Tauranga Leads With Two Wins In Cornwell Cup Yachting Contest

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 January 1948, Page 6

Tauranga Leads With Two Wins In Cornwell Cup Yachting Contest

(P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 16. The Tauranga crew, R. Bailey and B. Hartley, by winning the fifth race for the Cornwell Cup at Paramata this afternoon have now to win only one more race to gain the cup. Unplaced since their win in the first race on Wednesday, Tauranga today beat Whangarei by Imin. 20secs. with the consistent Otago crew 24secs back in third place. From a bad start in eighth position, Tauranga worked quickly up to the head of the fleet on the first round of the three-lap windward and leeward course and held their lead until the finish. The Wanganui crew’s yacht Mercury carried away the top of her mast in the second lap and were forced to withdraw when in fifth place. Torrential rain during the first part of the race and continual showers throughout made sailing conditions extremely unpleasant. After an exciting contest between the young Picton crew and New Plymouth, the northern boat outsailed her competitor and secured a well deserved win in the fourth race held this morning. The two boats were together for the greater part of the race. Sailing for the first time in Cornwell Cup races. Picton made a brave showing for a time but were eventually out-manoeuvred by New Plymouth. A feature of the race was a 40-minute calm during which the boats lay idle on the glassy water. Results were:— Fourth race: New Plymouth (B. Siyfleld and W. Thomson!. 12.20.45, 1; Picton (D. Vercoe and R. Hewson), 12.3221, 2; Otago (J. Kibblewhite and B. Vivian), 12.39.10. 3; Plimmerton (H. Dodson and P. Jobson). 12.39.39, 4. Fifth race: Tauranga (R. Bailey and B Hartley) 4.4.30, 1; Whangarei (R. Wilkinson and G. Reynolds), 5.5.55, 2; Otago (J. Kitfblewhite and B. Vivian) 4-6.19. 3; Hamilton (B. le Clere and J. Neave) 5.8.29, 4