NO RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 284, 21 February 1928, Page 13

NO RACE

SANDERS CUP CONTEST TIME-LIMIT EXPIRES EILEEN AND AVALON IN THE VAN (SUN'S Special Reporter.) HALFMOON BAY, Monday. Flat calms, alternating with the lightest of breezes, were responsible for the washing out of the third Sanders Cup race on Paterson’s Inlet to-day, at a time when it appeared that Betty would be beaten and that the issue would lie between Avalon, the Auckland boat, and Eileen, Otago’s representative. Owing to the dearth, of wind the boats were only three parts of the way round the course when the time limit of three hours expired, and the race was abandoned, the boats being eventually towed home by launches in pouring rain.

The course was a windward and leeward one, from the buoy off Golden Bay to a buoy just south of Price’s Point, which, in turn, is threequarters of a mile due south of Kaipipi Point, the boats going twice round, and finishing at the startling line. A FLAT CALM Soon after the start there was a flat calm, the waters of the inlet being barely rippled. A few drops of rain fell from a leaden sky. The accompanying steamers and launches had to go dead slow, so as not to get ahead of the 14-footers. Betty first rounded Price’s Buoy, and stood away on the beat back to the starting line. Eileen was next, several seconds ahead of Avalon, then Murihiku, and Wellesley last. All the boats were equally spaced, with a few seconds between them. The times at the buoy were: Betty 2h 4m 30s Eileen 2h 5m 7s Avalon 2h 5m 25s Murihiku 2h 5m 38s Wellesley 2h 6m 18s BREEZE FRESHENS Fortunately the breeze now freshened a little, and the boats were a great sight as they stood away closehauled on the starboard tack in what navy men would call line ahead, with leading jibs. For a while it was a procession, and then Murihiku pulled out of the line to leeward, and closed up a little. Avalon was the third boat. Betty had increased her lead again, and was well ahead of Eileen. Murihiku now went about and made quite a long tack to the southward across the inlet, at right angles to the course of the rest of the fleet, with the idea of getting a better lead up to the buoy at Golden Bay. Betty followed suit in a few minutes, and so did Wellesley and Eileen. Avalon carrying on alone on the old course for some time before Patrick decided to emulate his rivals. Betty made only a short tack, and was still ahead of Avalon when she came about. Presently all were again on the starboard tack on the lead to Golden Bay, and it was evident that Bragg had made his tack too early, for Murihiku and Wellesley were now* far astern of the other three boats. Betty made another short board, and so did Murihiku, which still a long way astern of Avalon, held on well inshore before going about, Eileen following her example. BETTY THIRD ROUND BUOY

Betty had lost ground by her last tack, and the wisdom of Patrick’s manoeuvre was apparent when, amid cheers, Avalon rounded the mark in two more short tacks. Eileen, which had closely followed Avalon, was next to round the buoy, and spread her spinnaker, while Betty was still tacking up. Thus, the Canterbury boat was beaten round a buoy for the first time in this year’s contest, and was beaten by two boats. Wellesley was fourth, and Murihiku last. The times were: Avalon 2h 4Sm 6s Eileen 2h 48m 50s Betty 2h 51m 15s Wellesley 2h 55m 14s Murihiku 2h 57m Os

Eileen got a strong puff off the land and drew level with Avalon. After 20 minutes of flat calm the water darkened to a light breeze from a little south of east. Avalon was the first to get it, and drew away from Eileen, but it was a deceptive zephyr, and faded away again. Wellesley and Murihiku slowly crept up on Betty. After another period of calm Eileen passed Avalon so close that she had to be fended off, while Avalon remained motionless until several seconds afterwards, so flukey was the wind.

Wellesley, the closest inshore, passed Betty. AUCKLAND LEADS

The Auckland boat rounded Price’s buoy a second ahead of Eileen. Wellesley had got well ahead of Betty, and was third round the buoy amid cheers. The times were: Avalon - 3h 55m 29s Eileen . . 3h 55m 42s Wellesley .. .. .. .. 3h 58m 26s Betty 3h 59m 59s Murihiku 4h lm 19s

It was later seen that Patrick and Kellett had made the wisest choice in heading far south, but soon the breeze died right out, and rain began to fall steadily. The time limit was now up, and the accompanying vessels sped for home, launches taking the 14-footers in tow. It was an unfortunate end to what had promised to be a good race, and it was quite indecisive.