SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 5

SANDERS CUP

The First Race Betty’s Outstanding Win Stirring Finish for Third place [From 01-h Own Reporter.] HALF MOON BAY, February If. To a glorious start the boats representing the five provinces were sent away for the first race for the Sanders Cup on Paterson’s Inlet this afternoon, but it was an inglorious finish for all boats excepting the defender, Betty, which ’planed homo with a following breeze a ridiculously easy winner. The freakish performance of Betty by romping away from what was generally considered to bo the most even held of boats gathered at the cup contest, made the race uneventful. The features of the race were the superb start, ail crossing within 3sec of the gunfire; Betty’s undoubted superiority on running and leading; and also the stirring finish between Eileen and Muriliiku Jl. for third place, only 2sec separating flic two boats.

The course set was windward and leeward, but the wind veered from the west to the north north-west during the race. The sailing was also poor, the alleged run being mostly a. broad lead. The length of the course was set down as nine miles, but it was a mile or so shorter. However, only the most improbable stroke of misfortune could have stopped Betty from winning. She beat Auckland’s crack boat, Avalon, by 3min ISsec, and was drawing further ahead as the race progressed. The weather indications in the morning were not bright, a heavy rain falling from daybreak. By 1.30 p.m. the rain had passed, but black skies to the westward indicated, that the wind would come away fresher during the afternoon A full sail westerly was riffling the crystal waters of the landlocked inlet as the boats left headquarters at Thule, each boat was carrying heavy weights. However, the wind was only puffy, although strong. The competing boats and crews were:—

Betty (Canterbury, the defender)— G. G. Andrews, T. Treleaven, F. Morrison. ' Avalon (Auckland) —J. Patrick, E. Matthews, H. Brown. Muribiku 11. (Southland) —C. Hanson, M. Topi, H. Hanson, Eileen (Otago)—G. Kollett, C. M. French, A. Booth. Wellesley H. (Wellington)—l3. White, N. Blair, R. Berg.

Betty’s outstanding win cannot bo attributed alone to George Andrews’s masterly lielmsmansliip. At Lyttelton last year Betty could have won the cup without defeat if Andrews had wished to make the contest of record short duration. Betty’s performance to-day iudicatecs clearly that she is a freak. She went to tho front soon after the start and was never headed, making no race of it. All boats were exceptionally well handled, and Betty’s speed through the water was undoubtedly the reason lor her success. A moro interesting race, however, should eventuate over a triangular course and in light weather, in which several of the contestants have shown more ability than in a. stiff breeze and on chappy waters. Avalon’s second was comparatively poor. Moreover, it was surprising, as Auckland’s picture boat has shown in tho past two contests that she is little the inferior, if at nil, of Betty, and the weather conditions to-day should have suited her to perfection. She was manned by the select of Auckland’s fourteen-fooler yachtsmen, yet she showed less speed, except on one run, than Betty. Otago’s new heat, Eileen, sailed surprisingly well in the stiff weather, especially as she lias given evidence ol tenderness in a blow. Avalon beat her by only Imin 2sec. At times Eileen had to bo carefully nursed when carrying her spinnaker', but her showing was pleasing. Eileen has been tried out only in light weather, and in zephyr breezes she can be expected to set a fast pace. Eileen’s skipper showed Garroll Hansen, the well-known skipper of the Muribiku, quite a few points, and the Otago boat was only beaten lor third place by Mnrihiku getting an easier run over the last quarter-mile to the finishing line. Mnrihiku was again disappointing, although sho is sailing with more ease and pace than last year. She is a reputed heavy-weather sailer, and Hansen made losing boards early on both laps to windward by making boards inshore. The others stood out into tho inlet and secured the steady and strong winds, Mnrihiku being weathered on each occasion at the top buoy. Wellesley 11. gave an even moro dismal performance than (he old representative Boggy put np at Lyttelton in last year’s contest. Wellesley footed it with Betty for about four minutes after tho start, but quickly fell to leeward. The roll in open water spoilt whatever chance she might have had. Wellesley is bluff forward, and her skipper made a mistake in not working the more sheltered waters under the weather hills. On to-day’s performance Wellesley IJ. is not in the same class as the other boats in full-sail weather with choppy seas, but given smooth waters the Wellington boat will doubtless show her true merits. THE RAGE With the exception of Betty, all the boats were to weather of the starting buoy within one minute of the final gunfire. They were all fighting for weather position, but the skippers were wary. Betty’s starting run from an off wind was nicely timed, although <os tho gun went off the others swung on to tho line in a bunch. Jn a wonderful start Wellesley 11. was first away, followed by Eileen, Betty, and Muribiku, nob 3soc separating the live yachts. The fleet raced away on a starboard tack wind, which veered from the west towards the north. Going through the jobble Eileen was jumping, but Kellctt was bolding her up to windward, while Wellesley and Betty lay off the wind. Wellesley and Bettyraced nock and neck for several minutes, the defender then drawing ahead slightly. The wind swung back to ihe south, yet the racing was not exciting, as the boats were still more or less under the slid ter of the mainland. Eileen and Muribiku fought for windward positions, the Southland boat gradually sneaking on Eileen’s weather. Avalon and Wellesley stood out into the open water, while Avalon held a mid course. The Auckland boat was catching tho heavy breeze, and was nearly flattened when struck by a sudden puff off Ryan’s Creek, but Patrick quickly bad her on an even keel. Betty continued to open out the lead, yet at one stage Avalon was very close. Mnrihiku and Eileen were almost together, while Wellesley was making heavy weather. Betty continued to stand off shore, while Avalon was outpointing and outpacing Eileen, which trembled a little in the heavy wind. Wellesley was already dropping further to leeward under the weather of the hills. Murihiku was not finding such a strong breeze as the other boats, which continued on their original course, holding a full-sail steady breeze. Muribiku was getting a smoother passage 200yds further in shore, and was travelling the fastest. Tho offshore boats were tossing the spray, and the balers and immps were in action.

The weather suited Betty, which drew slowly away from the field. Avalon, however, sneaked her way to windward. Eileen was pointing as high as Betty, and when 500yds from Price’s Bay buoy was about 100yds behind. Wellesley continued to fall off to the wind. Muribiku was driving straight past the buoy. At Ih 64m Betty split tacks and stood _ over to the turning mark, weathering both Eileen and Avalon and Mnrihiku, which had not gained by going inshore. A minute later Eileen, Wellesley, and Avalon also swung their mainsheet to starboard, but Avalon failed to letch the mark, and was weathered by Muriliiku, which overreached before rounding exactly one minute after Betty, Avalon following ten seconds later, Eileen being half a minute back, .with ■ Wellesley well out of the race. The times of rounding were;—

Wellesley made hard work in fetching the buoy for the run back to the starting line. Betty quickly set her spinnaker, but Murihiku’s hands struck trouble with the big sail. Avalon’s was filling within 20sec, and Eileen s spinnaker work was also smart, but the quickest setting was made by Weilesley, the spinnaker drawing immediately on rounding. A pretty turn of speed off tho wind was shown by Eileen, which gradually drew nearer to Muribiku, whoso spinnaker was hacking and filling. It was almost a broad lead for a long distance, and, sailing close to the wind, Avalon caught some strong puffs and gained on Betty for a while. However, Andrews set a good course, and thrilled the spectators with a great exhibition of planing, the defender drawing ahead again. When half of tho nm had been covered Muriliiku lost the wind, while Wellesley, far astern, was tearing along with her spinnaker skied. Betty continued to hold a much better "breeze than Avalon, while both Eileen and Mnrihiku had to run off. A sudden squall struck tho over-can-vassed Mnrihiku, and only skilful handling by Carroll Hansen,_ who wisely or so' l Ins mainsheet, keeping tho boat up. Murihikn’s recovery was grand. Standing inshore Avalon made only occasional bursts of speed, yet Betty planed along, working all tho time to windward to get the run off for the lona mark, Eileen showed signs of tenderness under tho and Kellctt had to case her off at times. The spinnakers were housed by all tho boats some dislnnco from the turning mark, the wind hauling too far round to northward. Avalon passed Muribiku and rounded tho buoy only Imm Bseo after Betty, tho Auckland boat having gained —sec on the run. Mnriliikn was- first to reach the mark, but Eileen’s skipper cut in masterfully, and bent the Southland representative round by Risen. Wellesley was a bfifl last. Tho times rounding were:—

A misty rain commenced to -It down tho inlet as all tho boats continued on the lead hack to Price s Bay. Eileen hoisted her leader two minutes after rounding as the wind slackened a little. Muribiku slowly worked to iiio weather of Eileen, but the Otago boat was cutting through the water quicker. Eileen was catching Avalon, which broke out her leader, but at first found tho big jib a lifLo difficult to carry in the puff. 'Wellesley was making heavy weather of _it, i and dropped further astern. , Mnrihiku was pointing highest, and was well to tho weather of the fleet. When tho wind was commencing to_ swing round to the north of west Muribiku changed over to the port tack at the same place as on the first round, and made only a short log inshore, with leaders sot. Eileen was sailing higher and faster than Avalon, and slowly gained on tho Auckland boat. The wind enmo away more strongly, and Betty, carrying her jib, went further ahead. , Avalon caught some bard puffs, and went away from Eileen again. Betty was shaping an excellent course for tho buoy, hut was knocked back when heading for tho mark. Betty, however, was not sailing so close to the wind as in tho previous contests, hut her pace was easily the fastest. Avalon and Eileen were both pointing high, but Muribiku held the weather position. At 3h 36m Betty came about, but overreached, several short hoards being made before sho rounded 2min 17soc ahead of Avalon, tho Canterbury boat having gained Imin 9sec on tho load and short heat. Eileen, however, lost only Imin 2sec from lona Island, and gained. 12scc on Muribiku. Tho order of tho rounding was:—

THE FINISH The race was over so far ns first place was concerned, but an interesting fight for places was promised. Tho spinnaker work at tho turn was weak, Southland making tho best display. Fully one minute passed before Betty’s spinnaker was properly set. On the run home Betty followed the first round course, while Eileen fell off the wind, Avalon taking tho middle berth, with Mnrihiku inshore. Betty gained over one minute from Avalon on the run. and, rarrying her spinnaker, planed over the line an easy winner just as a misty rain commenced to fall. Avalon did not do well on tho run, both Eileen and Mnrihiku closing up the gap. Avalon finished 3min 18sec after Betty. Much excitement was raised by the race for third place between Southland and Otago. Muribiku, however, was on the wind, and, easing off sheets, iust bent Eileen by 2,sec. Wellesley sailed home alone later. Tim finishing times wore : Betty. 2h 51m 25s ... ’ 1 Avalon,,2h 54m 43s ; 2 Muribiku, 2h 55m 43s 8 Eileen, 2h 55m 45s 4 Wellesley, 2h 59m 31s ... ... 8 The second race will be sailed ovei* a triangular course..

Betty _ ... ... Hi 55m 50s Muriliiku Hi 56m 50s Avalon Hi 5 7 in Os Eileen Hi 57 m 30s Wellesley 21i Oin 5s

Betty ... 2h Urn Iflu Avalon ... 21i 12m 27s Eileen 2h 13ih 4(Vj Mnrihikn 2h ]3m 50s Wellesley 2k 16m 43s

Betty ... . . ... 2h 36m SJfe Avalon ... 21i 39m 12s Eileen 2h 40m 18s Mnriliiku . 2h 40m 40s Wellesley . 2li 44m 20s