REGATTA AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 59

REGATTA AT AUCKLAND.

SANDERS CUP COMPETITORS. TWO SOUTHERN WINS. (Ekom Ottr Special Representative.) AUCKLAND, January 29. The anniversary of the founding of the province was celebrated to-day in glorious sunshine, which was rather too warm foB the average southerner. The regatta was a spectacular success, great interest being taken in the 14-footer races. In the morning the first race for. this class, in which all the Sanders Cup representatives started, was sailed in a fluky breeze, which blew in a different direction at various points. At the start, in a light northerly, Nyria got away well, with Unnet (Canterbury) sfeeond, Murihiku (Southland) third, YVinifred (Otago) and Rona (Auckland) being well in the roar. Of the large field the Murihiku very soon ran out in the lead. In setting spinnakers for the run home before the wind Murihiku was slow, and Winifred was fast. Rona got within 7sec of Murihiku, and Linnet within 83sec. The boats closed together a little, and Winifred retired. Murihiku won from Rona by 6min 3sec. Nyria was third, Bmin 6sec behind Murihiku, and Linnet crossed the line Bseo later. « It was by no means a fine race, but Murihiku’s win .was well-deserved and popular. By her victory she wins and holds the R 063 Cup, valued at 50 guineas, for one year, and also wins a small cash prize. The second race, carrying with it the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Champion* ship, was sailed in the afternoon, under better sailing conditions, the wind having freshened. It was a grand start, seven of the boats being in perfect line whefi the gun was fired, the others being in a good position. The Otago and Auckland representative boats were on the extreme outside [positions, and a little later Winifred crossed behind the fleet to the inside. This move lost her some time, and after passing the Sandspit the order was: Linnet, Eynin, Joan, Iron Duke, Nyria, Winifred, Desert Gold, Meteor, Rangi, and Rona, the others following close. Linnet sailed round Resolution buoy about 20see ahead of Nyria, followed In turn by Iron Duke, Rona, and Joan; then in the long beat to windward Nyria overtook Linnet, -and Winifred slightly improved her position, but the most notable recovery was the Iron Duke, with Lord Jellieoe at the tiller. Rounding the buoy off the Watchman, Nyria and Linnet led Rona by 36sec, Iron Duke by 48see, and Winifred by lmin 52seo, Murihiku being only 30seo behind the Otago boat. Desert Gold, Rangi, Joan, and Eynin followed in that order, the other boats being far behind. In the run Winifred did not improve her position, and passed Resolution buoy in sixth position. Nyria led with Linnet, Rona, Iron Duke,. Murihiku, and Winifred in that order. In turning this buoy Rona oollided with it, but' continued in the raoe and failed to. notify the officials of her mishap. The accident was unfortunate, for she sailed a good race. After passing the Sandspit,. Rona having headed Linnet, the competitors divided into two bunches: Nyria, Rona, Linnet, and Murihiku coming out from the shore, and the remainder hugging it. The result justified the leaders, and after some clever work the Canterbury boat crossed the line a few inches ahead of Rona, the Southland boat following, v.ith Nyria close up. Linnet wins £25 in this prize, an extra £ls having been added in consideration of the -winning boat being owned by a visitor and steered by a yachtsman outside Hauraki Gulf.