SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 2

SANDERS CUP

Good Win for Avalon

Keen Race and Stirring Finish

Eileen Close up Third

[Fbom Our Own Heporter.]

HALFMOON BAY, February 21

To-day’s race for the Sanders Cup was worth travelling from Auckland to Stewart Island to witness, only Imin 48sec separating the four boats. Taking the lead within two minutes of the start, Avalon punched and planed her way round a gruelling course to win by only 48sec from Betty, with Eileen 23sec behind and Murihiku 11. fourth another 37scc away. Wellesley 11. w r as outclassed throughout. it was a stern chase, and the finish was thrilling. Avalon

was hard pressed all the way, kc bad luck kept Eileen from running

leping Betty to leeward, while sheer ; into second position.

The millpond on Paterson’s Inlet was whipped into white-capped rolling waves by a piping southerly in the early morning. The gale moderated by the time the race started, but even then a full-sail breeze was blowing uninterruptedly down the inlet. Heavyweight crows were taken aboard, but none of the boats reefed. After several days of variable breezes yachtsmen were anxiously awaiting a stiff and steady wind. No crew was more happy this morning than Auckland. 'They were determined to pile on all canvas and make a great race of the resail of tho abandoned third race. They certainly made every effort from the gunfire, and the other crews likewise relished the stiff breeze. The lirst round of a leeward and windward course was sailed in a whistling and chilly southerly, which, however, was not strong enough to call for reeling ol tho canvas; but the wind eased oft for the second round, and the boats struck broken patches. It was Avalon’s weather unquestionably, but Betty.had beaten her before in reeling weather. The surprise of the race in heavy weather was Eileen’s performance. She was faster than Betty on both beats to windward, while she also covered tiio second thresh in time tiusec faster than Avalon. But Eileen was a dawdler off the wind. With her spinnaker sot she is tender, and had to be carefully nursed. In other than light air Eileen is the slowest- boat in the contest on tho run. Yet on performances to date she is exceptionally speedy on windward work in from light to full-sail breezes.

Avalon ... if 1 1 Smiu 3sec Betty 2h Sinin 45seo Eileen 2h Bmin 58sec Murihiku ... 2h lUmin 14scc Wellesley ... 2h lOmin 50sec

Murihiku 11, was again disappointing after making an especially good board at the beginning of the first thresh. Wellesley il. had no chance, although she sailed remarkably well on the first beat in 'heavy weather. The course was most satisfactory, providing a dead beat to windward. The gale was so high early in the morning that many thought that Paterson’s Inlet would be too rough for small dinghies, and the race would bo sailed in the more sheltered waters of Halfmoon Bay. However, a decision was made to sail the race in Paterson’s Inlet, and a more satisfying course could not have been selected. The course was laid from lona Island to Price’s Point, where the buoy was moved half a mile further out into the harbor from yesterday’s position to provide true windward and leeward work. It was a gruelling tcst_ of boats and skippers in this thresh into the southerly, and one of the finest races since the inception of the contest resulted. Although Avalon held the lead from within ten minutes of the start, her position was Hover over-secure, and her skipper had an anxious time watching his most dangerous rivals, Betty and Eileen. The handling of all the boats was beyond cavil. Avalon was pointed high when the second board was made, and once J. Patrick had Betty under Ids Ice he was wary that the cup defender should not get through his weather. Throughout a severe race the skippers were battling for positions, and it was a misfortune that Kellett should have been forced about by Betty at the windward mark on both occasions after he had acted on Ids own initiative with Eileen. The Otago boat outweathered and outsailed Betty on both threshes, yet she was caught on the wrong tack. When in second place close behind Avalon it looked promising. Moreover, Eileen fell off the wind inexplicably for some time in the first beat till it was discovered that her peak had fallen at least five inches. Eileen is racing most consistently, and Otago has every cause to be proud of both boat and crew, especially as Eileen was originally considered only a light weather boat. Betty did not show up in to-day’s weather, but as she carried the lightest crew that might have affected her. If any other than fair sailing weather is experienced Betty will not have all her own way in the contest. If Betty had won to-day she would have set a new record of being the first boat to win the cup in three races. Wellesley 11. again failed badly, faling to leeward from the first leg and dropping further astern as the race progressed. The boat is not leaking now, and her crew appeared both willing and capable. For the third time Wellesley finished last, and was outclassed by the other boats. Murihiku 11. made an excellent showing early in the race, but on the following boards to weather she dropped away. Murihiku does not hold any prospects of winning the cup at any time, which is to be regretted, as no win would be more popular than one secured by Southland.

Avalon ... 2h 25min 30sec Betty 2h 26min 16sec Eileen 2h 37miu 29scc Murihiku ... 2b 2Smin 14scc Wellesley ... 2h SOmin Bsec

To-clay’s crews were:— Andrews, I. Treleavcn, F. Morrison, R. Hampton. Avalon.—J. Patrick, F. Cloke, E. Matthews, H. K. Brown. Eileen.—G. Kellett, A. Booth, A. Hill, A. Dawson. Mnrihiku IT.—C. Hansen, E. Topi, M. Hansen, R. S. Allen. Wellesley.—B. White, F. Harlcn, J. Blair, R. Berg. , The crews were not the heaviest available, hut the weight was nicely balanced on all the boats. The skipper’s judgment to carry balanced crews was proved when the wind eased during the second round.

THE RAGE

A thrilling start was again made at 1.30. Mnrihiku was handy at gunfire, and was first across the line, followed by Wellesley, and then came Eileen, Betty, and Avalon, tho latter being to the "weather of the trio. Starting out on a hard thrash all stood on the port leg. Murihiku stood out dead to weather of Avalon, Betty, and Eileen. Wellesley fell off fast, and came about for a board out to weather of Murihiku. All -were careering as they ploughed through the water. Murihiku was outpointing the field after seven and a-half minutes of hard punching into a piping breeze and white-capped rollers. Betty and Eileen, then close inshore, put about, and both weathered Avalon and Wellesley. Murihiku was sailing in great style, and made tho longest board. Working out on a starboard leg Eileen worked to weather of Betty. All were throwing water about as they drove across to the

eastern hill. On this board Murihiku fell away and lost her pace. Wellesley was drawing closer to her. Climbing up to windward Avalon held the lead, while to leeward Eileen was outsailing Betty, which was the first to swing over to port again when off Ulva. Then Murihiku, Avalon, and Wellesley followed, but Eileen held on tor another minute. Murihiku made poor work of the thrash,.and when she made another board to eastward she was weathered by Avalon and Betty. Eileen was standing away to windward of the ileot, although Avalon and Betty were racing in front. It was a dead beat on port from the end of Ulva down to (he buoy off Price's Point, and with the exception of Wellesley, which , fell away badly, the little craft made good passages. Avalon and Betty failed to make tho buoy on three good boards, and had to put about. Avalon rounded first, and Eileen looked as if she would be the next round. The Otago boat was still on the port tack, and as Betty came across on the starboard leg Kellett was forced to go about when ho was almost on tho buoy, this allowing Betty to ease her sheets and round olscc after Avalon, Eileen making tho turn 4sec later. Murihiku’s windward work was weak, and she did not fetch the mark till Imin 16sec had passed. Wellesley was nearly dmiu behind Avalon. The times of rounding were:—

All gybed in the heavy wind and light rain for the' run down the iidet to lona. Spinnakers were set in remarkably good time by all tho boats with the exception of Wellesley, which took five minutes in breaking out her spinnaker. There was little planing by any of the boats. Avalon romped away, but then both Betty and Eileen drew nearer. Eileen was the only boat which skied her spinnaker, the others carrying their big sail well forward. Betty was fastest on the run, reducing Avalon’s lead by ssec, although tho Auckland boat carried her spinnaker almost on to the buoy. Eileen showed that she was tender on the run, losing' uOsec from Betty, while Murihiku. gained filsec on the Otago challenger. lona buoy was rounded in the following order: —

Hauling ou (,o tlio wind again both 1 Avalon and Betty stood over for Ulva, but Eileen quickly came about for a short tack down the harbor. Murihiku raced away over to the Ulva shore, while "Wellesley worked tho mainland. Eileen again changed over to starboard. Beating on the port tack Avalon opened out a better lead from Betty, which broke tacks, Avalon coming about. Two minutes later the wind moderated appreciably and the rain ceased. With the exception of Wellesley tho Meet worked over to midharbor. They were all making easier weather, and' when they finally settled down on the long port board for tho upper mark Betty was 75yds to leeward of Avalon, and Eileen was to, weather of Avalon, hut racing in the rear. Murihiku, which had made a good board to Ulva, was well astern. Realising that ho was not reducing the leaders’ advantage by following their tactics Wellesley’s skipped made a long hoard right along tho mainland coast, going almost into Price’s Bay before going about for tho starboard thrash towards the other yachts. Betty was some distance to leeward of tho 'mark, and had to go about 50yds past to about-ship to fetch tho mark ou the starboard hand. Avalon, too, fell to leeward of the buoy, but when tacks were split she was easily leading Betty. Kellett was giving a splendid display with Eileen, which was profiting by her long starboard board. Below Ulva the Otago boat was threading her way into the eye of the wind, and was only a short distance away. Coming off a long tack, Avalon fetched the buoy nicely. Kellett’s luck was out, for in the same position as on the first round Betty forced him about when he was certain of fetching the buoy. In manoeuvring for positions Eileen compelled Betty to make another board, but the Canterbury boat was second to turn off the wind Imin lOseo after Avalon, which had increased her lead on the beat by 24sec from the Cup defender. Eileen again fetched the buoy only 4sec after Betty. She had gained 35sec on Avalon on the thrash and 59see on Betty, while Murihiku, which rounded Imin 30sec after Eileen, made as fast a passage as Avalon. Wellesley lost heavily on windward work, and had no prospects of winning. The turning times were;—

Avalon, 3h smin Usee. Betty, 3h 6min 21sec, Eileen, 3h 6min 25sec. Murihiku, 3h 7min sosec. Wellesley, 3h 13min Isec. The race was considered far from being over, for the leading margin was narrow. Spinnakers were set in fast time, and Eileen took the weather position of Betty. For the first time during the day the sun shone sickly through dark clouds, helping to make a wonderful picture of the filled white cnavas on the speeding yachts, followed by a flotilla of fishing cutters and launches with the huge whaling ship, Sir James Clark Boss, silhouetted against the fog-veiled hills. The wind came lighter, but Eileen seemed to hold the best breeze. However, Avalon and Betty were showing greater pace before tho wind, while Murihiku was racing up fast from tho rear. Betty reduced Avalon’s lead, and was catching her at the finish, when the Auckland boat was 48sec ahead. Eileen lifted across the line 23sec later, while Murihiku came with a late run only 37sec behiiid. It was a stirring finish to a hard and keen race. Wellesley was a long way off when Murihiku finished. The finishing times were: — Avalon, 3h 24min 20sec. Betty, 3h 25niin Bseo. Eileen, 3h Soinin 31sec. Murihiku, 3h 26min Bsec. Wellesley, 3h 31min 29sec.

Now that Betty’s straight-out win of

the Cup has been defeated and the abandonment of the third race delayed ©vents, there is evidence that the contest will he prolonged. The Dominion Conference met. to-night to consider the position, particularly ns arrangements have to be made by the Stewart Island Yachting Club to sail off the 14-footer challenge race for the cup presented by Mr F. W. Smith, of Invercargill, for competition among the provincial and local boats.

On the motion of the Otago delegates the conference decided to sail the fourth race at 1.30 on Wednesday. Two races, commencing at 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m., will be sailed on Thursday if necessary. It was further decided to suggest to the local club that the Smith Cup race bo held immediately after the conclusion of the Sanders Cup contest. It was also suggested that tho crews draw for boats for this race, and it is certain that the majority or the provincial boats will wait for the race.