CORNWELL CUP CONTEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 255, 18 January 1928, Page 13

CORNWELL CUP CONTEST

FOURTH RACE DECIDED great excitement Otago won the th ot the Cornwell Cup conafternoon by defeating Auckland by only five seconds The Dunedin boys have now finished first in consecutive races, but as they were disqualified in the third race held on Monday they have yet to win again to carry off the trophy. The first race of the series was sailed on Saturday, when Whangare* were vicj torious. The second went to Otago and the third to Hawke’s Bay, who actually ; finished second but were fouled by the Otago crew. A steady east-nor’east breeze prevailed out in the harbour, but in Shoal Bayunder the lee shore of Bayswater. there was very little wind. v INTERESTING RACE The course was as follows:—Prom starting line, off clubhouse to Northcote mark, thence back between clubhouse and mark buov, thence round mark ouoy and Shoal Bay; thence back between clubhouse and mark buoy; thence to Northcote mark; thence back to clubhouse mark; thence round mhrk in bay head and finish off clubhoqse. An excellent start was witnessed at 1.50 p.m., the order of crossing the line being Manukau, Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Whangarei, Auckland, Otago, Wellington and Tauranga. On the run to the Northcote mark Auckland went into the lead from Manukau and Whangarei. Nearing the turning point Auckland still showed the way with Manukau cllose at hand. Otago held third position, and the others were all clustered nearby . Rounding the mark the positions were: Auckland, Manukau, Canterbury, Otago, Wellington, Whangarei, Hawke’s Bay and Tauranga. All were within 82 seconds. On the beat back to the clubhouse Auckland threw round on the port tack to take advantage of the incoming tide, and established a good lead. The others stood in closer to Northcote. Tauranga held the second place and Manukau third. Otago gained well and led Auckland on the port tack, but the local boys went ahead on throwing over. A very interesting race developed at tnis stage, and the leaders set their course for the clubhouse mark. On breaking tacks. Otago cleverly put Auckland under their lee, and by strategy bea't Auckland round by five seconds. y i^ n Lerbury and 'Wellington fluked round third and fourth respectively. Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay and Manukau followed in that order. . On completion of the first round, nlacings and times were:— . , , , Hrs Min. Sec. Auckland ....... *> eg 30 Canterbury " '2 2t> 42 Otago 2 »6 5° Wellington g 28 23 Whangarei .... 2 29 7 Tauranga 2 20 3 Hawke’s Bay 2 36 59 Manukau 2 32 30 Auckland hkld the lead to the Bay head mark, and rounded it 12sec ahead of Canterbury, who in turn was lOsec in front of Otago. The others came round as follow;—Wellington, Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay and Manukau. On reaching the clubhouse the last-named advised having hit the mark and retired. On the run to the Northcote mark the positions were about the same except that Canterbury gained a little on Auckland. Beating back for the clubhouse buoy the leaders put in a series of short boards and Otago finally headed Auckland. Coming up strongly Canterbury also left Auckland slightly astern. The order passing the clubhouse on the close haul to the Bay head mark was Otago, Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, Whangarei, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga. AN EXCITING FINISH Auckland took the place of Canterbury near the Bay head buoy. Hounding the mark for the short lead home the positions were:—Otago, followed after 35sec by Auckland with Canterbury 15sec away. The Canterbury boys attempted to set their spinnaker and in doing so almost capsized. The last couple of hundred yards to the finishing line was most exciting. Otago was leading Auckland by several lengths, but slowly the local boys decreased the deficiency and the race was anybody’s almost to within 30 yards of the line. In order to make the line Otago crew had to put in a short hitch and just managed to save the situation by getting the nose of their boat over ssec before the Auckland team crossed the line. Result:— Otago, 3h 4m 55s 1 Auckland, 3h 5m 0s 2 Canterbury, 3h 5m 17s 3 Also finished: —Wellington, 3h 7m 50s“ Whangarei, 3h 9m 2s; Hawke’s Bay, 3h 12m 15s; Tauranga, 3h 14m 12s. Crews and boats for the fourth race were; —otago, Lai Lai; Hawke’s Bay, Kitty; Wellington, Delphine; Manukau, Arihana; Auckland, Trevic; Canterbury, Tio; Whangarei, Comet; Tauranga, Frolic. The fifth race started this afternoon.