CORNWELL CUP

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1930, Page 16

CORNWELL CUP

,; FIRST RACE TO AUCKLAND

(By .Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, 18th February

;' Perfect sailing conditions: favoured the fivsfr; race in the Corn well Cup contest, ■which was commenced on the harbour

this afternoon, and a very keenly contested race resulted in the Auckland crew in the Suzette winning by a narrow margin from'Manakau in the Wee May. The race was held over a windward and leeward course, the boats starting from the Boat Harbour, running down the channel pile of Kitchener Street Wharf, beating tip to Castle Beacon, and then running down to the leeward mark again, and finally "beating back to the finishing line — : a total distance of about seven and a half miles. Just before the commencement of the race the wind, which was very light from the north-east, freshened, and at the starting gun a good full sail breeze had sprung-up. The crews and boats were as follow:—

Auckland (Tabuteau Bros.), Suzette; Wellington (M'Kenzie and Stulter), Colleen; Christchurch (Beveridge and Webb), Pauline; Otago (M'Laren and Sell), Zita; Manakau (Grant aiid Andrews), Wee May; Lyttelton (Tissman and Scott), Eupuki. -.-=.. Wellington was first across the line, followed by Manakau and. Christchurch, while Lyttelton and Auckland were lying further astern, with. Otago bringing up the rear to leeward of the vest of the fleet. A few minutes after the start Lyttelton moved up into a good position on .Wellington's! windward quarter, being closely followed by • Christchurch. Manakau and Auckland were' sailing level dead astirn of Wellington, while Otago's positioß remained unchanged. Passing Vict«fa Wharf Lyttelton improved its position, and gradually drew level with , Wellington, Otago coming up fast and taking t, position close behind Auckland. - Near ■ tlie turning mark Auckland took the lead, with Otago lying: handy close astern; the defender rounding- the mark a few feet ahead of Otago, with Wellington, Christchurch, Lyttelton, - and Manakau following close behind in that order. la the beat to Castle.Beacon the sailing- qualities''1 of both crews and boats were fully -tested, for the breeze freshened considerably and a short chop made its appearance. The Auckland boat, splendidly handled, worked- well to windward, but Otago, which had been in a good position on.rounding the mark, gave a very disappointing exhibition on the wind, ;and fell further and further to 'leeward of the rest of the fleet. Manakau, Lyttelton, and Christchurch were in close order in the kg across to Victoria Wharf, bu* they were unable to work to windward like the Auckland boat, and were forced to, come about and stand away for Waverley when they reached the end of. the wharf, Wellington following close astern. Throughout the, beat to Castle Beacon Auckland held its advantage, Lyttelton sailing into second place, closely followed by-Mauakau. Auckland rounded the beacon about 20 seconds ahead of Lyttelton, Manakau following' another 20 seconds behind. " Wellington and Ghristchureh then rounded in that order, Otago at'this stage 1 eing somewhere*in the vicinity of Waverley, and completely out of the race. In the run down to the leeward mark the boats made very good time, Auckland slightly increasing its lead, and the.order of rounding remained unchanged. Otago managed to struggle round Castle Beacon a few seconds before Auckland rounded the mark at the head of the harbour, at this stage being seven minutes behind the rest of the fleet. In the beat to the finishing line, Auckland easily maintained its advantage, although Manakau and Lyttelton gradually lessened the defender's lead. At one stage Lyttelton seemed to have an excellent chance of sailing into second" place, but a mistake by the skipper, who was apparently under the impression that CastleBeacon had to be rounded a second time, put the boat back over a minute and the chance was lost. .

Auckland sailed.over the finishing line T2sec ahead of Manakau after a very fine exhibition of sailing on the.part of the crew, Lyttelton, crossing nearly two and a half minutes after the second boat. Christehurch and. Wellington followed in that order, Otago &oming home 17min alter the winner..-'',.' . ■ ;■