BETTY WINS THREE RACES IN TRIALS FOR SANDERS CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18040, 28 December 1926, Page 10

BETTY WINS THREE RACES IN TRIALS FOR SANDERS CUP.

LIKELY TO BE SELECTED TO BE CANTERBURY REP. Betty, the fourteen-foot yacht, which won the Sanders Cup for Canterbury last .season, has won three of the trials to select this season's representative,

and it is now unlikely that any further trials will be held. Nothing official has yet been announced, but in view of the fact that Betty has won three races running, it is probable, that she will be selected to represent the province.

THE AFTERNOON RACE. For the afternoon race No. 1 course was used, which is as follows:—Starting from between a buoy and the Gladstone Pier to the pile light, thence to Ripa Island buoy and back to the pile light, twice round. The conditions for sailing were similar to those of the morning, with the exception that the sesl had somewhat moderated. The race started at 3.15. Betty •-manoeuvred into the inside position and crossed the line four lengths ahead of the other boats, with Linnet, lona, Magpie and Usher following. All set spinnakers with the exception of Magpie. lona challenged Linnet, passed her, and drew up to Betty. Half-way down to the pile, Betty, lona and Linnet were racing neck and neck, with Betty ha\*ing a little advantage, the other two keeping together in the rear. Some exciting racing took place on nearing the pile light, where Usher got into a vantage place and was first round, followed by lona, Linnet, then Betty and Magpie. The times round the pile light -were.—

All made towards Quail Island. Usher was first to stay on the port tack after being passed by Linnet and Bettjr. Betty shot to the front, taking the lead again, and made straight for Church Bay. Betty, lona and Magpie all continued on the port tack until reaching Church Bay and then put about towards the Gladstone Pier for a short way, then putting about towards Diamond Harbour. Usher lost ground through continuing on the starboard tack. Betty seemed to be working to better advantage and made straight for Officers’ Point, and thence a long board to Ripa Island. lona was in second position, with Linnet third and Usher fourth, and Magpie well in the rear. On reaching Officers’ Point Betty made several short boards. Nearing Ripa Island, Betty encountered a strong wind which increased her lead. She put about off the island and nearly made the buoy, but had to make a further short board before rounding. lona challenged Linnet and the positions and times at the Ripa Island buoy were:—

Betty did not set her spinnaker in her usual speedy way, but lona’s spinnaker was flying in very quick time. On the run back Betty had a lead of one minute fifty seconds on lona when off Diamond Harbour. Linnet and Usher came down the harbour together, being neck and neck all the way. The times at the pile light on the .second time round were:—

Betty’s lead at the end of round on lona was two minutes eighteen seconds. Betty again made for Church Bay. Similar tactics were followed by lona, making first a board to port and then staying over towards the Gladstone Pier. Linnet came up more towards Officers’ Point from Quail Island. By this time, it was seen that Betty had the race well in hand, for the further she sailed the more she increased her lead. From the middle of the harbour opposite the starting post, Betty took a long board to Purau, but managed to come up well towards Ripa Island, while the other boats made short boards across to the eastern side of the harbour. Betty missed stays at the Ripa Island buoy, as did also lona. On the run back to the finishing post, Betty increased her lead to eight minutes fifty-six seconds on lona. Linnet, who was astern of lona in rounding the Ripa Island buoj', was faster on tlv run and finished ahead of lona. Usher being fourth. The finishing times were

In the second race E. Sinclair had charge of Linnet 11. and S. Sinclair was helmsman on lona. R. Sinclair, who had charge of lona in the morning's race, was a spectator in the afternoon. TAKAPUNA CLASS. WIN FOR WET-U. Four boats of the Takapuna class competed in the second trial, which was held at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. to select the boat to represent Canterbury in the Cornwell Cup contests, which will be held at the same time as the Sanders Cup. A fairlv heavy sea was running and there was a moderate south-east wind, the conditions being hard enough to make the test a stringent one and one that would result in the best seamanship winning the race. The winner was found in Wet-U, which got an early lead and led all the way. The course was an up and down one, starting from a buoy off the Gladstone e to ♦... - niles and

back to the starting buoy, this distance having to be covered twice. The race started at 3.25, the following being the boats and crews:— Wet-U—-E. Sinclair and E. Tyro. Kai Iwi—R. Taylor and D. Beaumont. Sea Pearl—G. Brassill and J. Jones. Wee Mai—H. Norris and P. Nolan. Sea Pearl took the lead at the start and led until the reef pile was reached, being followed by Wet-U, Kai Iwi and Wee Mai in that order. When tacking to bring up the starting buoy again, Wet-U gained the lead and when the buoy was rounded, Wet-U led by ten yards, with Sea Pearl second and Kai Iwi third and fourth respectively. On the run up to the reef pile for the second time, Sea Pearl was the first to break out her spinnaker, but lost it, having to heave-to to recover it from the water. Brassill, who was at the tiller, handed it to Jones, the spinnaker hand, and after two attempts, scaled the mast and recovered the halliard. In the meantime Kai Iwi moved up into second place. Kai Iwi also struck trouble about half-way to the reef pile and hauled in her spinnaker. dropping back to fourth place. When rounding the reef, Sea. Pearl gained second place. Wee Mai did not fly her spinnaker on the run down. There was no change on the beat back to the buoy and the race resulted : Wet-U, 4hr 36min 40seo 1 Sea Pearl, 4hr 38min 12?ec .... 2 Kai Iwi. 4hr 30min Msec 3 Wee Mai, 4hr 40mi» 21 sec 4

Usher hr. 3 19 27 Iona 3 19 29 Linnet 3 19 33 Bettv 3 19 37 Magpie 3 19 44

hr. Magpie .... 5S 7

Betty hr. 4 10 sec. 52 Iona 4 13 10 Linnet 4 15 0 Usher 15 8 Magpie 4 17 30

hr. 58 14 7 10 7 39 Magpie was a long ■ at the finish. way behind Usher