SANDERS CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 11

SANDERS CUP

TWO FURTHER RACES WELLINGTON AND CANTERBURY WIN OTAGO LAST IN BOTH 'Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 5. Two races for the Sanders Cup were sailed to-day. The morning race was won by Lavina (Wellington), and the afternoon race by Colleen (Canterbury). The morning race started at 10.30 in a freshening north-easterly. All the boats elected to carry three-men crews with the exception of Endeavour, which took in a fourth man at the last moment. The course was a triangular one, the start being on a broad lead for Paine's quarry, thence a beat up to the buoy off Sticking Point, thence a run to the starting buoy, three times round.

As the gun sounded Colleen broke her spinnaker and flew across the line tc a splendid start. All carried spinnakers forward. A hard puff put Endeavour well over, and her supporters had an anxious moment until she recovered. She bore straight down for the buoy, but Colleen and Lavina kept up to windward before easing oft. At the quarry buoy the order was Colleen Lavina, Rawene, Endeavour, Lynette. After putting in a short board up shore, all went about on the starboard tack for mid-harbour. Lavina moved up to the weather of Colleen s quarter. Endeavour was to leeward of the two leaders, but was moving faster. Lavina and Rawene were pointing well, and had Lynette well under their lee. Endeavour stood in to within a few feet of the shore before going about for a lift up the shore. She passed astern of Colleen. When Colleen came about, she got a good lift up the shore, but Lavina, still on the starboard tack, put her about, the Canterbury boat just weathering Lavina. These two, with Endeavour, then fought out a series ot short boards up the shore, a similar contest being conducted between Rawene and Lynette further astern. It was an exciting contest at this stage. Rawene had beaten Lynette in their fight, but, before rounding, the Otago boat regained fourth place. The battle between Colleen and Lavina saw the latter come out the victor, weathering Colleen just before reaching the buoy, which she rounded 41 seconds ahead. Endeavour was 34 seconds behind the Canterbury boat, with Lynette another minute and 20 seconds away. Rawene was 25 seconds behind the Otago boat. There was no change in the run for the pier buoy, and the first round was completed at the following times:— Lavina (Wellington), llhr 7min 52sec. Colleen (Canterbury), llhr Bmin 30sgc Endeavour (Auckland), llhr 9min Lynette (Otago), llhr lOmin 12sec. Rawene (Southland), llhr lOmin 57sec. Lavina changed over very smartly on the lead. Wellington held the others off and rounded the quarry buoy first, the others being in the same order as at the previous mark. Lavina increased her lead on the long board for the western shore. Lynette had come up and appeared as if she could weather Endeavour. After breaking tacks, Rawene put in some good work, weathering Lynette and threatening Endeavour for third place. Lavina turned the weather mark lmin 42sec ahead of Colleen. Endeavour was third, with Rawene only 31 seconds away and Lynette a minute behind the Southland boat. The second round was completed as follows: Lavina, llhr 43min 59sec. Colleen, llhr 45min 55sec. Endeavour, llhr 48min 59sec. . Rawene, llhr 49min 51sec. Lynette, llhr 50min 19sec. Lavina had trouble with her spinnaker after rounding and was carried down to leeward. Rawene changed her spinnaker over early and appeared to gain by this. Lavina rounded the quarry mark 2min 28sec ahead of Colleen. The finish was:— Lavina 12hr 18min 27sec. Colleen, 12hr 21min Bsec. Endeavour, 12hr 26min 12sec. Rawene, 12hr 26min 37sec. Lynette, 12hr 27min 46sec. THE AFTERNOON RACE A fresh full sail breeze prevailed in the afternoon when the third race was sailed, and there was a good sea running. Heavy weather crews of four men were carried, and the leading jibs were discarded in favour of working jibs. The course was windward and leeward with the start on the wind. The start was at 3 p.m. Endeavour was first across, with Colleen and Rawene together close on her and Lavina and Lynette in that order. All worked up the shore. At Shaw, Savill's shed Endeavour had the weather position, and held it again when the boats broke tacks off Sticking Point with Lavina, Colleen. Rawene and Lynette in that order. All were getting a thrashing at this point with the effect of the ebb tide and the strong north-easterly. Endeavour surprised the onlookers by the way she held up into it. Nearing the weather mark for the first time Lavina and Colleen, which had been taking advantage of the tide, weathered the Auckland boat. Lavina rounded 30 seconds ahead of Colleen, which was 10 seconds ahead of Endeavour with Rawene another seven seconds away. Lynette was 51 seconds behind her. Colleen carried her mainsail to port, but had not gone far when her spinnaker jibed. She was in difficulties for a few moments, during which she dropped back. The first round ended as follows: — Lavina, 3hr 29min 27sec. Endeavour, 3hr 29min 31sec. Rawene. 3hr 30min Isec. Colleen. 3hr 30min 12sec. Lynette. 3hr 30min 42sec. Close hauled near the western shore Colleen had a chance of weathering Lavina but was compelled to give sea room. Rawene had weathered Endeavour. Lavina was taking no more chances with Colleen, and was making board for board with her. The two were having a great tussle, with Rawene in a handy position. Going about off Sticking Point Colleen missed stays, but quickly recovered and proceeded to challenge Lavina again. Nearing the buoy Colleen finally got Lavina. The two skippers were fighting out every inch to the great excitement of the spectators. They approached the buoy on opposite tacks, but Colleen rounded eight seconds ahead. Colleen was very smart with her spinnaker. On the run Lavina overhauled Colleen. It was a thrilling exhibition of fast sailing, first Lavina and then Colleen planing ahead. The second round was completed as follows: Lavina. 4hr smin 45sec. Colleen, 4hr smin 53sec. Rawene. 4hr 6min 27sec. Endeavour. 4hr 7min Usee. Lynette. 4hr Bmin 18sec On the beat up for the final round Lavina was only just managing to keep Colleen alee. Rawene was close

on them, and w.as putting up one of the best performances of any Southland boat in a contest. Lavina was still leading at the weather mark, which she rounded 35 seconds ahead of Colleen. On the final run for the pile Colleen, carrying her mainsail to starboard, stood over to mid-har-bour, Lavina running closer to the western shore. When abeam of the pier Lavina and Colleen appeared to be about level. The result depended on which boat could get her spinnaker in most smartly. Colleen took hers in first. Lavina held on to her " kite for a few seconds longer and caught a lucky squall, which carried her up. They jibed, and it was seen that the Canterbury boat was in the»lead. and she rounded 10 seconds ahead of Lavina. With only a short beat for the line the excitement was intense, but Colleen held off the Wellington boat, and the finish was:— Colleen 'Canterbury. 4hr 48min Usee. Lavina 'Wellington). 4hr 48min Rawene (Southland) 4hr 49min 21sec. Endeavour (Auckland) 4hr 52min 47sec. Lynette (Otago). 4hr 52min 57sec. The fourth race is to be sailed on Monday morning.