BETTY WINS SANDERS CUP BY 41 SECONDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17780, 25 February 1926, Page 3

BETTY WINS SANDERS CUP BY 41 SECONDS.

BATTLE WITH AVALON GRIMLY FOUGHT OUT. (Special to the “Star.") DUNEDIN, February 24. A magnificent race fought out. grimly by two expert skippers and crews resulted in Canterbury winning the coveted Sanders Cup on Otago harbour this afternoon. The race will live long m the memory of the thousands who were privileged to witness it. The victory was the most popular since the Sanders contest was established. Auckland and Canterbury possess two very fast and pretty boats in Avalon and Betty. The boats can be classed as champions of a very high order. The final race was thrilling and spectacular. and Betty’s victory over the Auckland boat as champion 14 footer of the Dominion was loudly cheered. Great credit is due to her builder, owner and skipper. G. G. Andrews, for the skill displayed in producing such a wonderful boat and for his skilful handling his charge in five races. The race was closely contested ana the two skippers were called upon to display their skill from start to finish. It was again a case of brains being pitted against brains and this time Andrews came out on top. Both Patrick and Andrews made two serious mistakes during the race, but the Canterbury skipper retrieved himself later. This is the first. Sanders Cup contest Andrews has sailed. His performances in the five races place him among the foremost vachtsmen of the Dominion. Betty led her rival throughout the first three rounds of the course, when Andrews blundered, and Patrick sailed into first position. The Auckland boat led Betty throughout the fourth and fifth rounds and only seconds separated them when making the turn at the starting line. Betty, however, proved, faster c*n the run and only a boat s length separated them when running for Castle beacon for the last time. The Canterbury boat overhauled Avalon in the heat to windward in the fifth round. Andrews kept his rival under hie lee by changing tacks simultaneously, with Patrick. Tho Auckland skipper then was sailing a losing race, but he made strenuous efforts to grasp victory. In the last ten boards tc* the line Andrews made no mistake and the Canterbury champion now had the race in lmnd She sailed over the line, winner by «see, amidst rousing cheers from the crowds on tlie wharves.

THE RACE.

There was a mere whisper of a breeze when the race was timed to start (lx a m ) and in fairness to both competitors the sailing judges decided to postpone the start until 1 P-m. Thl f. again a wise decision. At mid-day heavy rain ftMl and continued throughout the afternoon. There was no apnearanoe of the contestants at. 1 p.m. The wind was then very light from the uth west At 130 p.m. Avalon and Betty’ hove in sight in tow from the boat harbour. The start was further delayed owing to the oversea steamer Tainui blocking the entrance to the basin. In the meantime the Judges had gone out to lay a different course. They decided to send the boats around the Castle beacon six times instead of three timelf the Ravensbourne. The course, if axii thing, was lengthened but it was more, suitable for the urevailing wind. The start w 0... tween a channel pile and the starter s launch due east of the Kitchener Street wharf, the course being to windward and leeward. The boats carried a light crew' of three as follows: t?olly —G. G. Andrews (skipper), I. G. Tr^ V „n n A nd , F. light from the south-east shortly before the boats were sent away. The breeze freshened duiinc the progress of the race, but was flukv at times. The wind later veered to the west and then back again to the 3 : “cross'"?*, «ne at gunfire a length in the lead of Bettj-. were set smai tly for the run to Castle Beacon. _ of"the start and held a'slight advantage as the boats drew level with the Peninsula nolnt. When closing on the beacon Betty led the Auckland boat by about tw-o lengths. The times rounding the Castle beacon were: — j _ ec Avalon 2 tu

Betty held a lead of 21sec when the boats commenced the first beat to windward. Both stood on a long leg to starboard along the Peninsula, shore. The Canterbury boat was sailing faster than Avalon here, but Patrick was pointing his boat better. Avalon broke tacks when off Grant's Braes, Betty following Patrick’s lead a second or two later. It was a close haul for the pile at the starting point. Betty had Avalon under her lee, and Andrews now' held a good lead The Canterbury boat was carrying more wind than Avalon and pointing better into the wind. The boats came about on the starboard tack and Avalon, sailing fast, weathered Betty just on the mark. The boa.ts rounded the pile at. tho starting together, times being as follows: 'n - c Bettv f 2 " 27 ' 38 ' Avalon 2 27 3S BETTY AGAIN LEADS. The Auckland boat did splendidly on the last reaches of the first round, Patrick using great judgment. Spinnakers were set smartly for the second run to the Castle Beacon. Betty again sailed into the lead. Nearing the Peninsula the w’ind fell very light and the boats sailed a slightly different course than they did in the first round. Avalon gained on Betty after passing the Peninsula, but Betty again drew ahead. Betty was the first, to house her spinnaker, Avalon following a second or two later. Rounding the Castle beacon the times were:— Betty 2-* 37 * 30* Avalon 2 37 4S Betty gained ISsec on the run from the pile at the starting line. The boats carried a light, steady wind on the first leg to Grant’s Braes. Betty- was the first to break tacks and Patrick followed suit almost immediately. Close-hauled, the boats pointed up harbour. Betty st.iil maintained her lead, but Avalon held the weather position. Both skippers were now following each other in, board for board. Betty was being steered well, and the Canterbury boat continued to point nicely into the wind. Avalon now' carried a better wind than Betty, but the Auckland boat was still well astern of her rival. Both skippers came about on the port tack together, and Andrews was stil holding his own. The boats fetched the mark nt. the starting line in three more hoards and rounded as follows: hr. njin. sec. Betty 2 55 35 Avalon 2 55 44 Avalon gained 9sec on Betty on the second beat from the Castle beacon mark, the Canterbury boat now' holding a lead of 9sec. Spinnakers were set smartly for the third run to Castle beacon. Betty fell away to leeward and Avalon came to weather of her rival when abreast of the Peninsula. Patrick compelled Andrews to fall to leeward to avoid being blanketed. Spinnakers were carried almost to the mark. The two sails were housed together. The boats rounded the beacon as follow: hr. min. sec. Betty 3 4 6 Avalon 3 4 14 Avalon gatned lsec on the run, Betty now holding a lead of Ssec. The Canterbury boat carried more wind than Avalon on the first leg to the Peninsula, but Avalon then caught a fresh puff and was sailing very fast. The boats stood on a longer board to starboard along the Peninsula shore in this round. Patrick gained considerably on this tack. Betty was the first to break tacks, and when the-boats crossed Avalon held a lead of several lengths. AVALON IN THE LEAD. Both boats now stood on a board to port, standing for the Kitchener Street wharf. Avalon was pointing beautifully, while Betty fell to leeward. When the boats reached open water they carried a. fresh breeze. Avalon was the first to break tacks The Canterbury skipper over-stayed his mark, and Avalon now held a good lead. The rounding times at the line were: hr. min. se C . Avalon 3 19 63 Betty 3 20 29 Avalon gained 4 4sec on the beat from Castle beacon, and the Auckland boat now held a lead of 36sec. Andrews made a serious mistake through standing on too far on the port tack before rounding. The for’ard hands of both

I boats were again smart in setting spinI makers for the fourth run to the Castle beacon. Spinnakers were carried almost to the mark, the rounding times being ns follow: hr. min. sec. Avalon 3 28 2S Betty 3 28 19 Betty gained 15sec on this run, and Avalon now led the Canterbury boat l>y 21 sec. Betty carried her spinnaker longer than Avalon, and thus gained an advantage. AVALON'S LEAD REDUCED. The boats heeled to the breeze on the first board to the Peninsula in the fourth beat to windward. Avalon still carried her leader, but Betty’s was dispensed with in the run to the beacon. At. 3.35 p.m. Avalon showed her centreplate. being struck by a. hard puff. Betty did not improve her position on the next two boards. The boats were* now sailing on opposite tacks, and Betty did much better on her last, boards. Patrick sailed on a long board to port before standing for the mark, while Andrews stood well into Anderson’s Bay before coming about. When the boats crossed on opposite tacks Avalon just, weathered her rival. The rounding times at the pile were: hr. min. sec. Avalon 3 43 46 Betty 3 44 f> Andrews made a. wonderful recovery in this beat to windward, as the Canterbury boat gained 2see from the Castle beacon. Avalon commenced the fifth round wi(h a, lead of 19sec. The wind freshened when spinnakers were set for the run to the Castle Beaor.ru The extra canvas which filled nicely to the hre.eze was carried to port as in the fourth round. Avalon was the first to house her spinnaker, hut Betty carried hers for a minute longer. The times rounding the beacon were: hr. min. see. Avalon 8 51 5 Betty 3 51 S P»etty gained 16sec on the run and the Auckland boat's lead was now reduced to Bsec. The two skippers sailed a different course on the beat to windward, both boats pointing towards the western shore before coming about on the port tack. Avalon’s leader was replaced with a working jib when on the run. Both skippers were now fighting every inch of water, board for board. BETTI' IN THE LEAD. Betty was sailing beautifully here and when they broke tacks the Canterbury boat held the weather and leading position. Both skippers again fought every inch of w'ater on a long leg towards tho wharves. The two broke tacks together when they came round on the starboard. Tt was now a true wind and fresh. Avalon was sailing well here, and there was little between the two as they stood on a tack to starboard for the pile at the starting line. Both boats made the mark on this board, rounding as follows: hr. min. sec. Betty 4 5 8 Avalon 4 5 30 BETTY' STILL IX THE LEAD. Betty gained 25sec on her rival on the fifth beat to windward, and the Canterbury boat commenced the last round of the course with a lead of 22see. Both boats had to square off to carry their spinnakers. Betts' planed at a great pace and drew further away from the Auckland boa.t. Andrew's then squared away to the lee of the Castle Beacon and housed his spinnaker a.t 4.12 p.m. Avalon sailed in a direct line for the mark. The times of rounding Betty 4 12 41 Avalon 4 13 17 Betty gained 14seo on Avalon on the run, and the Canterbury boat held a lead of 36sec on commencing the last beat to windward. The boats worked the Peninsula shore on a long leg to starboard. Both skippers were now 7 fighting hard for supremacy, and neither was giving anything away. On the next board to port Avalon pointed into the wind better than Betty, but the Auckland boat had practically no chance in the positions. On the next leg on the starboard tack Avalon was the first to break tacks, but Andrews came about a second later. Patrick was fast closing the. gap. and the boats stood for the line on the starboard tack. Andrews finished in one more leg, and when the gun was fired deafening cheering broke out from the throats of -the thousands of spectators watching from the Victoria and Kitchener Street wharves, and the additional crowds lining the decks of tho oversea steamers Tainui and Canadian Spinner. Patrick was only a few' seconds astern of his worthy rival, but he was unable to make the line on the one ta.ck, and was compelled to make a short board to sail his boat oyer the line. But for this the finish would have been much closer. YVhen tbe victor ajid vanquished sailed alongside the judge's boat for inspection Andrews and Patrick and their crews were again greeted with deafening cheering intermingled with loud blasts from the whistle of the Canterbury Shipping Company s steamer St Betty crossed tho finishing line 41sec In the lead of Avalon.