BIG YACHT RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1068, 4 September 1930, Page 7

BIG YACHT RACE

AUSTRALIA’S CHALLENGE TO NEW ZEALAND COMPETITIVE CUP GIVEN According to private advice from Melbourne, arrangements are being ! pushed for the proposed ocean yacht race from Australia to New Zealand. Yachtsmen for the most part had been sceptical, yet a representative meeting of Australian boating men held on August 19, put the race on a definite basis and decided that, if practicable, the contest he an annual event. A Mr. Gray, well known in Commonwealth yachting circles, lias presented a trophy to be called the Tasman Sea Cup for perpetual competition. A Melbourne message stated yesterday, that it had been agreed finally that the race should start from Queenscliffe, Port Philip, on Boxing Day, and finish at Nelson, a distance of about 1,500 miles. Great interest was aroused at the Melbourne meeting in the challenge issued by Mr. Arthur Francis Stacey, of Christchurch, who had decided to enter for the race. Dr. F. J. Bennell, the owner-commander of the yacht Oimara, is the Victorian competitor. In a cable message Mr. Stacey said that the race would do an immense amount of good in New Zealand in i encouraging young men to take, up this sport, which was one of national importance. Tlie New Zealand y audit had not j’et been chosen, but when this had been done it would sail across the Tasman from Lyttelton to Melbourne in time for the race. The contest would help to cement the sporting spirit between Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Bennell said that even if no further challenges were received, ne

would himself race Mr. Stacey across the Tasman for the cup. If New Zealand should win it, he i added, they -would have to go to New Zealand the following year, as the race would then he from New Zealand to Australia. INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE A proposal to call the race the Tasman Sea Race was negatived on the grounds that some people might think that the lace -was from Australia to Tasmania. It was agreed to call the race the Australia-New Zealand Ocean Race. The opinion was expressed by yachtsmen that the race would develop into one of international importance, and would giv> both Australia and New Zealand n uch helpful publicity. Although details of the race -were left to a sub-committee, it was considered that the yachts should carry enough provisions for 30 days. Enough water would have to be carried 1o allow each member of the crew half a gallon for each day of the race. A general committee composed of representatives of various yacht clubs was formed, as -well as a sub-commit-tee to prepare regulations and sailing conditions, and to appoint a handicap per. Apparently Dr. Bennell has been negotiating privately with Mr. Stacey, l or with South Island yachtsmen, beI cause yachtsmen in Auckland have heard nothing official about the race. No correspondence whatever has come to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the senior club in Auckland, or to the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association, the controlling authority of the sport in this City. A Melbourne yachtsman who passed through Auckland on August 25 by the Aorangi told Auckland aquaticmen that Melbourne yacht clubs had virtually frowned upon the idea of Dr. Bennell’s race because the doctor had challenged New Zealand on his own initiative, without consulting them. When he found that the challenge was taken up and his hopes of a race were materialising. Dr. Bennell is then said to have sought the sympathy and assistance of the var-

ious yacht clubs, who, however, turned him down. This information now appears to be offset by the advice The Sun has received today from Melbourne of the meeting in furtherance of the transtasman race. It is likely, even probable, that the meeting referred to was an unofficial assembly of yachtsmen and others enthusiastic to promote the race, yet not officially representing the clubs against which their names are set.