YACHTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17219, 10 December 1923, Page 4

YACHTING.

SANDERS CUP TRIALS. i TWO Most: RACES TO LINNET. Linnet, owned and nailed by S. Sinclair, won both tb« third and the fourth race* i of the »eri«i of seven Sanders Cup trial*. , t i Ly?tslton Harbour yesterday. The only other cocnpetitoi v&« R. Y. aud F. Morrisou’s Secret. L-apwing, which was outclassed In the two earlier races, bavins withdrawn from the contests. Secret put up two exeat, performances, more crtxiitable because of the fact that, her helmsman. Cl. Andrews, who took F. Morrison's place. was having his first day’s rating or mailing in a 14-foot onedesign yacht On yesterday’s showings, the remaining races should be worth watching. The true yachting or sporting spirit was not shown by a number of yachtsmen who w«*r© sailing on the harbour during the day. They followed the yachts around the course and on the run tor the first time in the second rsoe they followed the loader. Linnet, instead of keeping Iveliiud and to leeward of Secret. At other limes (luring the race they camo very near to blanketing the contestants, who could not ■pare on© puli' of wind,, and causing interference. >'or the race in the morning the wind w*g blowing with force from the northeast. while there *a> a good sea running. The crews were:—Linnet. S. Sinclair <fcelm*rau\ W. Watson. It. Sinclair. Williams; Secret. (.4. Andrews (helmsman), 1’- Allen. J. Abernethy. A. Round. Sinclair had Linnet first across the line at 11.17 n.in. Secret, had to gybe, thereby losing about six seconds. Linnet took ft lead for Quail Island. Secret following. A short run made the Pile near the Pile Light. Linnet rounding five seconds ahead Secret, which lost a few seconds by striking trouble and taking a dangerous Lst. The little craft carried on the port tack for Church Bay. When off the bay Linnet broke tack and Secret also came about tor the board towards the Gladstoiso Pier. Although behind. Secret nnd the windward position. On reaching the storting marl: Linnet changed across again and passed just astern of Secret., which was still on starboard. Secret earn© about and as soon as Linnet altered her tack Secret followed. both competitor* tacked into Officers’ Point, and beaded for Rlpa Island on the port leg. Linnet havifig gained slightly and having worked t • the windward position. As Secret was gettmg closer to the wind Linnet took a •hort board, crossed Secret's bow and left her to leeward—a clever move. Just- l>efoie Sinclair’s manoeuvre. Andrews luffed hi* boat up unexplainably. Tt was the third mistake in a little while. Secret, which was some distance behind Linnet and farther off the wind, turned off the fort, and a few seconds later Linnet also came about. Linnet headed across the harbour on the starboard tack, with Secret creeping up tho lee hills. Linnet broke tacks four times before fetching tho Parson’s Rod; buoy at 11.57.13 p.m. Secret turned further up than Linnet had and fetched the buoy after three boards from the fort, at 11.39.0 p.m.. lmin isseo behind Linnet. Linnet lo«t her spinnaker at first and when it had filled out Secret s light sail wa s drawing well. It was a

run back to the pile. Under their clouds ; of canvas, the two yachts were an iuspir- | uig sight as they speeded up the harbour. Secret, was catching Linnet on the run. As Linnet rounded tlie buoy she was only f»l seconds in the lead. The times r ‘#th Secret and Linnet made several short legs before going acro-s the harbour on the port tack. The boats' then beat np iho lee shore and made a few more boards before ronading Parsons Rock buoy. From ibe pile to tho buoy it had been a solid dog. Linnet was lmin ssec before Secret, the official times being: Linnet. 12.51 45 i *».: Secret. 12.50.21. After being a minute «-n the run. l innet's spinnaker filled well. Secret was over three minutes in setting spinnaker. Linnet drew away, tinish’Sg min If sec ahead of Secret. The times were: Linnet. 1.6.56 p.m.-. Secret, 1.9.10 The wind blowing with the eame steadiness for tin afternoon race. F Morrison i ©placed < . Allen in Seeref- :. w. with W. Morten substituted for ('. Williams in Linnet. Linnet was again t r-* oret the line at 3.3 p.m., ten seconds ftiiead of Secret. Linnet was on the line :\s soon as the gun was fired. It was a run to tl.e pile. Linnet, rounding sir. seconds in front of Secret. Thou there was a slogging dosebaul to* Parsons Rock buoy against a one reef breeze. Both boats curled full sail, though off Church Bay both turned on to the starboard iaek. Linnet made a short heard and then made another port tliraeh along towards Diainouti Harbour. Secret did not biter.k tack t:!l some few minutes later, heading on the same course, bnt to leeward, as Linnet. Another two short tacks had to he made by both yachts liefor® they could pass l>i. m0i.,1 Harbour point. In mid-har-bour. ferret came about for the port leg and Linnet passed for'ard of her on the opposite tack. By making two more legs Linnet mad * the buoy at 3.46.20 p.m., with Secret lmin Sfisec behind. Secret had made seven moves from the pile. The wind had now moderated slightly. Lin-iK-t’s spinnaker filled more quickly than Secret's. 'Hie way iu which Sinclair had his big leading sail set lifted her out of the water, but she di 1 not travel faster than Secret Linnet’s spinnaker was taken in too early and by holding on till near the buoy. Secret gained a great deal of time. I innrt rounded at 3.59.23 p.m.. and Secret lmin 2 sec later. The lighter air and a moderation in the sea made the long and tedious beat to the Parson- Rock buoy more pleasant for the crews Five tacks were made by Secret before reaching the island fort, whereas Linnet, which was to windward, had only made three. Secret continued up past the buoy, which Unnet rounded first with a lead of irnin !3«ec, the actual times being: Linnet. 4.414) p.m.; Secret. 4.42.13 p.m. No time was lost by Secret’s spinnaker hand, who had liis big sail set quicker than Linnet. Excitement was lib'h on the Gladstone Pier among the many spectators as the two trial boats came hurrying down before tho breeze, with Linnet lifting herself out of the water. She passed the judge at, 4.32.17 p.m. Secret’s finishing time was 4.54.4 p.m. Linnet lias now won three races and Secret, one. The fifth race will be sailed

vu-. * *«**••' race vixi rje sailed • next Saturday afternoon. r AUCKLAND TRIAL. WON BY BONA. r«R Pres* AssociATiov. AUCKLAND. December 9. J Rona again scored a double win in tlie test races to decide the defender of the ! Sanders Cup. The first course was triangular, a westerly wind affording a. fair test on all points of sailing. 2 lie competitors were Rona. Queen March and Joan. From a good start Rona drew slowly ahead of Joan, rounding the first mark throe seconds ahead. Queen March 31 sec behind Rounding the second mark Rona led by 15 sec from Queen March. Joan ssc * later. On tho beat back to the starting point Rona showed her old torn «>r the bend, beating Queen March by odsec, Joan another 72bec astern. In the second test the course was windward and leeward. Rona was first away from a very good start, followed by Joan. Qtaeen March to windward. Rona slowly worked ahead, but Queen March crossed her when they broke tacks. Rona rounded the weather mark -28aec ahead of Queen March, which was 3 sec ahead of Joan. All set spinnakers to starboard for tlie l.mkf run against the tide to the finishing line oi? the western wall. Rona bad a leud of 34 sec from Queen March, which was Use-- ahead of Joan. Rona continued to lead, but Queen March nnd Joan reduced the lead somewhat. Near the finishing line Joan ran up on Queen March. I'ataing tlie post one second ahead of • DUNEDIN TRIALS. VI NTOR WINIFRED. Pm r*xs» Amociattok. ' DUNEDIN, December 9. Tlie tenth trial to select a boat, to represent Otago in the Sanders Cup races was sailed on Saturday afternoon in a light variable wind, which did not provide conditions for a true test. Tlie competing beats were Winifred. June. Heather and Kia Ora. Heather oarlv got into a calm and this settled lie*- chance. Winifred finished first, with June second. Three more trials will be sailed I hi* reek. IViniftcil has won six rf fh » tests June three and He*, ther one.