SANDERS CUP

Southland Times, Issue 21285, 5 January 1931, Page 5

SANDERS CUP

TRIALS AT HALF MOON BAY. RONA WINS THREE RACES. Official trials to select a boat to represent Southland in the forthcoming Sanders Cup contest were sailed at Half Moon Bay, Stewart Island, on December 29 and 30. Conditions were: The first boat to win three races was to be selected, but as the Invercargill boats were unable to reach the island in time it was decided to sail races with the Stewart Island boats and should the Invercargill Boating Club send its best boat later, then races would be sailed between the Invercargill boat and the Stewart Island boat. The outcome of the Stewart Island trials was the selection of the Rona, which won all three races. The first race was sailed on Monday last in a hard westerly breeze. Both boats started with reefed mainsails and four riien aboard. After rounding the outside mark Rona shook out her reef. Both boats went off to a good start, Murihiku having slightly the advantage at 11.25. Murihiku rounded the leeward mark at 11.32.55 and Rona at 11.33.10. The windward mark was rounded by Rona at 11.50.30 and Murihiku at 11.52.40, a hard squall came on soon after and Murihiku retired, Rona completing the course at 12.18.15. The second race, which was to have been sailed in the afternoon, was postponed until the following morning owing to the boisterous weather. A triangular course was chosen for the second trial, which was sailed in a, moderate breeze. Both boats got away sharp at 10.30 a.m. Rona having a slight advantage which she maintained rounding the first buoy at 10.39.20 followed by Murihiku at 10.39.30. Rona shifted her spinnaker to starboard very smartly and gradually gained way and rounded the second buoy at 10.43 followed by Murihiku at 10.43.20 In the beat to windward Murihiku put in a good tack and weathered Rona. Then followed a good beating match to the wharf buoy, which Murihiku rounded first at 11.2.45 followed by Rona at 11.2.50. In the run out the second time Rona passed Murihiku to leeward and rounded the second buoy 11.12, Murihiku at 11.12.10. Rona’s crew were again smart with their spinnaker. The leeward mark was rcunded by Rona at 11.16.18 and by Murihiku at 11.16.34 on the beat to windward Rona gradually way and rounded the wharf buoy at 11.34.20 and Murihiku at 11.35.38. For the third round Rona rounded the second buoy at 11.41.35 and Murihiku at 11.44.6. The wind had changed meanwhile to Nor’west and neither boat changed spinnakers but carried on with spinnakers to port right to the leeward buoy, which Rona rounded at 11.46.20 and Murihiku at 11.50.34. The wind became changeable in the beat to windward. Rona crossed the line at 12.6.0, followed by Murihiku at 12.9.34.

The third, and which proved to be the final, trial was started at 3.15 p.m. in a light North-North-East wind and was a dead beat from the wharf to a turning buoy out off the mouth of Halfmoon Bay and abreast of Aker’s Point.. Murihiku got away first and maintained her lead to the outer buoy, rounding it at 3.40.40 followed by Rona at 3.41.11. Murihiku maintained her lead and rounded the wharf buoy at 3.56.50 and Rona at 3.57.7. Then started another stiff beat to windward and Murihiku, sailing well, rounded the outer mark at 4.26.5 followed by Rona at 4.26.33. Murihiku was slow with her spinnaker and Rona, whose spinnaker work was smartly done,, gradually gained on the run home, winning a closely contested race by seven seconds. It was the finest race seen at Half Moon Bay for a very long time and was won by Rona through smart spinnaker work. H. Hansen sailed Murihiku and V. Bragg was at the tiller of Rona.