WELLINGTON GAIN FIRST VICTORY IN SANDERS CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 5

WELLINGTON GAIN FIRST VICTORY IN SANDERS CUP.

i = Determined Challenge Made By I Youthful Canterbury Crew. | ! (Special to.the “Star.”) DUNEDIN, February 23. YEARS of diligent and tenacious challenging were rewarded for Wellington when Betty to-day won the deciding Sanders Cup race after beating off a dpgged challenge by Colleen, the Canterbury boat, in which a' youthful crew has distinguished itself. For five minutes on the final round Colleen was in the lead, but when the wind freshened Betty fled away to windward and won by 58 seconds.

Betty and Colleen, both having two wins to their credit, were the only two boats in the sixth and final race, shaking off Rona shortly after the start. “ What a great fight these Canterbury boys gave us,” said A. Johnston, Betty’s skipper, when he reported to the judges at the finish .of the and his tribute was endorsed on every hand. . When the southerly was piping at its merriest Brassell sailed Colleen into the lead by excellently judged boards to weather; and, although Betty quickly regained the .leadings position, Brassell chased her determinedly. Both skippers had to show coolness, balance and judgment; and, although Colleen was beaten at the finish, her crew conceded nothing in skill to Betty’s complement. They were. matched against an older and much more experienced skipper, and their splendid. fight was terminated only when the southerly freshened strongly and Betty’s superiority of hull was evidenced. Young Men’s Contest.

Consistently high-class sailing has not been seen in any Sanders Cup contest; and the exhibitions of seamanship and small boat handling were all the more gratifying as this • series of races was essentially a young men’s contest. Allowing that Eileen was never in the hunt from the first race, and thus excluding M’Cullough from any comparisons, it must be said that the young men all round sailed better races than Johnston. In the keenest matches of skill and wits he showed the young skippers no points. In the earlier races the Wellington skipper displayed an inclination to lose some of his judgment when sorely pressed, and consequently the youthful helmsmen were always keen to get near enough to Betty to attempt to unsettle Johnston. The Wellington skipper, however, was more at home in heavy weather than in light airs. For ten years Wellington has journeyed from Auckland to Stewart Island in quest of the Cup, and at last success has come its way. The win was very popular, particularly as Betty had won in a contest marked with the best spirit of sportsmanship. Her three wins, however, were not so marked as were her successes in past contests. The crews this year have been more evenly matched than in recent seasons, and it was only in moderate to heavy weather that Betty was superior to Colleen and Rona.

For the final race decidedly unpleasant weather was experienced. A chilly wind from the sou’-west brought heavy rain, which did not cease during the race. After a week of variable and trying breezes a true, full-sail wind was blowing, although for brief spells it decreased in force, only to come away fresher again. On the first beat Betty and Colleen romped away from Rona, Avalon and Eileen; and the rearguard did not once get within hailing distance. It was a dull and uninteresting procession until the third round of the triangular course. On that thresh Johnston was jamming Betty as he worked into the eye of the wind, while Colleen was going much faster through the water.

As Colleen stood for the windward mark her sails filled to a handy puff, which carried her clear of Betty’s bow, and she rounded llsec ahead. • Before going a quarter of a mile on the lead Colleen and Betty both broke out spinnakers, and Betty gradually moved up into the weather berth. The lead is her strongest point of sailing. Leading for the mark she challenged Colleen, and they staged a great fight. Two-Boat Race. At the start of the last round Betty, which was in the leeward position, gybed two seconds before Colleen did, and the windward position held by the Canterbury boat just compensated for the time difference. Rona gained eight seconds on the leading boats with her spinnaker set all the way across to the steamer basin, but it was a two-boat race, with Rona too far behind to have any chance save by way of a fluke. Early in the run Betty obtained a three lengths lead and this she retained to near the castle beacon. As they were housing spinnakers Colleen caught a handy puff which took her up to Betty. Together they hauled in sheets. It was a thrilling race, but on the first leg Johnston was pinching Betty in an effort to hold the weather berth, and Colleen showed the older skipper her stern. After .two legs Betty weathered Colleen again and immediately put about to keep the challenge under lee. In a freshening breeze the two boats careered gracefully as they sailed high on and off shore, Betty gradually opening up the margin. The heavier weather was coming at the right time for her, yet if the wind had fallen light Colleen would have beaten Betty. With a handy margin of lmin 12sec at the Anderson’s Bay mark, Betty eased away and set her spinnaker for the lead home. The race was over at this stage. In the rear, Rona was sailing her own course, while Eileen continued to weather Avalon. The Finish. With the wind only moderate, Col leer, commenced to draw closer to Betty, but she was still sSsec behind when the line was reached. A distinctly improved performance was put up bv Eileen, which sailed her best race in the contest. It was found yesterday that her forestay was seven inches short, making a considerably disadvantageous stepping of the mast, and with adjustments made she was able to carry a leader and then foot it with Avalon.

The Auckland boat was very disappointing. She made a poor showing on windward work throughout the contest. Her young skipper, Doug. Rodgers, has sailed her capably, but she has been followed by bad luck. The sailing times and order of finishing were:

The winning crew was A. Johnston (Skipper), F. G. Harlen, R. Robertson,

and A. Willson, while Colleen was manned by G. Brassell (skipper), R. Priddy, F. Collins and F. Forman. Great interest has been taken by the public in the contest, and it is evident that in the south public support for yachting has been stimulated by the closeness and keenness of the contest. PRESENTATION OF CUP. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, February 23. The Sanders Cup was presented to the Wellington crew at the Town Hall by the Mayor, Mr R. S. Black, this evening, before a large gathering of visiting and local yachtsmen. The winning crew were heartily congratulated on their victory by the Mayor, by the Hon J. T. Paul, president of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and by delegates from Auckland, Canterbury and Southland. SALE OF AVALON. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Febrtiary 23. The Auckland Sanders Cup challenger, Avalon, has been sold to Mr P. Hunter, of Port Chalmers. Mr Hunter at one time owned the. cup winner lona, and he was a prime mover in the building of Eileen.

hr. min. sec. Betty . . s , 52 20 Colleen ... - 53 2 Rona 57 17 Eileen 1 1 Avalon 1 7