Betty’s Second Win

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 11

Betty’s Second Win

SANDERS CUP RACES Otago’s Splendid Showing (THE SUN’S Special Representative) HALFMOON BAY, Saturday WITH two races over and Betty the victor in both, it seems »» probable that the Sanders Cup contest will be a short one, as on performances yesterday and to-day the Canterbury boat is certain to win one of the next two races.

DAY’S race was a great deal more A interesting than that of yesterday, the light wind giving Eileen, Avalon, and Murihiku a chance to show what they could do in light weather. Kellett, Eileen’s skipper, would have been better pleased with a little more wind than there was. but under the circumstances he and the boat made a splendid showing indeed. A CLOSE CONTEST

There was never more than a minute between the Otago boat and Betty all the way, and coming up to Price's buoy for the run home in the second round Kellett looked as though he was going to beat Betty round the mark. It was an exciting moment, and there was a murmur of disappointment among the onlookers when Eileen just failed to make the buoy, and had to take a short tack, while Betty rounded safely and squared away. Had the Otago boat not missed the mark, those few seconds might have made all the dilTerenoe to the result, for on the run down to the finishing line Eileen was very close up, and it was only a draw of wind down from the land that enabled Betty to increase

her lead td 40 seconds at the finish. AVALON DISAPPOINTS If Monday is again a light day, Eileen may yet keep Betty from having things entirely her own way. Avalon was decidedly disappointing, and r

on her past performances should have made a much better showing. Patrick is on the heavy side for light weather work, and she had a trifle too much weight to-day.

On rounding the TJlva buoy on each occasion Patrick changed tack at once, and made back to the north shore, but he would have done better had he held on a little longer toward the south-west, as did Kellett and Andrews. Patrick was trying to dodge what little choppy stuff there was, but the slight advantage thus gained (if any) was offset by his disposal of weight on the weather side. which kept the boat pounding with both shoulders. Murihiku H. did quite well, skippered by Tom Bragg, to whom Carol Hansen relinquished his place for the sake of lightness. Murihiku led Avalon all the way until the Price buoy was reached on the second round, and would have beaten her but for dela3 r with her spinnaker in the first round, and the loss of several seconds. WELLESLEY A FAILURE Wellesley has been frankly a failure so far. but whether her builder. J. B. L. Jukes, or her skipper, B. White, is to blame is uncertain. Opinions differ on the subject, but at least Jukes has a good reputation as a builder. Wellesley makes a good deal cf water, as her enamel has cracked badly with the working of the planking.