Getting Out Of It

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 567, 21 January 1929, Page 11

Getting Out Of It

Mr. Macindoe Is “Fed Up”

SANDERS CUP TRIALS ASSAILED

IAM fed up with the Sanders Cup trials, and I am getting; out of the whole tiling while matters continue in thi« farcical state. It seems to me the selectors had made up their minds that Avalon was to represent Auckland at this year’s contest, even before the commencement of the trials. It is a loss of prestige to me to remain associated with men who are managing the sport in this unsatisfactory manner.'

VVT ITH these words, spoken to The Sun on Saturday, Mr. C. G. Macindoe, owner of the Jellicoe class boats Val and Rona, which took part in the recent test races for the selection of Auckland’s contender at Akaroa next month, expressed his disappointment and disgust with the conduct of the three trial races held during the last six days. “Nobody is more keenly concerned with the promotion of the contests than I,” Mr. Macindoe said. Yet 1 build a new boat with the hope of regaining the cup for Auckland and the craft is not given a fair chance to prove her worth. I am absolutely convinced that Val, if adequately tried out, in all winds, would show superiority over the selected boat.’’ Mr. Macindoe was definite that in discussing tho trials with him about a fortnight before Christmas, the selection committee had expressed its intention to sail five races, not three, as it had informed the public. That was why it wished to begin the series before Christmas. Val’s new sails not having arrived from England when the first test was arranged, it was agreed that the trial be postponed a week, said Mr. Macindoe. But although both Val and

I Rona turned out, as requested by the committee, on two subsequent occasions, Avalon did not put in an appearance.

“If I had liked to force the issue I could have claimed two wins by d«I fault for my boats,” Mr. Macindoe dei Glared. “But 1 regarded such an action as unsportsmanlike.” | Commenting on the tests actually i sailed, he expressed tho view that the second should have been declared “off.’* or, if called a trial, should have been awarded to Rona. which, he considered, gave the best performance. Moreover, had Rona been equipped with a. suitable set of sails, Mr. Macindoe bej lieved she would have defeated Avalon. ( in at least one of the three tests. He said there was no doubt the public was thoroughly Incensed over the whole business. How could I yachtsmen expect outside support if this sort of bungling was permitted? The only solution he could see was ! control of the contest by a committee of business men, who would establish a fund for financing competing boats and insuring crews again loss of wages while absent from their work. Mr. Macindoe was out against the proposed restricting of crews’ ages to 21 and under, being of opinion that the contest was too important to be regarded, as a training school far* boys.