YACHTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21556, 19 January 1940, Page 9

YACHTING

Championship Events Cornwell Cup Decided By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, January 18.' The sixth Cornwell Cup race resulted: Christchurch 1, Auckland 2, Lyttelton 3, Plimmerton 4. The race was sailed in a full-sail breeze over a triangular CQprse and resolved itself into a struggle between Auckland and Christchurch, four seconds separating them at the finish. A change in the wind from northerly to southerly gave Otago a win in the seventh race for the Cornwell Cup sailed this afternoon over a windward and leeward course. Auckland established a handy lead from Wanganui during the first round with Lyttelton third. Beating up to the windward mark for the second time, Lyttelton went into the lead with Wanganui second and Auckland third, but nearing the mark the tail-end of the fleet picked up a southerly wind which carried them right up to the leaders. Lyttelton rounded the mark first, but most of the other competitors were in close attendance. Beating back to the finishing line, Otago went into the lead, followed by Auckland, Wanganui and Lyttelton. The finishing places for the first seven boats were: Otago 1, Auckland 2. Wanganui and Lyttelton (dead heat) 3, Hamilton 5, Wellington 6. Christchurch 7. The position now is that Wanganui has two wins, Auckland two, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago one. Idle-Along Championship The fifth idle--along race was won by Canterbury. The finishing times were:— Canterbury .. .. lhr 52min 57sec Wellington .. .. lhr 53min 18sec Bay of Plenty .. lhr 56min 45sec The points are: Wellington 24, Canterbury 23, Bay of Plenty 19. Owing to the fact that they have finished ahead of Wellington three times, Canterbury have the right of a challenge race, and therefore Canterbury and Wellington sailed for the cup in the afternoon. The Challenge Race When the aftornoon race started Wellington was away to ; a perfect start with Canterbury close behind. On the lead across to Fraser Rock, Canterbury made up a little of the ground she lost at the start, and the two boats were together when they rounded the mark. According to the rules the outside boat had to give room at the mark. Canterbury was inside and did not call for room. As she gybed her mainsail struck Wellington’s mainsail, but the Canterbury crew carried on without flying the protest flag. On the run down to the mid-harbour mark Canterbury went into the lead with Wellington close behipd. At the mark Canterbury was first round with Wellington five seconds later. Beating back to the end of the first lap Canterbury and Wellington both put about after a short board and Canterbury was still ahead when the two yachts split tacks when about two-thirds of the leg had been completed. Canterbury put about, apparently having difficulty in picking up the mark. Wellingt-Zi carried on and the southern boat overlaid the mark badly. Wellington went into the lead, laid the mark nicely and rounded Imin 15sec ahead of Canterbury. From then on the Wellington boat maintained her lead and was never headed.

After the race was finished, the Canterbury crew congratulated Wellington on their win and the spectators on shore cheered the Wellington crew for winning the contest. It was not till the Sailing Committee met after the contest that those on shore realised that the result of the race was still in doubt. After a meeting lasting about an hour the committee adjourned till after dinner. When it met again it heard the evidence of the two skippers and decided to disqualify the Wellington boat.