STEWART ISLAND NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 23681, 2 December 1938, Page 2

STEWART ISLAND NEWS

FURTHER TRIALS FOR SANDERS CUP MURIHIKU II AND LAVINA EACH HAVE WIN Two more trial races to find the Stewart Island representative for the Sanders Cup contest at Bluff next February were sailed at Half Moon Bay, resulting in a win for both the Murihiku H and the Lavina. The three races previously held were won by the yacht Rona. The fourth race was interrupted by a heavy squall, but was finished without difficulty. The wind dropped during the fifth race the next day and the yachts were virtually drifting until a breeze sprang up at dusk. The race was finished in darkness.

The first attempt to sail the fourth race of the series was abandoned When the yachts, which were sailing in a very light breeze failed to go halfway round the course once in one and a-half hours.

A good sailing. breeze was blowing when the race was held the following day. A-triangular course was Jised and the. three- yachts, Rona, Lavina - and Murihiku 11, - competed. ' >' - ' The boats got away-to a good start ' and broke - their spinnakers out together. The Rona gradually drew away from the Murihiku- II and the Lavina was following close behind the second boat. At the end of the first round the Rona was 30 seconds ahead of Murihiku 11, while Lavina was 15 seconds behind. As the Rona was starting to beat back on the second round a squall of wind and rain came down the bay and all the yachts lowered away. The Rona, being closer inshore, . got. into the kelp at Least’s Point. The Murihiku II kept the peak of, her mainsail up and “lay to” while the. Lavina kept under the lee of the big rock in the bay until the worst of the squall, was over. When’ the weather, had improved she set sail again and, with the Murihiku 11, resumed the race. The 'Rona was a considerable distance behind When she started again. The Lavina ran into the lead and was 20 seconds ahead of Murihiku 11, and the result appeared to be decided. The Wind veered to the. north-west, however, and all three boats got a lead for the finishing line. Murihiku H came up fast and sailed through the Lavina’s lee, winning the race by three seconds. The Rona, which was third, had pullqd up on the leading boats, but she was a long way to the leeward. After this race the crews changed yachts. G. Bragg went from the Murihiku II to the Lavina, W. Bailey, jun. from the Lavina to the Rona and L. Bragg from the Rona to the Murihiku 11. z • > THE FIFTH RACE The fifth trial was sailed the following day over a windward and leeward course. At the start of the race a good sailing westerly breeze was blowing. The three yachts got away to a beautiful start. When they, reached the oiiter buoy the Lavina was two seconds ahead of Murihiku 11, the Rona being two seconds further back. At the completion of the first round the Lavina was in first place, 25 seconds ahead of Murihiku 11, having established a good lead. The Rona rounded 30 seconds after the second boat At this stage the wind became very hgpt and the- event was little more than a drifting race. At one period it seemed that ffie race would have to be declared off but, at the approach of dusk, a light breeze sprang up. The three boats made better progress and the Lavina was first to find the finishing line, with Murihiku II in second place. It was quite dark when the race finThe order and times of the yachts at the finish were:— Lavina 9.25.30 1 Murihiku II 9-38 2 Rona 9.45.40 - 3

Of the five races sailed, three have been won by L. Bragg and G. Bragg has won two.