SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21267, 23 February 1931, Page 3

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

FIFTH RACE TO SOUTHLAND. YOUNG CREW’S CONSISTENCY REWARDED. BETTY TAKES SECOND PLACE. Skill and judgment on the part of the young Southland crew proved too much for the Wellington skipper in the fifth race for the Sanders Memorial Cup, sailed on Saturday morning over a windward and leeward course. It was a battle of skill between the two skippers throughout, and the Southland boy came through with flying colours at the finish. There was an exciting luffing match at the last turn for the finishing line, and Victor Bragg more than held his own. Kona and Betty came to the turning mark at the wharves with only a few seconds between them. The Wellington skipper fought hard to establish an overlap, but Bragg kept Betty off. Turning the mark for the short beat to the line, the Southland skipper rounded smartly under the pressure of a fresh puff, to which Betty heeled over, and, sailing free, drew away ■to beat the Wellington challenger by 31sec. . The breeze was fairly light from the north-east for the greater part of the race. Betty and Avalon fought for the lead, and this resulted in Kona gaining the leading position. Board for board the Southland boy held Betty under his lee. Betty raced to within 2sec of Kona in the final run. Southland’s win was very popular, as the crew, which is the most skilful which has ever represented the province, has sailed very consistently all through the contest. Avalon had an advantage at one stage, but neither /the Auckland skipper nor the Canterbury boat, Colleen, entered into the duel for supremacy in the last round of the course. The Otago defender, Eileen, was capably sailed, but again showed to little advantage. The crews were:— Avalon —D. Rogers (skipper), I. H. Larritt, F. G. Cloke. . Betty—A. Johnston (skipper), W. Corrin, F. G. Harlen. Colleen —G. Brasell (skipper), F. Forman, F. Collins. Kona —V. Bragg (skipper), L. Bragg, G. Bragg. Eileen—W. J. P. M'Culloch (skipper), J. Robertson, C. Pettit.

The wind was light from the west when the boats were sent away to a good start at 10.8 a.m. The order was Betty, Colleen, Avalon, Rona, and Eileen. Betty held the weather position. The breeze freshened just after the start and Avalon, heeling to the pressure, went into the lead. The fleet was in close company after covering a quarter of a mile, witn the Wellington boat coming through very fast. Avalon made a short board to the channel wall, and she still held the weather position. Eileen was doing good work at this stage, and held third position. Colleen and Rona stood close into the -wall, but were some distance astern. Avalon was well to windward of Betty and sailed as fast as the Wellington boat The leaders worked along the wall board for board. Eileen, Rona, and Colleen gained in the next few boards and closed on the leaders, the Southland boat holding third position. Avalon made the mark with a free sheet and rounded the weather mark with a lead of 40sec from Betty, over 2min from Rona. Eileen and Colleen made the mark almost together. Betty lost the wind after rounding and lost several seconds. Rona lost the wind, and the two last boats closed the. gap. Betty came away under a fresh pun and drew almost level with Avalon. The other three boats carried a fresh, steady breeze, but Colleen and Rona raced away from Eileen. The Otago boat later closed on Rona and Colleen. Only seconds separated the three last boats turning the mark. Betty gained on Avalon on the run, and the Auckland boat had a lead of 6sec when she commenced the second beat to windward. Avalon and Betty forked well to windward, the Wellington skipper fighting hard for the weather berth. He succeeded and now held a slight advantage over the Auckland boat. The fleet made a board to the wall and when Avalon and Betty crossed, the. latter just weathered her rival. The Auckland skipper was sailing his boat with great judgment, as on the next board he weathered Betty, although it was close sailing. Rona and Colleen made a fine recovery under _ the fresh breeze, the Southland boat gaining every minute. Betty showed her speed m the next board, and she again passed well to weather of Avalon. The Wellington boat lost the wind at the wall. Rona's skipper was sailing with great judgment, and he crossed bows after the latter came away from the wall. Holding the wind nicely, Rona passed to _ windward oi Avalon. Eileen was not sailing well under her leader and was some distance astern. When close to the mark there was little difference between the four leading boats. Betty was the first to make it. _ It was now a call for quick spinnakei work. Rona’s crew had the big sail up and drawing before Betty. Rona and Colleen made a remarkable recovery on the beat to the weather mark, and the Southland boat was only 4sec behind Betty at the mark. Eileen made the mark over 2min 30sec after Betty. The wind was tricky on the run. Rona was to windward of Betty and the two boats sailed on level terms for the greater part of the distance. Avalon drew away from Colleen, but Eileen fell further astern. Rona carried her spinnaker right to the lee mark and just beat Betty round by Isec. Avalon rounded Imin Bsec, Colleen 2mm Isec, and Eideen 4min 20sec after Rona. Avalon lost abont half a minute on the run When the fleet came on the wind for the third time, the two leading boats stood on a long board to the eastern shore, while Avalon and Colleen sailed a course along the channel wall.’' Rona and Betty were contesting every yard of water, the boutnland boat bolding the lead by a sma 1 margin off "Waverley Point. Avalon, Colleen, and Eileen were a long distance astern at this stage. The Southland boy was still sailing a very skilful race, and when Rona and Betty met in open water it was seen that Rona had increased her lead. Avalon and Eileen discarded the leading jibs and set working jibs. All interest was now centred on Rona ana Betty, as the issue rested between these boats. The Southland skipper kept a wary eye on his opponent, and making a beautiful board in mid-harbour, Rona increased her lead. Rona’s skipper judged the weather well and rounded first. The two leading boats sailed close to the wall, but carried little wind. Avalon fetched the niark 3mm, Colleen 3min 30sec: and Eileen over 6min after Rona. Avalon and Colleen came along under a fresh breeze, but it fell away again. Rona and Betty then held the wind off the Three Legs, but the Weilington boat gained fast. The two skippers fought for an overlap, and the Southland boy proved equal to the occasion. Rounding smartly, Rona drew away and her crew received a great ovation when she crossed the line. The sailing times were: — Rona, 2hr Imin 15sec } Betty, 2hr Imin 46sec f Avalon, 2hr 3min I3sec 8 Colleen, 2hr 3min 22sec 4 Eileen, 2hr 9min 26sec •> SQUALL CAUSES TROUBLE. WELLINGTON BOAT DAMAGED. SIXTH RACE ABANDONED. AUCKLAND CREW’S HARD LUCK. There were many exciting incidents in the early stages of the sixth race, sailed in the afternoon over a triangular course. The wind was fresh and squally'at times from the west before the start, and after a few preliminary try-outs the skippers of the five boats decided to carry the heaviest crews of four men. It was a wise decision in one way, but unfortunate for Avalon and Rona at the finish. The boats wore on the run to the Lower Harbour mark, and after sailing half a mile were struck by a fierce squall, which came away from the south-west. In a flash every boat became unmanageable. Betty was the most unfortunate. When tlie squall came Rona was swept on to Betty, the Wellington boat being struck a crushing blow at the stern. After a few minutes the skippers recovered control and the boats raced away before the wind like flying machines. When Rona struck Betty, the latter filled and prac-

tically capsized, but her crew managed to keep her afloat and she continued m the race. Before the first round was completed, Betty came alongside the starter's launch and her skipper reported that the boat was almost waterlogged and badly damaged. It was seen that Betty’s transon had been cracked at the water line, and that it would be impossible to continue. The Wellington skipper was struck on the head by Kona s boom when the crash occurred, and he was suffering from the effects of the blow when he came alongside the launch. Bet y returned to the boat harbour under reduced canvas. Weighed down with her heaviest men Avalon showed her true sailing powers while the wind held its strength, and the Auckland .skipper made a remarkable recovery in the last beat to windward. Kona then had a substantial lead and her supporters were sanguine that she would register a second win. ban ng fast and fighting Kona board for board, Rogers placed Avalon in the lead befo e the boats came off the wind. The Auckland boat commenced the last run with a lead of Imin Isec from, Kona, and had a margin of about 14 minutes in which to complete the course before the time limit of three hours expired She made good headway for about half a mile. Ihe wind then fell light, and Avalon s speed was very slight. She rounded the wharf mark with only four minutes in which to run the, short distance to the line. Avalon’s sails were barely full, and was within 50 yards of the line when the time expired. It was another un fortunate Sy tor the Aockl.nd cr.jv. The men and the boat deserved a better fate, as Rogers, had shown his yachting ability in placing Avalon in the lead when Rona appeared to have the race well in hand. No boat or crew has been so unfortunate in the contest In the first race Avalon was automatically disciualified for fouling a mark, in another race she was robbed of victory when the time limit expired before she could cross the line, and disqualification fol lowed when she fouled Colleen in the f °Eomdtal'lho Castle beacon Jor the «r«t £Z ~ > bard*Xafto the weather mark at Vauxhall, ancl Rona soon sailed into the lead The Southland boat rounded with a lead of 40sec from Colleen, Imin 16sec from Avalon, 2min 6sec from Betty, and 2mm IJsec from Eileen. Rona increased her lead on tne next round, but Colleen then assumed the lead, which she held until the th rd beat to windward, when Avalon sailed into first position, but Colleen and Rona were close on her stern. Rona s skipper, showing great skill, weathered Avalon and Colleen, and was nearly 3mm ahead oi the Auckland boat at the weather mark. Eileen made this mark smm .llsec after Avalon. Rona came on the wind at the Castle beacon for the last time with a lead of 2min 13sec from Avalon and nearly smin from Colleen. Gaining fast on every board, Avalon soon overhauled Rona, while Colleen improved her position, but Eileen was a long way astern. The Auckland boat gained Imm 12sec on Rona on the last beat to windward. The crews were: — Avalon.—D. Rogers (skipper), I. H. Larritt. M. Jones, W. Tripp. Betty.—A. Johnston (skipper), fl. D. Harlen, L. Robertson, M. Leake. Colleen.—G. Brasell (skipper), F. Forman, F. Collins, R. Pnddy. Rona.—V. Bragg (skipper), L. Bragg, G. Bragg, G. Fife. . Eileen.—W. J. P. M’Culloch (skipper), C. Pettit, J. Robertson, G. Reynolds. VARIABLE NATURE OF WINDS. TIME LIMIT EXTENDED. At a meeting of the Dominion yachting delegates on Saturday night, it was decided, owing to the variable nature of the winds, to extend the time limit by. IS minutes for all future races in the series. PLACINGS OF BOATS. The following table shows the placings of the boats in the five races sailed last Week: ~~ Ist. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. sth. Colleen 2 1 2 Betty 2 1 - _1 J Rona 1 2 £ _ Avalon .... 1 f „ „ Eileen ...... 1 1 ' Seven races were started, but two were abandoned as the leading boat—Avalon in both instances —could not complete the course within the time limit of three hours owing to the wind falling away. TO-DAY’S RACES. The contest will be' continued to-day. The seventh race will be sailed this moraine over a windward and leeward course, starting at 10 a.m. Should it.be necessary to sail an eighth race it will be held this afternoon.