YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 22

YACHTING

SMITH CUP CONTEST By Telegraph.—Press association. Invercargill, February 23. This morning in glorious weather the open fourteen-ioot race ior the 11. and J. Smith Cup was sailed at Stewart Island the course extending from lliule, in Paterson Inlet, to Hall-moon Bay wharf a distance of about six miles. Seven’ yachts entered for the race, the five Sanders Cup contestants being balloted for. The boats were sailed by the following skippers:—Wellesley, G. Kellett (Otago); Betty, B. White (Wellington) ; Eileen, J. Patrick (Auckland); Muriliiku, J. G. Andrews (Christchurch) ; Avalon, C. Hansen (Southland) ; Alurihiku 11, 11. Squires; and Susan, B. V. Bragg. For the commencement of the race the wind was a light westerly, remaining in that quarter until the boats had entered the mouth of Half-moon Bay. After that the wind came from almost every quarter at once, and the extraordinary spectacle was witnessed of some yachts coming up the bay on the broad lead, whilst others ahead were heading in the same direction close hatiled'. One boat, Wellesley, set her spinnaker at the mouth of the bay, and sailed right up to the finishing line without taking it in, whilst at one stage of the trip Bettv was a few lengths ahead close hauled to fetch the same mark. It was anybody’s race, and the Wellington crew in Betty had the harrowing experience of leading to within a dozen lengths of the finishing line and then losing the wind, and seeing their own boat, Wellesley, manned by the Otago crew, and followed by Eileen, skippered by J. Patrick, come up from behind with the fresh breeze and cross the line ahead of them; whilst they were to all intents and purposes anchored. Avalon and Alurihiku 11, manned by Southland and Christchurch crews, respectively, sailed a dead heat for fourth place, and Alurihiku 11, who had been about a mile behind at one stage of the race, came tearing up the bay on the top of a hard easterly gust and crossed the line about a minute behind the other boats. Susan was a long way back, last. BETTY’S LAST SANDERS CUP WILL TAKE NO P ART IN FUTURE CONTESTS. Dominion Special Service. Invercargill, February 23. Air. G. Andrews has announced that Betty will not take part in any future Sanders Cup contests. When questioned, Mr. Andrews stated that ho Jiail not yet come to any decision regaining the building of a new boat. The Auckland skipper, .1. Patrick, said ho was now convinced that Betty was the fastest boat ever sailed in a contest For the Cup. In most winds the Canterbury boat was nearly half a minute faster than Avalon. 'The contest just concluded proved beyond doubt that Belt’- and Avalon are in a class by themselves, and that the ("jingo boat, Eileen, was the third best boat in the competition.