SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 19796, 21 February 1928, Page 4

SANDERS CUP

Third Race Called Off

A Drifting Match

Eileen and Avalon Unlucky

[From Oue Ows Reporter.]

One mile from home and leading by a minute—that was Eileen’s position when the third race for the Sanders Cup this afternoon was called off owing to the three hours’ time limit having expired.

For the most part the race was a drifting match, and the protracted time taken in drifting on the second run was responsible for the lapse of time.. Yet when the boats were sailing properly Eileen and Avalon looked likely winners. Both Otago and Auckland were unlucky that the light airs did not hold, for the champion Betty was badly beaten on the first beat to windward. And on the second run oven Wellesley headed Betty. Eileen was sailed another splendid race by George Kelleit, who seems to be almost faultless in his handling this year. Ho has great confidence in Eileen, and has seldom sailed with more skill. Otago has every reason to be proud of its skipper and crew. Eileen is proving herself as Betty’s most serious challenger, and it was indeed unfortunate that the wind petered out so soon, as her chances were decidedly bright.

It was an exasperating afternoon for yachtsmen. A 'light min at, times kept the wind away. When a leeward and windward course was laid in the morning the breeze was coming away lightly from the north-oast, but it veered round to the south-east soon after the gunfire, making what was a run into the lead. Then it came away from the easterly for the last part of what was intended to be a beat on the second run from lona buoy to flic buoy off Price’s Bay. The breeze, however, fizzled out, a long spell of doldrums ruining any chances of the boats finishing within the time limit, following on the calling off of the race when Eileen was 100yds to weather of Avalon, with Wellesley nearly half a mile to leeward, Betty further off, and Murihiku away back. There was much argument as to which beat was in the leading position. Wellington held Unit, being in mid-harbor, they would have nm home winners if the breeze bad come down the inlet, but the position was that when the race was called off Eileen and Avalon were easily leading in the wind then blowing. Shortly after the boats were taken in tow a dead cairn was experienced. Eileen was the most likely winner. Avalon sailed with greater freedom to-day, and took the lead by excellent windward work. The boats which held on to the first starboard leg the longest worked tlieir way into better positions. It was on this- move that Betty and Murihiku were beaten. Murihiku carried too heavy a crew, and was never dangerous, but' Wellesley gave a much improved showing. When the other boats were standing still on the second run Wellesley was travelling all the time, and overhauled Betty. Her crew seemed to be handling the boat better. The crews were:—

Betty (Canterbury).—G. Andrews, I. Treleaven, 11. Hampton. Eileen (Otago).—G. Kellott, A. Booth, A. Hill. Wellesley IT. (Wellington). —B. White, F. Harlem, R. Berg. Avalon (Auckland).—J. Patrick, F. Cloke, R. Brown. Murihiku (Southland). —T. Bragg, C. Hansen, H. Hansen.

The abandonment of the third race will extend the duration of the contest. The cup presented by Mr H. J. Smith (Invercargill) lor all 14-footors, including Stewart Island boats, not competing in the contest has also to bo competed for, and it may he necessary to hold two races to-morrow.

Avalon, dr SSmin 29sec. Eileen, 3h /55min 42soc. Wellesley, 3h 68min 3(isec, Betty, 3h 59min 59sec. Murihiku, 4h Imin IDscc.

HALFMOON BAY. February 20.

ahead of Wellesley, which was up weather. Murihiku had made a mistake in leaving the original tack too early. Avalon was sailing the fastest and pointing higher than Betty, and after two boards had been made Avalon weathered Betty by a small margin. At 2..37 Betty continued across towards Ulva, and Otago supporters were delighted when Eileen sailed past Betty’s bow. On these movements Eileen was in the lead and ■well to weather of Avalon. The Otago boat was holding u splendid wind, while Avalon carried on too close into Thule and got the break in the wind. Patrick, however, broke tack, and at 2.45 passed Eileen, which kept to starboard for a few seconds bet ore going about to follow Avalon. Both Avalon and Eileen were well clear of Betty, which lost by working over into mid-harbor. Avalon held on to the port leg for a minute and a-hall. and then lay over for the buoy, which she rounded 44sec ahead of Eileen. Betty had lost considerably on the port leg, and did not swing off the wind till 2min 25sec after Eileen. Meanwhile __ Wellesley was outpointing and outsailing Murihiku. The Wellington boat fetched the buoy 4min after Betty, Murihiku turning another I min 46sec later. The times of rounding were:— Avalon, 21i 48min Csec. Eileen, 2h 48min 50sec. Betty, 2h Slmin 15sec. Wellesley, 2h 55min 14sec. Murihiku, 2h 57min. All spinnakers wore drawing as soort as the boats rounded. Eileen commenced to catch Avalon, but jumping up forward in the Otago boat shook the wind out of her sails. Avalon worked out to weather of_ Eileen, and both caught a better wind than the rear boats, but the breeze dropped, the canvas hanging like bags on all the yachts. For about fifteen minutes the boats lay idly on the glass-smooth waters. A. B. Booth went for’ard on Eileen and changed the spinnaker over to starboard. For a long time the fleet was in -tlw doldrums, but then a light nor’oastor came away. The direction of the wind was lucky for the leaders, as Wellesley, Murihiku, and Betty would have brought an easterly up with them. With two hours gone Murihiku and Wellesley caught a light breeze,, which carried the Wellington boat past Betty. Meanwhile Avalon and Eileen worked slowly over towards the eastern shore, where smoko from the lug Southland indicated stronger breezes. Eileen was first to catch the zephyr, the time being 3h 42min, and quickly ran past Avalon into the lead In fitful puffs of light air Avalon regained the lead, hut the boat which was carrying the breeze all the time was Wellesley. Nearing the buoy the speed was increased, and Avalon rounded 13sec ahead of Eileen, which had gained 31 sec on the run, while Betty made the slowest time before the wind. Gybes were made at Price’s Bay buoy at the following times ;

Turning into the wind, or the little wind that there was, Eileen weathered Avalon, and immediately came about and stood over towards the eastern, shore, where the wind appeared to be better. Avalon was sailing faster than Eileen on the port tack. Wellesley, Betty, and Murihiku made a starboard leg. The breeze started to come away fresher from the north-east. Wellesley and Betty soon swung over to the port tack, Murihiku alone carrying on on a starboard tack. It was a gamble whether the race could be completed within the three hours’ limit. Betty was first to break tacks, Wellesley following suit a minute later. Avalon and Eileen stood right over to Waituna Bay on the eastern shore, where Avalon was first to change over to starboard. Murihiku held on to her original tack to within a quarter-mile of Cow and Calf Point, from where she headed across harbor. When Eileen was 100yds to weather of Avalon, with Wellesley, Betty, and Murihiku from half to threequarters of a mile to leeward, the throe hours’ racing time had expired, and the race was called off.

THE RAGE

Another fine start was made at 1.30, Murihiku being the first to cross for the lead, the wind having hauled round from the east to the south-east up to Price’s Point. Petty was second away, followed by Eileen, Avalon, and Wellesley. Spinnakers were set from the start. Betty and Avalon worked up to the weather, while Eileen was slow in going ahead, owing to her being blanketed in by both Avalon and Wellesley, the latter boat soon passing Otago’s representative. Murihiku took the leeward running. Petty showed the best ■speed, and Auckland's efforts to take the wind from her canvas were unsuccessful. In the gentle wind the boats drifted idly up harbor. Off Cow aud Calf Point Betty, out to windward aud in mid-harbor, was drawing away from Avalon, with the others in line. Eileen eased off to leeward of Murihiku, aud caught the better wind.- Wellesley and Murihigu lost the breeze, but they were all crawling along. Betty and Avalon worked further out to windward, but as the tide was ebbing they were likely to meet stronger currents further up the harbor than the other boats closer in shore. A light rain commenced to fall after a quarter of an hour’s drift, when Betty was opening out a lead from Avalon, while Wellesley was slowly dropping astern. Eileen suffered a little from the wash of oue of the launches, which went too far ahead of the flotilla following the race._ Eileen and Murihiku were soon moving the fastest. Moreover, they were in good positions, being in direct line for Price’s Bay buoy. Wellesley’s sails were the best filled, but she was moving very slowly. The wind veered round to the east again, and it was almost a dead run up the inlet. Eileen continued to move away from Murihiku, both these boats making a straight course for the buoy, whereas Betty aud Avalou were well off the lino. Betty converged on Eileen’s course, and the latter boat hauled her spinnaker in two minutes before rounding. The befits made an easy gybe round the mark in the following order Betty, 2h dmin 33sec. Eileen, 2h Smin "sec. Avalon, 2h Smin 25sec. Murihiku, 2h Smin Bsec. Wellesley, 2h Gmin 18soc.

With only Gosecs separating the first four boats an interesting rare was promised as they hauled on to wind on the starboard tack. The wind freshened immediately, Hetty benefiting, while Eileen was ’just on the buoy. There was so narrow a margin between the yachts that it was an interesting procession. All carried leaders. There were no appreciable alterations in the distances as the fleet headed down the inlet, except that Wellesley drew level with Murihiku at one stage, but quickly dropped astern. As the breeze freshened Eileen drew awav from Avalon, while Murihiku showed more pace. At 2.20 Murihiku broke tack for board on the port, but the rest continued on the starboard, all making a good course for lona buoy. Murihiku changed back five minutes later, Andrews at the same time making a leg towards lona buoy, Eileen and Wellesley following. A minute or so afterwards Avalon neld on to her original board the longest. Betty made only a short board, and when she split tacks with Avalon she was not very far to weather. Away in the rear Murihiku was only a short distance