SANDERS CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20337, 20 February 1928, Page 6

SANDERS CUP

ANOTHER WIN FOR BETTY. SECOND PLACE TO OTAGO. EILEEN’S FINE PERFORMANCE. (From Ode Special Repoeteb.) TTALFMOON BAY, February 18. A keenly contested raco sailed this afternoon over a triangular course on Paterson’s Inlet resulted in the Canterbury champion, Betty, registering her second win. It was the second race for the Sanders Cup, and was more interesting from every point of view than the first race, as at no stage did the winner have more than one minute and a-l.alf lead from Eileen. The feature of the race was the splendid performance registered by the Otago boat. She proved very fast both on and off the wind, and was excellently handled by Kcllett and his crew. At the end of the first round Falcon was only one minute astern of Betty, but it .was on the second beat o windward that the Otago boat showed her best sailing powers. She pointed into the wind as high as Betty, and gained exactly one minute on the champion on the close haul. There was great excitement when Betty rounded the last mark, leading the Otago boat by only S2sec. Had the wind not dropped the issue would have been in doubt until the finish. Avalon’s performance was very disappointing. She is the best equipped boat in the contest, but she did ; not show her usual brilliancy in to-day’s light weather. Murihiku again sailed a good race, the boat being well handled by the veteran Stewart Islander, T. Bragg. The Wellington boat, Wellesley 11, .again made a very poor showing, and ber sailing performance to-day indicates that she is far below the standard of the other boats. . She was hopelessly last from the time she turned the first mark until the finish. The other four boats had returned to their quarters in Thule Bay long before Wellesley crossed the finishing line. The weather was cloudy, but fine, when about 25 large launches, several steamers, and the tug Southland moved into Paterson’s Inlet at 1 p.m., carrying between OOC and 700 people, while a large number lined the various vantage points along the shore. The wind was light from the south-west when the boats representing the five provinces wore sent away to a perfect start at 1.30 p.m. It was not a true wind, being very light at certain stages of the race. The start was from a buoy off Thule Bay, thence to a mark off the western end of Ulva Island, thence to a mark off Price’s Point. It >vas a full nine-knot course, and the direction of •the wind gave the boats a lead, a beat to windward, and then a long run to the line. THE START. All the boats, with the _ exception of Wellesley, were close to the line at gunfire. Eileen was the first to cross the line, followed closely by Murihiku, Avalon, Betty, and then Wellesley 11. It was a broad lead to the mark off Ulva Island. The wind was very light, but of sufficient weight to fill the sails. Wellesley held the weather position, while Eileen and Murihiku were well to leeward. BETTY IN THE LEAD. Betty sailed' into the lead after the fleet had covered 300yds. When abreast of Ulva Island the Otago boat moved up to windward, and held second position. Wellesley wa s still to windward, but was not sailing as fast as the others. Betty held a good lead after sailing half a mile, but Eileen steadily gained on the champion. Nearing the mark Avalon held third position, Murihiku* fourth, and Wellesley last. The fleet sailed well to windward of the mark, and sheets were eased before making it. The rounding times were: p,etty Hi 46m 14s Eileen Hi 46m 44s Avalon Hi 47m 6a Wellesley II lh 47m 19s Murihiku lh 47m 37s It was a beat to the mark off Price’s Point. Betty, Eileen, and Murihiku went about immediately after rounding the centre of the inlet. Avalon and Wellesley carried straight on after rounding on a short leg towards Waituna on the south shore, and then broke tacks and headed for Price’s Point. The wind was still light from the south-west, and all the boats carried leading jibs. EILEEN’S GOOD POSITION. Betty led the Otago boat by 30sec at the Ulva Island mark, but the Canterbury boat increased her lead on the close haul. Betty, Eileen, and Murihiku headed for Ryan’s Creek, and sailed close inshore before breaking tacks. Avalon now appeared to hold a handy position. Wellesley at this stage was nearly a quarter of a mile astern of Avalon. When Betty and Eileen crossed, on opposite tacks the Canterbury boat had a lead of over Imin. Wellesley "made knot her tack to starboard, her skipper preferring open water. Patrick broke tacks when near the weather shore, and the Auckland boat now held fourth position. Eileen sailed remarkably well on a leg to starboard. Betty had to make one short board to fetch the mark at Price’s Point, The rounding times were:— Betty i. 2hr llmin 14sec Eileen 2hr 12min 14sec Murihiku 2hr 13min Isec Avalon ... 2hr 15min Bsec Wellesley 2hr 16min 17sec CANTERBURY BOAT GAINS. Betty gained 50sec on Eileen on the beat to Price’s Point, and Murihiku sailed from last to third position on the beat. Avalon and Wellesley did not improve their positions when sailing in the centre of the inlet. Spinnakers were set smartlv for the run to the starting line. Wellesley’s spinnaker was set in 12sec, the sail filling immediately she rounded the mark. The wind fell fight, and the boats made .low progress for a time. A short distance from the line Murihiku and Avalon were in close company, while Wellesley was long distance astern. There was little weight in the wind throughout the run. The times rounding the buoy at the starting line were: Betty 2hr Slmin 50eec Eileen 2hr 32min 50scc Murihiku 2hr 33min 26sec Avalon 2hr 53min XOsec Wellesley 2hr 38min 4sec Betty did not gain on the Otago boat the Canterbury champion gaining half on Eileen and 2sec on Avalon. It was again a lead to the mark off Ulva Island. The breeze was now fairly fresh and steady. Murihiku was to windward of Avalon, anS-tbe Otago boat had dropped to leeward. T&eijfonr leading boats sailed steadily for Hwyniark, which was rounded as follows Betty 2hr 49min 54soc Eileen 2hr..s7min 24sec Murihiku 2hr S2min 44sec Avalon 2hr 53min lOsec Wellesley, 3hr Imin SEisec

Betty now led Eileen by Imin 50sec, the Canterbury champion gaining half a minute on the lead to Ulva Island. Betty made a short board before breaking tacks, while Murihiku and Avalon stood across the inlet on a long leg to port. Eileen stood towards the south shore before breaking tacks. Betty was now sailing right into the eye of the wind, and the Otago boat was also sailing well into the wind. Wellesley was 12min astern of the loading boat, while Betty and Eileen laid for the mark off Price’s Point Murihiku and Avalon hold on until close inshore at Ryan’s Creek. The Southland boat sailed faster than Avalon on this leg. Andrews sailed straight across the inlot on one long board before breaking tacks to fetch the mark. The Canterbury boat sailed very fast on the close haul, and Eileen also mailed remarkably fast. Andrews misjudged his distance near the buoy, as also did Kellett, and both skippers had to make a short board before rounding. The times were: Betty 3hr 15min lOsec Eileen 3hr 15min 42sec Avalon 3hr 18min 44sec Murihiku 3hr 20min 3sec Wellesley ... shr 32min 18sec EILEEN IMPROVES HER POSITION. The Otago boat showed her sa- .ng powers on the close haul, as she gained nearly Imin on Betty, and the Canterbury boat had a lead of only 32sec when the last run to the lino was commenced. Avalon overhauled Murihiku on the last tack to the buoy, but the Auckland boat was over 3min astern of Betty. Spinnakers were again smartly set. The wind fell very light, and the boats moved along at a slow pace. KELLETT’S LAST EFFORT. After sailing a quarter of a mile the Otago skipper made a quick change with his sails, the main sheet being swung o port and the spinnaker to starboard with the hope of carrying a better breeze. The* change, however, did not prove beneficial as the Otago boat did not gain on Betty, and the Canterbury champion sailed over the line to register her second win by 40sec. The official sailing times were : Betty, 2hr lOmin 28sec 1 Eileen, 2hr llmin Bsec 2 Avalon, 2hr 12min 44sec 3 Murihiku 11, 2hr 14min 2sec ... 4 Wellesley 11, 22min 20see 5 The third race will be sailed on Monday afternoon over a windward and leeward course.