SANDERS CUP TRIAL HELD AT LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 11

SANDERS CUP TRIAL HELD AT LYTTELTON.

BETTY WINS EASILY IN NOR’-WEST WIND

The first trial race to select a yacht to represent Canterbury in the Sanders Cup contest was sailed at Lyttelton to-day. A great deal of interest was created by the re-entry of Betty, who finished the year before last as undefeated champion of New Zealand. A fierce nor’-wester was blowing across the harbour, and each competitor carried a four men. heavy-weather crew, but none was reefed down. The competitors were:— Colleen (F. Collins (skipper), Weakley S. Toomey and F. Dobbie). Usher (Elliott, Sinclair (skipper), R. Taylor, R. Nolan and K: Beaumont). Betty (I. S. Treleaven, R. G. Hampton, G. Robinson and H. Ledger). Owing to the heavy weather on the Sumner Bay during the week, Secret (S. Morrison, skipper) was unable to get round.

The course was a windward and leeward one. from the eastern breakwater, a lead to the pile light, a lead, to Ripa. Island, a close haul to the light, twice round, finishing at the breakwater. The race started at 3.5 p.m. Colleen and Usher got away in line, with Betty a little behind. At the pile light the order was: Colleen, Usher, Betty. Down to Ripa Island was a good lead. Within a minute, Betty went ahead, passed Usher, raced alongside Colleen for a minute, and then flew past her. In the smooth sea and the strong wind, the boats travelled at tremendous pace. Betty rounded Ripa Island 28 seconds ahead of Colleen. Tlie times were: Betty 3hr 19mm 44sec. Colleen 3hr 20min 12sec. Usher 3hr 20min 20sec. Opposite Diamond Harbour Usher came about and stood towards the breakwater. Colleen and Betty came about a minute later. The wind came up fresher and brought broken seas with it, through which the yachts plunged in clouds of spume. Betty was pointing very close to the wind and sailing fast. Colleen's skipper seemed to be jamming her and she lost way, although sailing a good course. All three went about on the starboard tack, when Betty was well to windward and somewhat ahead of Usher, with Colleen lying further up the wind but well astern of Usher. After another board all round, the boats were sailing on the starboard tack near the breakwater Betty and Colleen were about the same distance up the wind, but 'Betty had a big lead and was obviously walking away. Usher was well to leeward. At 3.45 p.m. Betty took a short board to port to make the Pile light. Treteaven judged it magnificently and had no waste space at the turn. He made more time bygybing. When Colleen was still some distance from the mark, her jib carried away and she had to be towed off. The times round the light were:— J3 e tty 3hr 47min 39sec Usher 3hr 50min 36sec With Betty leading by nearly three minutes there was only one boat in the race, barring accidents. The wind was westing slightly and Betty tore

down to Kipa Island almost out of sight of Usher. Round at Ripa Island the second time the boats were clocked:— Betty 4hr 4min 52sec Usher 4hr 9min lsec Betty held the starboard tack about tour minutes and then came about. She took a long board towards Officers’ Point, then stood for Diamond Harbour, put about, at 4.21 p.m., and came towards the eastern end of the breakwater. When she came about again, Usher was nearly, level on the same tack, but half a mile to leeward. The wind was losing a good deal of its force, but the ebbing tide made the water very lumpy still. Crews were drenched, and sails were wet half-wav to the masthead. Betty made several bhort boaords close to the finishing line and crossed at 4hr 30min Issec, an easy winner, Usher being about seven minutes behind. Treleaven had sailed a very heady race, in which few mistakes could be picked. CORNWELL CUP TRIAL. The second- Cornwell Cup trial of the Canterbury Yacht Club was sailed this alternoon. There was a verv close contest between the three leading boats. The result was: Zita (I. Newton and N. Odey), 4hr , ISmin 15 sec 1 Wee May (R. Priddy and J. Hendry), „ 4hr 15m in 50sec 2 Pauline .<G. Tyro and C. Kay). 4hr 16min 25sec 3