SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20170, 24 February 1931, Page 7

SANDERS CUP.

WELLINGTON WINS trophi; BEST RACE OF. SERIES. CANTERBURY CREW'S FINE SHOWING. (PBESS ABSOCM.TIO* TBLEOKAIi.) DUNBDIN, Pebruary 23. In a thrilling and close contest with the Canterbury challenger, Colleeii, the Wellington boat Betty 1 succeeded in winning the Sanderß Memorial Cup in the sixlth race, which was sailed on the Upper Harbour this morning. Colleen proved a hard • boat ; to beat, and the Wellington skipper was called upon to show all his yachting ability in order to accomplish his task. It was the best race o£ the series, aB it was sailed in hard south-westerly weather. The race was notable for the game challenge made by the young Canterbury crew, which pressed Betty's crew to the limit. Had Johnston made one mistake in the last, round, young Brasell /would have seized the opportunity and benefited by it. The Wellington skipper, however* sailed a splendid race, and kept Colleen safe under his lee. The Canterbury boy has distinguished himself by sailing six fine races. Betty and Colleen were always in close company over the triangular 1 course. There was not a second between them when they commenced the last round. The Southland; Otago, and Auckland boats were a long way astern at that stage, and hopelessly out of the race. The wind fell light on the last run to the lee mark, and Colleen went to the front; but Betty again worked into the lead. On the freshening breeze on the last beat to the weather mark, the Canterbury boy fought his speedy rival board for board. It can be said that the sailing was of a very high standard. ( I Bona and Avalon fell far short of | expectations, both boats falling back with the completion of every round, pieen was seen to better advantage. An important fault in her rigging had been adjusted. The Wellington crew received a great ovation from the crowds on the wharveß and those afloat. The win was a popular one, as most «f the-enthusiasts were delighted to see a province successful after challenging for ten years. Heavy Bain Falling. The repairing ofßetty's damaged transom delayed -the start 'of the race till after 'll.BO a.m. Heavy rain was then-falling; The wind was fresh and from thesou'-west, when the boats.-eame .to the ,line. Tho crews -were:-. — 1 - Avalon:" D. Sogers; (skipper), I. 1L liovett, M, -{Tones, W. Tupp. i ; Betty; AJ, Johnston (skipper), V. G. Hailen,• li. Bobeisson, : rA V WiUson. Colleen:' G.~ Braaell Henry; P. Pdrman, "B. Priddy. ' ~ Bonar V. 'Bragg (skipper), L l . Bragg, G\ i Pifp. Eileen: W.U El" McCulloch (skipper), J. Bobertson, P. Boswell, - Q., Beyoolds. The boats were sent away io a goofl start at 11.36 a.m. The order crossing the line was: Eileen, Avalctn, Betty, Colleen, and, Bona. Spinnakers were, promptly broken- odt "fin) the run to thf Castlft, beacon. Betty v w^th'er-^poaitlon,', and'' sailed - into 'the lead before the fleet cldsed 'on mark; THe'Wellington bodt Winded p few-, second*.ahead 'of Colleen. Then ; aLsa "Jrfter condni oA the' wind. 'lt, haid' thrash.-to., the'VeMhet <maxk _off . yauxhatt.'' ;Be*tty|infcreased fbn \ Hhet tyjxtbpard? but a fewminpte# later i 'BoiiajWaa lelose t on .her stern.. Avalon • ithTO' v pas«c[ v 'tb windward "of Eileen, . |&4/Cplleeii ''weathered the Otago" boat. ' i(^ri(^fs^ed 4 .fiMtj Wi3' climbei into fh'o ■ wind v on: ,*th6 next " lay to tho eastern ' shore,- and. weathered Bona. The Otago boat came out from the shore to mid* harbour, but she. was some, distance astern. J' ' # Betty drew further away with every passing minute; bat Colleen and. Avalon were holding well into the wind. ■Bona gained on -Colleen in- the next board. Betty made the mark over Imin in the lead of Colleen, lmin 30seo ahead ' of Sona, lmin 40sec ahead. of Avalon, and about 2min ahead of. Eileen.. Betty Increases Lead. ]jt was a lead to the mark at the "Kitchener ■ street wharf, \and Betty, in- ' creased her lead from Colleen. The Wellington rounded with an advantage of-one minute thirty seconds. - Bona made the turn two minutes eleven seconds, Avalon two minutes twenty-five seconds; and' Eileen three .minutes three seconds after"~Betty. . '■ Colleen sailed faster than Betty on the run, and Avalon closed on Bona. Com- ' ing on the wind for the second time, the Wellington boat led Colleen by less one njinute, Bona by one minute 50 seconds, Avalon by nearly two minutes, and Eileen by nearly four, minutes. The fleet again stood to the shore on the first leg on the beat to the weather mark. The Wellington skipper hugged the shore on short boards;'but did not carry as much wind as the other boats, which stood out to the open water. Colleen pointed very 'high, and held her lead from' Bona and Avalon. Eileen fell away to leeward on a board from the shore.- Avalon's skipper also hogged the shore. If was a losing board as Eileen and Bona passed to the windward of the Auckland boat when they crossed on opposite tracks. , ' Colleen gained-fast on Betty on the last two legs to the mark, and was only 20 seconds astern the turn was made. Bona roijnded one minute 16 seconds, Eileen two minutes three sec- - onds, and Avalon nearly three minutes after Betty. Cplleen gained on the lead to the Kitchener street wharf. Bona, Eileen, and Avalon. did not improve their positions. The Auckland boat made the mark- ten saconds- after Eileen. . Colleen in the Lead. The wind fell' light after the fleet commenced the third run to* the lee mark. Betty made the turn 24 seconds in the'lead of Colleen, and' over three minutes ahead of Eileen and Avalon. Coming on the wind for the' third (time, Colleen worked well to the weather Sof .Bettys and sailed to windward of * ' the Wellington "when they crossed after 'the first board to -the eastern shore. The' Canterbury skipper 'was sailing his boat with great judgment, ] and making a bold bid to- retain the lead. In the next board, s off Waverley Point, Betty made up some of the leeway, as

the Wellington skipper put Colleen about when the two boats converged. Eileen and Avalon fell further astern, and .the two skippers . had a, Bailing -■ mitch - between themselves for fourth position. Betty, reduced Colleen's lead on! a board in open water, and they were separated by a few second? when the skippers laid for the mark. Colleen ; came off the wind with a lead of seconds, and; Rona made the. turn minutes ' 30' seconds after the Canterbury boat. -It was a lead to the mark off* the Kitchener street wharf, and Betty more than held her own with the leading'boat." 'When Eileen came off the - wind, she was ; six; minutes astern of; CoUeen, and. Avalon was 21 seconds astern of the ,Otago boat. Betty worked out to the weather of Colleen on the .lead, and the two boats gybed at the same moment at the wharf mark, Colleen having an : advantage of two seconds when they commenced the last run .to the ■ Castle Eileen and Avalon were nearly a mile, astern at this stage, and the Auckland skipper was still trying to head off the Otago boat. Bona fell further astern oh the run. It was close sailing between the leading boats. Betty held a slight advantage until they closed on the mark, when Colleen came away under a ; fresh puff, and the boats made the turn together. Betty In Front Again; The Canterbury boy was sailing a great race, and when the boats came on the wiiid for the last time both stood to the Peninsula. Betty pointed highor than Colleen on this tack, and passing to windward of her rival, again held the lead. In the next board the boats were separated by seconds, as when they came together Colleen put Betty about; but the Wellington skipper, sailing more close to the wind, still held a slight lead. Fighting Colleen board for board, Johnston held to the shore, and his judgment and the speed of Betty resulted in the Wellington boat increasing her lead. Bona made little impression on the leaders; but Avalon sailed to windward of Eileen, and the Otago boat again held the last position. ' A Hard-Won Victory. Betty made the mark in three boards from Waverley Point, and rounded one minute 12 seconds in the lead of Colleen. Bona made the mark several minutes after Betty. Spinnakers were again carried on the last lead to the wharf mark, and the Wellington boat now had the race well in hand. Colleen, however, carried more wind over the last half-mile, and she reduoed Betty's lead by 14 seconds. Bounding . the pile and still carrying her spin- ; naker, the former Canterbury champion came on, carrying a light wind, to secure a Hard-fought victory by 58 seconds. Avalon and Eileen were Btill having a sailing match on their own a long way ! astern. After rounding the Kitcheneii ; street wharf.mark, the Auckland skip* per made several attempts to sail to windward of Eileen, but McCulloch ' kept him off by luffing his boat, and I Avalon finished in. fifth place, 10 seconds after Eileen. It was the first f time in five contests that Avalon had i filled the • last position. The finishing order and Bailing times were:— | Betty, lhr 52min 20see .. 1 ' Colleen, lhr 53min 18see .. 2 . Bona, lhr 57min 17sec .. 3 Eileen, 2hrs lmin Ibcc „ 4 Avalon, 2hrs lmin 7sec 5 \ AVALON SOLD TO OTAGO S YACHTSMAN. . " PRESENTATION OP CUP. (FBZSS" ASSOCUIXOX TXUSOIUK.) DUNEDIN, February 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 the prime mover in the building fit the Eileen, f The Sanders Cup was presented to ' the Wellington at'the Town Hall: by the Mayor, Mij B. B. Black, this . evening, in the presence of a large i I gathering of visiting■; and local yachts* 1 men. x * ? The winning crew was heartily . con- ® gratulated on its victory by. the Mayory Mr J". T. Paul, president of the. Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and ■ delegates' from' Auckland, Canterbury, g and Southland.