VORENA'S GOOD EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24027, 18 January 1940, Page 8

VORENA'S GOOD EFFORT

Duel With Otago

In Last Race

SHOWING PRAISED BY DELEGATES

(Special to The Times) WELLINGTON, January 17.

In spite of the lack of competition in her home port, the Southland representative in the Sanders Cup contest, Vorena, put up an excellent performance. The light breeze today and yesterday did not suit her heavy crew on the wind, probably the most difficult part of sailing. She held her own with the other competitors but lost ground on the lead’ slipping away to leeward. Her skipper, J. Shannon, lost a little on the finer points of sailing but would overcome this difficulty with more experience. The spinnaker work was quite good. At the start of the race Kitty and Vorena were the weather boats and

began a luffing race on a close lead to Fraser Rock. Kitty was to the weather and passed Southland. Both yachts set their spinnakers soon after the start of the race. When Fraser Rock was reached Southland rounded fourth with Otago last. There was little change in positions running down to the mid-harbour mark.

Beating back to Point Jerningham for the end of the first lap Southland followed similar tactics to yesterday, keeping into the inner harbour. She had more success and picked up quite a good breeze, gaining on Otago who had passed her. Like all the other competitors except Auckland she made too many boards beating up to Point Jerningham and had to make a small board when almost on the wark, losing more time. Once round the buoy, however, her spinnaker was set smartly. The only other boat to better her in getting the spinnaker out was Canterbury. Leading across to Fraser Rock, Southland dropped back again but retained her position on the run. GROUND MADE UP Beating up to Point Jerningham, Shannon again kept in to the inner harbour with success, getting more wind, but still could not make up leeway on Otago. On the lead to Fraser Rock Southland dropped back more. Watching where the wind was coming from he decreased Otago’s lead on the beat back to the finishing line but still could not pass Otago to gain fourth position. At a meeting of Sanders Cup delegates after the last race, Mr W. H. Beanland (secretary) said Southland had shown wonderful sportsmanship in its support of the Sanders Cup contest. It had never won the trophy but had it not been for its support, the contest would have lost a certain amount of interest. If Southland could only get more competition in its home port it would be up with the leaders all the time.