TERRIFIC SEAS BATTER THE YACHT RACERS

Grey River Argus, 4 February 1948, Page 6

TERRIFIC SEAS BATTER THE YACHT RACERS

(Rec. 9.0). SYDNEY, February 3. After battling through a cyclone and terrific seas, the cutter Peer Gynt, followed the Kurrewa 111 across the finishing line in the rransTasman yacht race at 12.44 p.m. today. The Peer Gynt’s time was ten days four hours 44 minutes, but, though she was five hours 20 minutes behind the Kurrewa 111 she has a probable lead on handicap. The radio operator of the Kurrewa 111 heard the Wayfarer last night, but was unable to contact her. The Kurrewa 111 was royally welcomed by ferries and overseas shins which sounded their sirens as she was tewed up the harbour. Describing the cyclone, in which two of the crew, John Downton and Terry Connors, were injured, the skipper, Frank Livingstone, said: “I have never seen such seas in all my cruising experience. Alan Bath, who was on deck when the biggest wave hit us, sprang into the rigging, and clung to the cross-trees. The sea was so huge that he was still in water 35 feet from the deck”.

He added that, during the gale, the yacht ran under bare poles, with two men lashed to the wheel. Caught in the same cyclone, the Peer Gynt lost all her deck gear, including life rafts and buoys. "We followed the Kurrewa 111 over, and were never more than 60 miles behind her”, said the skipper, Trygve Halvorsen. “We were caught in the same wave, but, having a deckhouse, the helmsman was protected, and nobody was injured. The yacht lay over on her beam ends, and all the glassware was smashed”. The secretary of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Mr J. A. Kyd, said this afternoon that, until nearly all the competitors finish, it will be impossible to tell the winner. The favourite is now the Peer Gynt. A flying boat bound for Lord Howe Island' sighted an unidentified competitor at 11.39 a.m., about 170 miles from Sydney. SANDERS CUP P.A. DUNEDIN, Feb. 3 The first two Sander’s Cup races were decided as follows: —First race: Nancy (Otago) sailed by C. J. Pettit 1; Irene (Southland), H. G. Budd 2; Fantasy (Wellington), P. W. Millar 3; Davina (North Auckland), R. Wilkinson 4. The race was sailed in a stiff north-noi;th-east breeze over a windward and leeward course. Otago won by 2min 27sec. North Auckland’s Davina (R. Wilkinson) was the only other boat of eight starters to finish. She was 13min 7sec behind Wellington. Auckland’s Bettina, sailed by S. A. Mason and his three brothers, was holding a lead of more than a minute from Otago when she was caught by a puff and capsized, to leave Otago in an excellent position well ahead of Southland and Wellington. Canterbury’s Ariki (K. Read) was dismasted by a similar puff when completing the first round, and South Canterbury’s Gallina (H. H. Kingham), which'was well behind at the end of the first round withdrew. Gallina carried a reef in her mainsail, which caused her to lose much ground on the beats, and she dropped steadily astern of the fleet. Before she withdrew Stewart Island’s Betty (G. Bragg) tailed the other four boats remaining In the second round, and withdrew on the run down to start the final round. SECOND RACE The second race was sailed to-day. At the beginning of the third round. Wellington was leading by 35 seconds from South Canterbury, having maintained that position from the start. Fifteen minutes later, South Canterbury overhauled Wellington, and the two boats ran together for Castle Beacon. The race started at 10.40 a.m. over a triagular course in light and variable southerly wind and a misty drizzle. It was expected that it would finish within the three hour time limit. Auckland and Wellington pased Otago. South Canterbury maintained the lead by good sailing on the last round to win by a comfortable margin. Auckland was second, Wellington third and Otago fourth. ,