togo” Watson), 2hr 15min 30soc 2 Mona (W. Watson), 2hr 15min 40sec ... 6 June (F. C. Francis), 2hr 22min 40see... 0 Eunice (C. French), 2hr 28min 30sec ... 0 lona (P. Hunter), 2hr 29min 30sec ... 0 Valrnai (M. Field) 0 Winifred (G. Kellett) ... 0

JUNE WINS SECOND RACE, HEATHER’S RUDDER DAMAGED. The second race was sailed on the Otago Yacht Club’s course yesterday afternoon. At the outset a heavy, squally sou’-west wind prevailed, necessitating careful handling of the boats. The new type of boat of the Rona class, which is now the selected design for the coveted cup, showed out prominently in tho heavy wind. At the tun© of starting all were ready for the contest, and the boats got away promptly at 3 p.m. The crews were the same as in the first race with the exception that the crews of June and Eunice changed places, and A. Wiseman sailed lona. All the boats got away to a splendid start, all being bunched together. Eunice was in the lead, followed by Winifred. Kia Ora, Mona, Heather, June, lona, and Valmai in close order. In tho beat to the Three-legs lona rounded the mark first, with Winifred and Heather second and third respectively, but almost together. Then came Eunice,'June, Kia Ora, Mona, and Valmai. Spinnakers or leading jibs were immediately set in the run down to Challis’s buoy, Winifred being the first boat to hoist a spinnaker. lona lost the wind. Heather and Winifred both headed her opposite Waverley Point, June dropping info fourth position. Then came Mona, Eunice, Kia Ora, and Valmai. At this stage Mona got into trouble with her spinnaker, having to round up into the wind, but IS*succeeded in clearing herself, although losing considerable time and falling into last filace. lona succeeded in rounding Chalis’s buoy 25 seconds ahead of Winifred, with Heather third. In the thresh to windward to the Three-legs the wind moderated into a steadier blow. lona still maintained her lead .to Turnbull’s Bend, the rest of the fleet being well scattered. June and Kia Ora, the fourth and fifth boats, were hugging the wall and getting a splendid lead. Heather at the finish of her hoard struck the wall opposite Ravensbourne and damaged her rudder. June and Kia Ora now assumed first and second place, and. followed by lona. Winifred. Heather, Eunice, Mona, and Valmai. finished the first round in that order. Heather here retired to the Boat Harbour, having sailed a good race, most of the course with a partially disabled rudder. In the second round the fleet maintained the same order to the end. June’s skipper (C. French) having sailed a fine race throughout, beating “Togo” Watson in Kia Ora by nearly three minutes. Tho race was watched by a considerable number of people from the various lookout points where a good view could be obtained. The race was exceedingly interesting on account of the variations in the wind, which towards the end became a fairly light breeze. The following are the official times: Mr I'. B. Francis’s June, 2hr (knin 27sec. Mr B. S. Irwin’s Kia Ora, 2hr 2min 53sec. Messrs Wiseman and Hunter’s lona, 2hr 4min 50sec. Mr C. Speight’s Winifred, 2hr 6min 40sec. Messrs Hudson and Burl's Eunice, 2hr 9min 50sec. Br B. S. Irwin’s Mona, 2hr llmin ssec. Messrs Field Bros.’s Valmai, 2hr 14min 60sec.