SANDERS CUP CONTEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 14

SANDERS CUP CONTEST

KEEN RACING ASSURED With ail the visiting crews as keen )>* only yachtsmen know how to be »nd their boats in perfect nick the Bandera Cup series, the first race of which will probably be completed by the time this column is read, should provide some tine racing this week. The visitors have received a warm welcome from all yachtsmen and no effort will oe spared to make their utay outstandingly enjoyable. Judging by the sentiments expressed at the civic reception yesterday the teams will meet in a spirit of true yachting sportsmanship. The Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, summed up the meaning of the contest when he said “May the best boat and the best crew win.” For the good of the contest it would be pleasing to see the cup go South again this time. Nothing would give more pleasure to Waltemata yachtsman than that the Wellington challenger, Clyde, should capture the trophy at the end of the week. Clyde 13 a good boat with a crew that knows its business. it speaks volumes for the sportsmanship of Wellington yachtsmen that although the province has not yet won the cup it has consistently challenged and sent crews and boat** all over the country. Auckland’s team consisting of Joe Patrick (skipper), Frank Cloke loaner), A. Willetts, H. Brown. K. Matthews and D. Rogers, will fight all they know' to retain the cup and they are a formidable combination. But if •either of the other three contestants takes away the prize—well. Auckland [Will be first to congratulate the winner. From discussion at the first ussemoly (pf the Dominion Yachting Conferenc®. yesterday it can be seen that frank opinions are going to be expressed before the delegates return home. It was something of a victory for the Southern delegates that the thorny Pule C. ‘No boat shall be interfered with,” has been deleted by six votes •to two, and right in the lions’ den, too! JThe Auckland delegates were the only voters for retention of the rule, which seems to have been a little unpopular down South! As far as Auckland is concerned the only thing to do is to grin and bear it and, as the chairman of the conference, Mr. C. H. T. I’almer, remarked with wistful humour, “We can only await developments” This column is not going to grieve over the passing of as contentious a clause as over worried the intelligence of yachting lawyers, boating scribes and jaquatic politicians. There are some difficult questions to be discussed before the contest concludes. If the remits are discussed quietly, yet explored thoroughly, there no reason why the contest should not be placed on a better footing fpr future years. OUT OF THE LOCKER The E class keeler May Belle spent the week-end at Matiatia, where she cleaned and painted in readiness for lu-morrow’s race. • • • Alexa, C class keeler, and the mullet£»oat Doreen were at Matiatia cleaning over the week-end. * V • Tomorow evening the delegates to £he Yachting Conference and the c rews of the Sanders Cup boats are to be the guests of the Akarana Yacht c lub at a dance to be held in the club- > ouse. Mechanics Bay, at 8 p.m. A free ,bus leaves Endean’s Buildings. The launch Kenya spent the weekend at Mellon Bay. * * * The keeler Rover and the launches t'j>. price and Waitui 11. visited Matiatia fet the week-end. ♦ * • The final selection of skipper for the Manukau Yacht Club’s crew for the •Cornwell Cup was made gn Thursday evening, when Messrs. Young, Barber find Belcher, selectors, tried out Grant and Andrews in a further series of tests. R. Grant, in Tuatea, won the first race by 50s, and in Norw'ilson won the second race by 535. He was nominated as skipper and further tests will be held to select & for’d hand. Grant and Andrews manned Tuatea in the Takapuna Boating Club’s race last Saturday, and with characteristic keenness spent the week-end familiarising themselves with the Auckland Regatta c-ourse in readiness for the racing on Anniversary Day. • * * The Manukau Yacht Club dropped racing last Saturday in anticipation of the annual excursion tendered donors of prizes and vice-presidents. The launches, Norma, Karma, Katui and Rainbow took away full complements 10 the fishing grounds and all boats reported a successful day’s fishing. More than 800 fish were secured by 11 ose on the four launches. Fish are plentiful just now on the Manukau. and on Saturday afternoon practically everything that could float was pressed into service by angling enthusiasts. Every beach to Cornwallis was littered with dinghies. «* • * The Manukau Yacht Club holds a harbour race this week-end. A number of bigger boats are being £ot ready for the usual February cruise. Raira and Rahuti, launches, and Ilox ure among them. • m m Mr. Vic Lidgard will be at the tiller <nf Rona in the 14-footer race for the Ross Cup tomorrow. Since he disposed of his well-known yacht Marie Mr. Lidgard has temporarily taken up •cruising and has secured a boat with 1 6 horse-power in her. During the holidays he has been on extended visits to the various islands in the Gulf. The management of the outboard laces at Panmure Basin last Saturday was much better than at the previous meeting. In fact the racing was better, the weather was better, and the whole meeting was successful. However, alteration is required in one particular if the spectators are to be fully catered for. That is a limitation on the number of boats in one race. With 10 or 1- boats in one event as on Saturday one boat laps another, and even the judges have a difficult time in deciding which is dong what lap. At the conclusion of the last race the officials had quite an argument about the placing*, as some said that one boat had gone before her handicap time, while others differed. If the open handicap races were run in heats and final, and the double class event cut out* the programme W'ouid be much more attractive ______