FIRST CORNWELL RACE WON BY AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 567, 21 January 1929, Page 6

FIRST CORNWELL RACE WON BY AUCKLAND

WELLINGTON’S GOOD FIGHT OTHER CREWS OUTSAILED (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. Handling their little boat in a manner which would have done credit to many experienced yachtsmen in Lyttelton, two Auckland boys, D. Rogers and (i. Carter, won the first race in the fifth Cornwell Cup contest, which was sailed on the Lyttelton Harbour on Saturday. From the starting gun until half th* course was completed the Aucklander, looked certain winners, but on the last time round the course a keen but unsuccessful bid was made by the Wellington crew, N. McKenzie and H. Stutter. However, Rogers and his partner were too good, and by heady salline gained victory by the narrow margin of 23 seconds. The course was a windward and leeward one, sailed three times round. A short course, was picked so as v< allow the spectators a good view o: the race from the shore. This was a good idea, and the large crowd that visited Lyttelton to see th* race never lost sight of the boat?, which were easily distinguishable bj the letters on their sails. The wind, which was coming awto from the north-east, was light in earlier part of the day, but just before the start of the race it freshened and blew fairly steady throughout. Rogers was in an excellent po*itK , n for the start, and although he crowed the line only a second or two befor c the other boats, he soon increased n - lead, and it was thought then tna the race would resolve itself into - 1 fight for second place. At the end the second round the Aucklanders* held their advantage and looked unbeatable. However, on the beat UP _ the mark, for the third time, McK. ; zie made his effort, and front in*stage on had the Aucklanders thmKOn the final beat the Wellington b' simply outsailed his Auckland rib - and when only a short distance the turning buoy secured the winaw position, only to lose it £t^ in clever piece of bluff by the y - Auckland skipper at the mark, ** ever, McKenize was by no beaten, and on the run a IIt) Auckland boat. In the short beaxw to the finish Auckland kept the and although McKenzie made a nj . fight, changing tack for tack with Northerner, he could not gain . weather place. The race was in- - to the gun. The Auckland cr received a great ovation. The other competitors hung w,/, all the way and made an inter The third place was won by Ly«f; ton. It was expected that the to ton skipper. F. Forman, would put a much better showing, but he - , match for the skippers from Awe* and Wellington. It was in spin . work that Lyttelton shone, ana J. ' . lace, forward hand, was easily tn on the day. Auckland did not impr in this department.