SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18890, 4 January 1927, Page 11

SANDERS CUP.

TRIALS AT LYTTELTON. BETTY'S FOURTH WIN. The lourth and filth races to seiect a. representative boat and crew to defend the Sanders Cup at Lyltelton in February nest were he!d at Lyltellon yesterday, the first race of the day ended in a lather sensational win for the Lyttclton beat Usher, after alio had been fouled by Betty. By winning tho afternoon race, Betty secured Ler fourth win, which gives her, a. majority of wins, and no further races will be accessary.

iIOE-VI.VG RACE. Ail beats carried light three-man crews, as follows:—Betty: G. Andrew ' 'i'"leaveu, U. G. Hampton, loua: K. Sinc'.air, V>. \\ utsar., J. Foriuaii. J.uiin .. o. t....clair, A. Sinclair, P. Sinclair. Magpie: D. Paseoe, J. Wallace, T. ItcGillian. Usher: F. Collins, F. Dobbie, F. Weakley. The course was the No. 2, a triangular one. The race started at 10.30 a.m. Linnet was caught across the line, and had to recross. The others hung in a bunch. Betty was first to clear, catching a slant of flight air. All'went' to starboard except Usher, which tried a ehort board into the Pier. Magpie tried short boards in mid-stream, and was caught in a calm off the Moles. The others stood well over towards Charteris Bay Lcfore coning about for the Reef. Betty wa3 in the lead, but Usher had tho windward position. There was very little wind near the Reef. The- Reef pile was rounded as follows: Beltv .. •• 10.34.25 a.m. lona" .. •• J0.i56.-l-l a.m. Linnet .. •• 10.58.11 a.m. Ufher •• •■ 11-1-4' a.m. Magpie .. .. 11.12.50 a.m. Magpie nover got. near the iield after being becalmed. On Hearing the end cf the Reef, Betty caught tho first puff of a southerly and howtad her spinnaker. The others behind caught it stronger, and were soon moving along smartly under spinnakers. Later Betty caught the stronger breeze. Usher, in fourth position, caught a splendid slant, which carried her well up until she nearly caught lona and Linnet. Opposite Church Bav Betty changed her boom over to port, and was clearly making the best of everv bit of wind that could bo caught. Off Diamond Harbour Betty was well in thn lead, with lona and Linnet close together following. Magpio by this time was opposite the Pile light, and was coming up smartly with a freshening southerly. At the Diamond Harbour buoy thn times were: Eetfv ~ .. 11.27.57 a.m. lona" •• •• U. 31.3 a.m. Linnet .. .. 11.31.13 a.m. Usher .. .. 11.31.57 a.m; Magpie .. •• 11.39.2 C a.m.

The hreezo -was freshening, and sailing conditions became better, being less flukey. The lead to the Battery Point buoy was fairly fast. Usher just beat Linnet for the turn.' Tho times at Battery Point were:— . Betty .. •• H.37.17a.m. loua .. •• 11.41.23 a.m. "Psiier .. •• 11.''MS a.m. Linnet .. •• U. 41.60 a.m. Jiatipie ■• •• 11.>>0.-»U a.m. Tue wind was now true south-west. After a short board or two Betty stood well out towards mid-harbour. The others tried ehort boards in tho bend at Officers' Point. lona and Usher drew ahead of Linnet, lona and Linnet kept out, but' Usher made a board into tho Pier, a manoeuvre which brought hoi- into second position midway to the Reef pile. Betty stood away towards Quail Island, and then made the Pile in a single board. The times at tho Reef pile were:— Betty •• •• 12 - 3 - 0 P- m - Linnet .'.. •• 12.U.35 p.m. Usher .. .. 12.11.47 p.m. lona .. •• 12.13.10 p.m.

Magpie retired on reaching the Holes. On the run Betty had established a long lead, and there seemed little chance of 1 er being overtaken. The wind, which had been freshening, eased somewhat. lona, lying a bad fourth, moved up on Linnet and Usher. Betty lost the wind off Diamond Harbour point, and for some time hardly made headway, the others meantime closing up fast. The position at this time was moat peculiar, Linnel, Usher, and lona were coming up smartly, carrying a westerly, wine B-tt-. working out cfl the point, caught a dead northerly. The others later sailed -mo tho northerly. The Diamond Harbour buoy was rounded as follows: — '. Betty ' .. -. V 2.33.57 p.m. Vghor •• " W. 87.0 p.m. Linnet .. •• l-'.3'.22 p.m. lona •• 12.10.37 p.m. The wind had become, very flukey, and was coining in puffs from all quarters. AI. times there was litllo or no wind. Ihe times at the Battery Point buoy were: Betty .. •• 12.51.30 p.m. Usher .. •• 12.53.37 p.™. \Z .. - 12.54.20 p.» : Linnel .. •• 12.54.51 p.m. Bsttv shook out her spinna-ker, but was taken "aback and look it in again. Laher was coming up fast, with the others closo behind, and the position became most exciting. Later, .ill shook out spinnakers. A FOUL. Seeing Usher coming up and threatening to pass, Andrews essayed a move which brought forth much adverse commentfroin •the Spectators. Ho tried U>- cress in front of Usher, and in doing 30 fouled the LytSlton boat badly Just what Andrewai object was is not .clear; he had nothing to gain by blocking Usher, as Linnet and lona fere close behind and coming up fast. Whether .under the rules of, yachting, .e ! Z justified in attempting the, manceuv e I was the subject o much argument, the chief point of contention being which *»•■«» windward side in a following wind..Betty had certainly had back luck, after »•«*■£ in- a strong lead, in being caught by flukey w" nds and "calms', button the other Usher had sailed a .good race all through, not hesitating to sail her own course at times, instead of following the leaders, and she deserved the win which suosequently was hers. On getting clear of each other, Usher caught the wind, while Baily remained becalmed in the corner of the Linnet was close at hand. At one stage Betty was laying last. From a dull, uninteresting luce, the position had bocorae most exciting Usher, within six lengths of the finishing line, was caught in a calm. At tno same time the other three caught a putt and moved up. Luckily for Usher, she also caught n stray puff, which carried l.er ncross. Betty was now monng up smartly. Overtaking lona, she challenged Linnet tor second place, and was fast oTerhauhng the Lvttelton boat when Linnet crossed the line a bare two seconds ahead of the J\eo> cliffs boat. The finishing times were: Usher -. •• J-S-j; P- TO - Linnet •• •• 1.7.40 p.m. Betty . •• 1-7.42p.rn. lona .. •• LAO P' m -

Usher Linnet Betty lona

AFTERNOON RACE

The afternoon race was sailed over the Ho. 1 course. The wind waß l.ght northerly, and the sea smooth. The crews on all the boats were the same. The raco started at 3.15 p.m. All the boats were bunchod at the buoy when the gun went, Betty being caught on the wrong aide. Linnet and Usher crossed together, closely followed by Magpie and lona. Betty was blocked by the others, and was badly left, crossing 49 seconds behind tho leaders. Spinnakers were set for tho run to tho Light pil«Betty was closing up rapidly, and was tlie third to round the Pile. Tho times were as follows: — Linnet '.. '' •• 3.21.7 p.m. Usher •• •• 3 - 21 - 31 P- m - Beth- •• ' •• 3.21.40 p.m. Ma?pie •• 3.21.48 p.m. lona .. •• 3.21.49 p.m.

All to pott, close hauled for Diamond Harbour. Bettv quickly overhauled Usher which had dropped into second position, and then /lid the same to Linnet. The latter, however, was to windward. A long board took all boats well up past the fort, and then a coitDle of short boards brought them to the Kipa Island buoy. Time 3 were as follows: Bettv •• •■ 3.48.18 p.m. Usher •• ' •• • 3 '«- 52 P- m ' L-nnct ■• 3.50.13 p.m. T<ma •• 3.54.7 pjn. ilagpie •• 3.54.7 p.m. The wind was siill light. Spinnakers were set for tho long run to the Pile. Be.ty increased her lead slightly. The Pl.c was rounded as follows: Betty •■ 4.10.20 p.ra UMier 4.12.28 p.m. Linnet • •■'. ' '•• 4.13.17 p.m. Tona • •• <- 18 - 12 P- m - Magpie .. . ■• 4.18.50 p.m.

The second round was faster than the first, the breeze having freshened. Betty went about off Diamond Harbour Day, but soon returned to the port tack. Tho others ccme about at the same time, arid severai short beards were indulged in. All kept on the Diamond Harbour side, except Linnet, which cvoiscd over to the Pier and got the advantage of the ebb tide. Usher came opinio mid-harbour also. Betfy stood weU into Pile Bav. and there was a good go between the two for the buoy. Betty gain-

Ed it fust. The times at the buoy were as follov.s:— ■ Betty .. •• i-G-l P-™-Usher •■ •• 4.48.6 pjn. Linnet •• •• 4.52.33 p.m. lona .. .. 4.54.50 p.m. Magpie .. •• 4.69.10 p.m. With a moderate breeze behind them, all came away fast, under spinnakers. The finish was: — Betty .. - 5.0.54 p.m. Usher .. •• 5.4.88 P- m - Linnet •• •■ 5.9.50 p.m. lona .. .. 5.11.30 p.m.' Magpie •• •• 5-13.7 P-»-CORNWELL CUP. TAKAPLNA PUNT CLASS. The fourth and fifth trials for the Takapuna boats took place yesterday. The competitors in the morning race were: Sea Pearl, R. Taylor (helm), K. Beaumont; Wot U, H. Norris (helm), P. Nolan; Kai Iwi, G. Brassell (helm), J. Jones; "Wee May, E. Sinclair (helm), E. Tyro. There was a light faint breeze at the start. The finishing times were:—Kia Iwi, 12hrs lOmin Bsec . • 1 Wee May, 12hrs 12min 20sec ~. 2 Wet U, 12hrs 14min 40sec .. 3 Sea Pearl, 12hrs lomin ssec .. 4 The afternoon race started in a lijrht wind, which freshened considerably before the finish. The boats and crews were: Wet-U. Brasßell and Jones; Kai Iwi. Sinclair and Tvro; Wee May, Taylor and Beaumont; sea Peart,' Norris and Nolan. The course was three times around. The boats finished as follows: Kai Iwi, shrs 28min Osec - • * Wetu-U, shrs 28min SOsec • ■ ; Sea Pearl; shrs 33min 25sec •• ■' Wee May retired.