SANDERS CUP GOES SOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 885, 31 January 1930, Page 1

SANDERS CUP GOES SOUTH

Exciting Final Contest AVALON’S GREAT CHALLENGE EILEEN, the Otago boat, had her third victory in the Sanders Cup contest this morning and wins the Cup. Avalon (Auckland), the defender, was only 29see behind Eileen, having made up considerable leeway during the second and third rounds.

The course was a triangular one from King’s Wharf thence round the Resolution mark in Judge’s Bay, thence across the harbour to the Sandspit beacon, thence back to the starting line, three I times round, a distance of approxi- i mately 12 miles. A light south-west j wind was blowing for the start, which j had been set down for 10 o’clock. All boats carried a crew of four, except Otago, which took a chance in a freshening breeze with three men | only. When the gun fired at 10.31 a.m. I Avalon got a flying get-away, with I Clyde hard at heel. Colleen was third and Otago last. All boats crossed within ten seconds. Before a breeze which now had some weight, Auckland planed ahead with Otago now two yards astern. Wellington lay third, with Colleen last. A great tussle was being staged between Avalon and Eileen. When spinnakers were taken in again, Auckland had gained three seconds. The other boats continued on, strung out astern. Under leading jibs the boats made good time to the Resolution buoy, spaced equally about sC»yds apart, Avalon leading. At 10.40 Avalon rounded the Resolution buov with Eileen 10.40.20, Clyde 10.40.2*6, and Colleen 10.40.04. Spinnakers were again set for the run to the Sandspit. Or. the trip across the relative placings were unaltered, although Wellington edged up a little on Otago. The times at the Sandspit were: Avalon, 10.49.20; Clyde, 10.49.37: Eileen, 10.49.41; and Colleen. 10.49.45. AVALON FIRST ON PORT TACK Clyde, which had caught Eileen, pipped the Otago boat at the mark to take second place. Colleen still lagged. The boats then stood on a long starboard tack toward Orukei Point. Avalon was holding the best position, with Clyde abreast, but well to leeward. Eileen was second boat. Avalon was first to show around on a port tack followed shortly by Eileen and Colleen. Clyde was badly broken off her course through inability to clear a moored steamer and it now seemed that her only hope lay in a fluke. A couple of minutes later it was seen that Clyde’s apparent bad luck had been a stroke of fortune, for when Avalon’s and Clyde’s courses converged the Wellington boat was actually to windward. The pair then set off on a port tack, with Clyde leading Avalon, and sailing a trifle faster. As the contestants neared the eastern tide deflector the race became very interesting. Otago and Canterbury employing different tactics had worked into first and second places respectively. Clyde was a quarter of a mile astern and Avalon nearby, but last. Avalon’s skipper had apparently put in one unnecessary board, a trick which Kellett and Collins judged to be unwarranted. In Mechanics’ Bay all the boats had to put in a short board to lay the mark. Wellington strategically took Colleen’s place, and an opportune puff allowed Avalon to pull up fast into third place. Rounding the "mark, Avalon took Clyde’s place. The times at the end of the first round were: Eileen, 11.26.10; Avalon. 11.2C.55: Clyde. 11.27.10: and Colleen, 11.27.20. At the beginning of the second round the wind was patchy. The crews set leaders again from the tide deflectors. The times at the Resolution buoy were

Eileen 11. '6.45. Avalon 11.35.10, Colleen 11.38.20. and Clyde 11.35.25. The wind being very light for the run t*-> the sandspit, Eileen's lighter crew of three was of material advantage. As time progressed, Otago seemed to be getting a firmer grip on the Sarders Cup. Avalon as yet had had no chance to score off her Southern opponents. Fates were kind to Eileen, for when she set off on the first board of the beat again the breeze began to come more strongly. Times at the sandspit were: Eileen, 11.46.40; Avalon, 11.48.20; Clyde, 11.48.25; and Co lee a, ' 11.45.30. Having succeeded with her first; round fluke, Clyde attempted the same thing again. After a series of short tacka Eileen, Avalon, and Colleen found themselves racing an the port tack. Otago still held her advantage, with Avalon astern and to leeward. Colleen was in her wake, and Wellington a bad last. Otago was saiiing wonderfully on the wind. Wellington was bringing up the rear with a considerable deficit to work off GOING LIKE A WITCH Eileen was going like a witch ano drew away from Auckland. Rountree, in Clyde, was tramping along in a determined bid. Times at the end of the: second round were:—Eileen, 12.22.5: Avalon. 12.23.10; Colleen, 12.21.45; and Clyde, 12.26.40. Tlio lead back to the Resolution mark and the run across to the Sandspit saw a procession with the squadron separated in wide gaps. Kellett was going triumphantly and saints! another 45sec on Avalon in the journey to the Sandspit. Eileen’s lead now figured lmin SUs< c. Colleen and Clyde were done. Patrick had only one hope, .and that was to gamble for a fluke, which lie essayed by standing toward North Head for a long tack when Eileen was engaged in repeating her former successful manoeuvre by striking deep Into Hobson Bay. All eyes were on Eileen and Avalon, Wellington and Canterbury being irretrievably' lost. Excitement ran high when the crowd watching from many points saw Avalon meet Eileen off Point Resolution. Patrick had cut a lump off his time arrears and engaged Kellett board for board; it was a great struggle, each skipper seeking to weather the other. Eileen kept a short:, ad vantage, s.nd, at the tide deflector, put Avalon about Finishing times were: Eileen, lhr 29min 2lsec. Avalon, 3 hr 20min 56sec. Col leer, lhr 24min 32sec. Clyde, lhr 25min 59sec. PREVIOUS WINNERS The following is a record of the races sailed for the cup s nee their inception 10 years ago: Year. Boat. Pro vince. Where held 1921 Heather Otago Auckland 1922 Hebert Gold Auckland Dunedin 3923 Jtotia Auckland Auckland i 192 i Ilona Auckland Wellington i 1925 lona Otago Auckland 1 1926 Bel ly Cs.nterburj Dun eel r; i 1927 Bettj- Canterbury Lyttelton 1928 Betty Canterburj Stewart is ' 1529 Avalon Auckland Akaroa Yesterday afternoon's race is described on page 11.