SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 123, 22 February 1928, Page 6

SANDERS CUP CONTEST

THIRD RACE TO AUCKLAND CANTERBURY BOAT SECOND Dominion Special Service. Half Moon Bay (Stewart Island), February 21. Under ideal sailing conditions, the Auckland boat, Avalon, won the third race for the Sanders Cup, held on Paterson’s Inlet this afternoon. The judges decided that it was a resail of the third race, abandoned on Monday owing to the very light weather. A heavy westerly wind prevailed during the early hours this morning, and when day broke, there was a fairly heavy sea running in Paterson’s Inlet. Avalon was the first boat to leave the sheds at the Thule, and when she made a preliminary trial with her full crew on board, it was seen that the hard southerly would suit the Auckland boat to perfection. The boat, once she settled down to her task after the race started, gave one of her best exhibitions of sailing. Her windward work was a treat to watch, and she was easily the best boat afloat in the heavy weather. Avalon worked her way to windward of the fleet on the first hard thrash to windward. Patrie sailed.his charge into the lead withi. twenty minutes aftei; the start, and the Auckland boat thereafter led throughou, and crossed he finishing line 48see. in the lead of Betty. Two other boats only were prominent during the greater part of the race. The Otago boat, Eileen, sailed another splendid race. Kellett showed some of his old-time ability, and sailed one of his best contests. Kellett was unfortunate, as he made the mark off Price’s Point just as Betty was beating up. The two boats met on opposite tacks, and Andrews put the Otago boat about. The Canterbury skipper was on his right board, but Eileen lost several seconds as Kellett had to make another board to fetch the mark. The move was repeated in the second thrash to windward, both boats meeting within 50 yards of the mark, and Andrews again put the Otago.boat about. Betty was always dangerous, and the Auckland and the Otago skippers kept an eye on the champions’ movements from start to finish. The result of the race clearly showed that it was Aialon’s day, but the wind was apparently too strong for the Canterbury champion. The race was one of the most thrilling and spectacular seen for many years. All the boats carried a heavy-weight crew of four. Betty carried the highest crew, but the weight in each boat was evenly distributed. The buoy off Price’s Point was shifted half a mile more to the south and centre of the inlet, so ns to give the boats a true beat in the southerly wind. It was a windward and leeward course, and each boat carried full sail. The wind did not vary to any marked degree throughout. Bettv beat Eileen by 23 seconds for second place, and Alurihiku crossed the line 37sec. after the Otago boat, while Wellesley finished 7min. 9scc. after Avalon. All the boats will sail in Wednesday’s race, and after that all boats which have not secured a first place will bo eliminated. The official sailing times were:— Avalon, Ihr. 54min. 20see 1 Betty, Ihr. 55min. Bsec .’ 2 Eileen, fhr. 55min. 31sec 3 Murihiku, Ihr. sGmin. Ssec 4 Wellesley, 2hr. Imin. 29sec 5 The fourth race will he sailed on Wednesday afternoon over a triangular course. CONCLUDING RACES Dominion .Special Service. Hall Moon Bay (Stewart Island), / February ‘2l. At a meeting of the Dominion Yachting Conference to-night it was decided to sail one race on AVednesday and two on Thursday, and daily thereafter if necessary. The race on Wednesday will start at 1.30 p.m. The first race on Thursday will start at 10.30 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. A suggestion was made to the local committee that arrangements be made for holding the fourteen-footers’ open race for the Smith Cup immediately the Sanders Cup contest concludes. This was agreed to.