THE CORNWELL CUP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 82

THE CORNWELL CUP.

WON BY CANTERBURY. To win a cup against competition from four provinces represented by boys under 3s) years of age was a proud moment for two Lyttelton boys, both aged 14 years, when they crossed the line in the Otago Harbour basin on Tuesday afternoon in the 12ft Gin Taka puna boat. The boys, H. Morris and 11. Brassel, won their third race for the Cornwell Cup, being followed home by an Auckland crew. The final race for the cup was far from satisfactory, as it was not the best crew which won on the day. Canterbury must count itself as being decidedly fortunate for, after losing at least eight minutes through faulty gear, the Auckland crew sailed across the finishing line only 20 seconds after the cup winners. As a finish it was the most exciting yet seen in contests for the cup. for which two series of races have been sailed. Auckland had a great lead on the seeond round, but the sail fell, and wdien the boat was under way again Canterbury had gained an advantage of at least seven minutes. In the same place on the last round, when Auckland was gaining rapidly, another mishap—this time a nose-dive —occurred and the boat nearly capsized. The Aucklanders made a fine chase, and on sailing points were vastly superior to the Otago and Canterbury crews. The Lyttelton boys did not sail with the bendiness which featured their showings in the earlier races, and took the worst courses, where they had to contcn 1 with a strong tide rip. The Otago boys gave another disappointing showing. With the inferest that the contest has awakened there should be more competition in this class on Otago Harbour, with a consequently enhanced skill of the boys. A feature of the race was the showing of the boat Sport, which hitherto had finished last in each race. The general impression was that the boat was inferior, but her showing with the Aucklander at the tiller yesterday showed that she could sail as well us the others. For some reason or other, the Wellington crew failed to be present for the race, although they had not notified the sailing cornmitte of their intention not to compete. The race was sailed over n windward and loownrd course, from the basin pile to Castle Beacon and return, three times round. The wind was blowing steadily nut: freshly from the south-east, and I lie course was much more satisfactory than when the race was sailed over it on Monday afternoon. Canterbury sailed with a rocf in throughout the race. The competitors were:— Canterbury—Colic*;n (11. Norris anil G. Brassel). Auckland-Sport JR. 11. Masefield and I). Mack ay). Otago--Tio (A. McDonald and C. Holler). Mr 0. Grant acted as timekeeper and starter, and Mr Magnus Smith was the judge. The start was given at 2.50 p.m., and .Auckland led Otago by 7sec, Canterbury

having been weathered by the local crew Tio travelled fast on the run, and off the cement works she struck a puff which planed her past Sport. The rudder of the latter boat then unshipped and the small yacht dropped back to a line with Colleen, but still maintained the weather position. The freshening wind helped the Canterbury boat along nicely, but Otago fetched the Castle Beacon first, followed I3sec later by Sport, with Colleen 4sec behind. The times were:— Otago 2h 57m 42s Auckland 2h 57m 55s Canterbury .. .. 2h 57m 59s There was a smart bit of manoeuvring on Mackay’s part when the boats rounded. Moller, who had continued for about 15 yards inshore, made an effort to come about, but Mackay kept on the starboaro tack. Moller was beaten by the move, for he turned right round, and the Aucklander secured the load and swung about also on* the port tack. Canterbury also raced away in line with Auckland, but to weather, leaving Otago 100 yards astern before the boat had headed again for the heat back to the pile. Sport made a better showing than Colleen on the wind, both boats making a series of short tacks up the harbour. After passing the Three Legs, Auckland held on to the mid-har-bour course, Otago sailed over towards the Peninsula, while the Canterbury crew did not use the best judgment in pointing for the city shore, as they caught the tidal rip and the wind was not so steady. Auckland gained nearly two minutes on the beat from Canterbury, with Otago a further 34min back. At the pile the times were: —. Auckland .. .. .. 3h 19m 29s Canterbury .. .. 3h 21m 9s Otago 3h 24m 40s Auckland gybed round the pile in great style and had the spinnaker drawing in quick time. Canterbury lost on the turn through a slow gybe. When the Otago boat turned for the run back to the beacon, Sport was down past the three legs, planing beautifully, while Canterbury’s spinnaker would not break out. The unexpected is looked for always in yachting, and there was a sensation when the top of Sport’s mainsail dropped. In a minute the mainsail fell to the deck, the gooseneck having given way. Although the wind was blowing heavily, the Auckland boys showed that courage which makes yachtsmen, and they took a risk of capsizing their craft when one of the boys, weighing 11 stone, went up the frail mast to repair the upper damage. The boys worked desperately, but ’hey were only half-way to completion when Canterbury glided past and rounded the beacon. The boat was underway as Otago rounded a little over three minutes later. The times at the beacon were:— Canterbury 3h 29m 10s Otago 3h 32m 413 Auckland 3h 33m 47s The delay had cost the Auckland boys their lead of nearly 7min, but their chances were still bright, with only half tKe race gone, for Canterbury was only 4min in the lead. On the tacking, Auckland and Otago held the Peninsula shore, and in a battle for second position Mackay beat Moller at science in manoeuvring, and under Waverley forced the Otago boat about and raced into the second position. On the remainder of the beat Sport went away from Tio. Canterbury followed their first round course and stood over for the flashing buoy, a course which lost the boys easily The boats • turned the. pile for the last round at the following times Canterbury 3h 51m 58s Auckland 3h 54m 38s Otago 3h 57m 37s It was bad tactics on the part of the Canterbury boys not to send out their spinnaker, for Auckland had her’s flying quickly and gained on the leader on the run down to the beacon. Auckland carried her spinnaker to within 25yds of the mark, and when taking it in she got into trouble. The little boat nose-dived and a swamping was imminent. The skipper, however, was equal to the occasion, and luffed up, plac mg the boat on an even keel. The mishaps meant a further loss of lmin to the boys. Otago was out of the contest and came down with eased sheets and without the spinnaker. At the beacon, the boats rounded as follows: Canterbury 3h 53m 35s Auckland 4h lm 16s Otago 4h 4m 21s The Auckland boys outsailed the Canterbury lads on the beat back to the finishing point, and gained by keeping closer to the wind, the • Canterbury crew forgetting its first round lessons and again keeping to leeward. Half a mile from home there was only about 50yds difference between the boats, and Canterbury then adopted a series of short boards to make the mark. It was a fine finish. Canterbury coming home on a short starboard tack only 20sec before Auckland, with Tio beating up off Waverley. The finishing times were: —. Canterbury 4h 22m 58s Auckland 4h 23m 18s Otago's time was not taken. CONDITIONS DISCUSSED. A conference of delegates representing Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago was held on Wednesday for the purpose of discussing various matters in connection with the Cornwell Cup contest, promoted by the Taknpuna Boating Club for competition among boys sailing in the club s 12ft 6in one-design boats. The following resolutions were adopted: That it be a recommendation to the. Takapuna Boating Club to insert in the condi tions the following:— That the ago for competitors for the contest bo 18 years and under. That boy competitors in the' trials and contests must bo bone tide members of a 12ft 6in Takapuna one-design crew. A discussion took place regarding the advisability of allowing certain ports having boats built of white pino. Mr D. Blair (Wellington) said that white pino would increase in weight in the water and consequently a new boat would be lighter. Mr A. K. Smith (Canterbury) said that as the Cornwell cup design had proved a truo ono-desigii class they should adhere to the decision to build boats of kauri. Mr O. Mollor (commodore of the Taka puna Boating Club) mentioned his club had given vory careful consideration to the question, and the members were unanimous as regards building boats of kauri. The suggestion that kauri was unprocurable in the south was really not the case, as a

Dunedin builder had informed him that he stocked this class of timber and in any case the Takapuna Club would see that kauri was supplied to anyone desiring to build a boat. Mr Moller also said that the complete boat ready for sailing cost £27 in Auck land. The cost of transit to Dunedin was £2. The Takapuna Club would forward full-size patterns and specifications for the sum of 255. A boy could build a boat himself and also equip it for £l4. Mr Moller intimated that two of the club’s boats had been sold during the past few days, one going to Napier. The delegates expressed thanks to Mr Chris George and Mr C. Grant for their valued assistance in the conduct of the recent Cornwell Cup races, also to Mr VV. Riddle for placing his launch at the disposal of the officials Congratulations were extended by the delegates to the Canterbury representative (Mr Smith) on winning the Cornwell Cup by the Canterbury crew.