BERMUDA CUTTER, MORNA, SECURES EARLY LEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 27 December 1946, Page 5

BERMUDA CUTTER, MORNA, SECURES EARLY LEAD

Received Thursday, 8.-">:"5 p.m. SYDXEY, Dee. 26. First tli rough Sydnoy Heads iifty ininutes after tjie start ot" the SydneyHobiirt race, the Bermuda cutter, Morna, led the fleet of twenty vnelits. The ga II' schoouer W'auderer, an intemliiig Tasnianiaii entry, was report ed near the Heads on her way from Tasmania Imt as slie liad not arrived in Sydney early this afternoon, it is n'ow nniikely slie will take part. Thonsands of people paeked the Sontli llead and avery liarliour vantage jioint and a vast lieet of more tinui •'■()() Miiall eraft surronnded and followed the race entrants. The keeiiness to obtain tlu; Blne Riband of Anstralian and Xew Zealand yai-ht i ng is so intense that the erews are report ed to have backed themselves i'or as miieh as £4001). The Morna, of Sydnoy, started i'avourite and witli a ldg spinnaker set, mad'' good use of the light southeast liree/e. Slie eleared the Heads tcn minnles ahcad of the Vietorian cutter, Merlaii, with the Tasnrinian cutter, Aetive, tliree niiimtes hehind in third. plaeC. As the .Morna disappeared from sight vorking towards Botany Bay on ihe iirst leg of the Ov'i uiile vovage, slie was clearly taking advaniage of the light eondiiions and sailing f.ister than anv otlier lui'inlier of the lleet. The Xew Zealand keteh, llex, was the 1 liirteenth \ essel to ejeur the Heads, 49 ininutes after the leader. Activo and Saga were invoived in a collision before the start Imt good seamanship prevented damage. -M eteorologists liave promised fine eonditions and relatively light winds for ahout half the passage, with southwesterlies oft (laho Island. Two hours al'ter the race started the Morna was oif Bomli and leading MerJan l»v nearly half an liour, The Xew Zealand boat, llex, is handieapped sixth on the list and is conceded 12 hours l.v the -Morna.