SENSATIONAL END TO SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 15 February 1929, Page 5

SENSATIONAL END TO SANDERS CUP CONTEST

FOUR YACHTS CAPSIZE FIFTH RETIRES RACE DECLARED ABANDONED. AKAROA, Last Night. The first race in t H' 1 Sanders Cup contest which was started at 3 o’clock this afternoon ended sensationally 15 minutes later, when four of the contestants capsized in a tierce southerly squall, while t lie fifth health e Colleen, retired and ran for shelter.

All the boats carried light weather crews except Otago, which carried a heavy third man. The Murihika was fortunate in securing: the use of the Betty’s sails from Mr George Andrews.

The Avalon, rounded (the stalrter’s launch as the starting gun was tired and was first away. She was followed by the Murihika, the Colleen, Clyde adn Eileen. The Avalon took the lead and, pointing well, stood well to windward, with the Clyde, Murihika, Eileen and then the Colleen was losing ground to leeward, and the Avalon had a long lead. The southerly wind was freshening considerably and the sea was increasing. STRUCK BY GALE. Just as the boats cleared Green Point, the gale struck them. The Clyde and Eileen. The Avalon took Murihika and the Eileen following.

The Avalon attempted toi come up into the wind and lower ithe mainsail hut was just too late and over she went. The Colleen, which had been last and well to windward, had sufficient warning 1 to enable the crew to lower the mainsail and mu tor shelter under the jih only.

Following launches were quickly alongside the capsized boats. The launch which went to the rescue of the Avalon ran over her bow, breaking the bowsprit and damaging the planking and decking. All the boats were towed in as they wcie, and the large crowd on the wharf watched the Clyde, Eileen and Avalon uprighted and bailed out. Jt was found that, in addition to her broken bowsprit, the Avalon had three top planks split by the starboard chain-plate and decking sprung foil a couple of feet. She also has several small holes in her sails. Repairs will he effected by to-morrow morning. The only other boat to sustain damage is the Clyde, which lost her working jib. The race was declared abandoned, and the first race will he sailed to-morrlow morning at 10 o’clock, over a windward and leeward hours The second race will start at 2.30 p.m.