SANDERS CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23413, 31 January 1938, Page 2

SANDERS CUP

CANTERBURY’S FIRST WIN

WELLINGTON NARROWLY DEFEATED AN EXCITING FINISH A great battle of wits between two experienced skippers, an exciting and interesting race and a thrilling finish made the third contest in the IMS Sanders Cuo series one that is not likely to be forgotten by the large crowd that witnessed it. Sailed on Saturday afternoon in a moderate north-easterly breeze, which freshened slightly during the progress of the race, it was a triumph for G. E Brasell and the crew of Manihi. Canterbury’s challenger. Brasell stuck grimly to N. Blair, in Kitty, the Wellington boat, which won the first two races, even when the latter had a clear lead halfway through the last round and during the run to the Kitchener street pile before the short beat to the finishing line the Canterbury skipper forged anead of Blair after a great battle and crossed the line first by only two seconds. There was very little difference between the two craft, especially before the wind, when they raced neck and neck, trying to out-manoeuvre each other to gain the weather position, and although Blair showed superiority in his windward work during the first round, Brasell handled Manihi well in the second round and made up a lot of leeway, to be right on Kitty’s heels when they rounded for the last run Considering that she is looked upon as a heavy weather boat, Eileen put up an excellent performance to gain third place, and had it not been for an accident to her leading jib during the last round which resulted in a torn sail, she might easily have occupied a more prominent place. Cuthbert handled his boat in a workmanlike manner and hung on to the two leading craft practically throughout the race. He was helped on the run both times when Manihi and Kitty were engaged in luffing matches and swung off the course to let Eileen come through on them and. had the Otago boat been just a little further up on the last occasion, she might have taken the lead. Blair and Brasell, of course, watched her closely to see that she did not steal the race while they were busy luffing each other. Auckland put up a better showing in the lighter weather, but she was harcUy in the same class as the Wellington and Canterbury craft. Lavina the Southland representative, brought up the rear, but her skipper never gave up the race. The Victoria wharf was crowded with spectators when the race was commenced at 2.30, and the Peninsula road was thickly lined with cars. The contest was also followed by a large contingent of motor boats and yachts, and the numbers of sailing craft on the harbour made it difficult for the spectators to pick up the Cup competitors when they beat down harbour to Challis’s buoy.

Eileen in the Lead

The start was an excellent one, Wellington swinging round the buoy right at the gun, Canterbury and Auckland following together close behind, Otago being next, with Southland last. Lavina was quickly about on the port tack, the Otago boat following her soon afterwards, but the other three stood right over to the wharf, with Wellington in the weather position. Auckland was the first to stand over to the Peninsula* but she immediately made another short board to the wharf to get to windward of Kitty and Manihi. These tactics, however, left her in the rear. Eileen weathered Lavina when she went about at the Peninsula, and she was to windward of Manihi and Kitty when she passed them on opposite tacks. Southland, however, was to leeward of both the northern boats. Cuthbert came about fast on Kitty’s weather, but immediately afterwards Brasell forced Eileen about. The Otago and Southland craft worked over into mid-fchannel on long boards, the other three boats hugging the Peninsula side until they passed the Castle beacon. At this stage Kitty weathered Manihi and then followed Otago out over to the retaining wall. The fleet converged in mid-channel, with Kitty in the lead, closely followed by Canterbury. with a gan back to Otago Auckland and Southland. They laid the mark from the fertiliser wharf in this order. Manihi and Eileen appeared to have overlaid the buoy, but Kitty was just under it by a yard, and she -had to make a short board to fetch it only a length in front of Manihi. with Eileen close on the latter’s heels. Aileen and Lavina both had to make long boards before they laid the Challis beacon, and were about a minute behind. A Luffing Match With spinnakers set smartly, Kitty and Manihi raced away together and came down to the leeward mark neck and neck. Approaching the Castle beacon, Brasell tried to slip across Kitty’s stern to gain the weather position. but Blair luffed smartly, and the two boats swung oft the course over to the wall. This manoeuvre let Eileen through on their lee. and when Manihi eventually worked to windward the three boats were racing practically in .line. So they raced down to the Kitchener street oile where Manihi. in the weather position, rounded a length in front of Wellington, with Otago close on the latter's stern. Aileen. helped by the freshening breeze, made up a lot of ground on the run, and was only about 30sec in the rear. Southland being well back. Kitty weathered Canterbury as they passed through the finishing line, the positions at the end of the first round being as follows:

Wellington, 3hr 25min 55sec, Canterbury. 3hr 26min 6sec. Otago, 3hr 26min lOsec. Auckland. 3hr 26mln 32sec.

Southland. 3hr 28min 25sec.

Otago’s Misfortune

As the leading boats swung across on a long board to the Peninsula. Eileen suffered a misfortune which lost her valuable seconds. The flag clip of her leader became unhooked and the jib flew up the main stay. No sooner was the sail secured again than it ripped across the third seam, and the Otago boat was compelled to finish the race under an obvious disadvantage. Kitty and Manihi both weathered Eileen at the Peninsula and board for board the Wellington and Canterbury craft beat down to the windward mark. Kitty still holding the weather position. Kitty, however, appeared to overlay the buoy, and Manihi crept up on her stern as their two courses converged. Wellington rounded first, but the Canterbury craft was only two lengths in the rear, while Eileen, gradually losing ground’ with her split leader, was about a minute behind the leading boat. Again Kitty and Manihi staged a luffing match which carried them right over to *he channel wall, and again the Canterbury boat managed to get to weather oi her opponent. A baffling puff of wind from the northern side of the harbour caused both Blair and Brasell to change over their spinnakers to the port side, and shortly afterwards they were forced to make the change back again. Manihi Draws Ahead There was nothing between the two boats at this stage, although Manihi held the weather position, but as they approached the Kitchener street pile the Canterbury challenger drew slightly ahead and was three lengths clear when she rounded. Otago had held on well to her opponents on the run, gaining ground slightly as Manihi and Kitty fought for supremacy, and she was only about 30sec behind at the leeward mark, with Auckland and I Southland further back.

Both Canterbury and Wellington made for the finishing line on the starboard tack, Kitty being to weather but three or four lengths back. Just short of the line Kitty went about in an endeavour to beat the Canterbury boat across, but Manihi finished first. 2sec in front. Otago crossed over Imin 30sec later, followed by Auckland and Southland at long intervals. The result, with finishing times, was as follows: Canterbury (Manihi), 4hr 30min Isec 1 Wellington (Kitty). 4hr 30min 3sec 2 Otago (Eileen), 4hr 31min 41sec .. 3 Auckland (Aileen), 4hr 33min 30sec 4 Southland (Lavina), 4hr 34min 25sec 5 ALLEGED BREACH OF RULES At the conclusion of the race the Sailing Committee met to consider an alleged breach of the rules, but as no official protest regarding the alleged breach wds received, the committee decided to take no action. CREWS ENTERTAINED COMPLIMENTARY SMOKE CONCERT The visiting crews and delegates were entertained at a complimentary smoke concert on Saturday evening, when they were (he guests of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, There was a large attendance, and the president of the association (Mr J. D, Cameron) presided. The function was of an informal nature, the short toast list being interspersed with musical and humorous items. During the evening the Sundstrum Cup, presented to the skipper and crew of the 14-footer winning the Otago Sanders Cup trials, was handed to E. Cuthbert by the chairman, Mr Cuthbert making a brief but appropriate his introductory remarks the chairman said they vyere gathered together to do honour to the visiting yachtsmen. Many of those present had made valuable friendships at previous contests, and those friendships prevailed to-day. He hoped they would fast as long as the Sanders Cup contest was in existence. Proposing the toast of “ The Otago Harbour Board,’’ Mr A. Cameron said that if it were not for the harbour board thev would not have the facilities which they now enjoyed, and without its assistance they would not have been able to carry on. All concerned in the contest were very grateful for the willing manner in which the board had assisted on the present occasion. , . In replv, Mr W. Begg (chairman of the board) said it was gratifying.to see so many young men taking an interest in yachting, a sport which was in a class by itself. He congratulated the crews on the excellent spirit shown during the contest, and stated that it was always one of the board’s functions to assist as much as it possibly could. „ _. Proposing the toast of the ‘ Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association,’ Mr W. J. Bardsley said that the holding of the contest in the south had proved to visiting yachtsmen that Dunedin was branded with a name for bad weather which it. did not deserve. Referring to the local association, the speaker said that if Dunedin had black marks against it in the past, it needed the assistance of all yachtsmen to remove that stigma. Then would the business community rally round with financial help. He was pleased to say that the present executive conducted its meetings in the true spirit of all yachtsmen. . ~ Mr W. Sell, in reply, said the association had a great deal of work to do in connection with such contests, and as the years went by there seemed to be more of them. It did not appear that the Sanders Cup would be contested here next year, but they were all very pleased with Eileen’s performances so far. Whatever province won the trophy, however, all were satisfied with the racing. The toast of “Visiting Yachtsmen was proposed oy the chairman, who said that a fine band of fellows had taken part in the contest in the best spirit of goodwill. Those privileged to visit other provinces during Sanders Cup contests knew of the hospitality received,' but at the same time they could hardly expect anything else, knowing the kind of snort engaged in. They had met some of the finest fellows in New Zealand, and the friendships made would last a lifetime. When they honoured their toast, which was coupled with the names of the visiting skippers, they naturally thought of such past stalwarts as Messrs Wiseman. Paterson. McCullough, and Kellett, and all those who bad taken part in the contests since 1921. Replies were made by Messrs R. H. Auger (Auckland), N. Blair (Wellington), G. E. Brasell (Canterbury), and G. Bragg (Southland). Other toasts honoured were:— The New Zealand Yachting Council and and the Sanders Cup Memorial Committee.” proposed by Mr J. T, Paul and reolied to by Mr W. H. Beanland; and “Station 4YA,” proposed by Mr W. Sel and replied to by Mr H. Ninnxs. TO-DAY’S RACE The fourth race for the Sanders Cup will be commenced at 10 a.m. to-day. and will be sailed over a triangular course. .