YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1928, Page 15

YACHTING.

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

AVALON LEAVES TO-DAY. THE AUCKLAND CREW CHOSEN. FIRST RACE ON FEBRUARY 17. At a meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, held last evening, Mr. J. B. Johnston presiding, arrangements were finalised for sending the 14-footer Avalon and her crew to the forthcoming contest at,Stewart Island. The chairman explained that while the selectors had chosen Avalon to represent Auckland, the personnel of her crew was not decided. It was usual to give the skipper of the boat an opportunity of nominating his crew. Mr. J. Patrick, Avalon's skipper, and Mr. F. C'loke, her owner and mainslieet hand. had suggested Messrs. E. Matthews and H. Brown as the other two members of their crew. Both had taken part in previous contests as members of Rona's crew, and were able to make the trip South.

Mr. O. MolJer said he would like to see one of tlie Cornwell Cup boys in Avalon's crew. This had been done in Lyttelton last year.

, Mr. W. J. Matthews also expressed the opinion that someone should be sent who had not been before.

Mr. W. A. Wilkinson said the best crew possible should be sent if we hoped to beat Betty. The crew suggested was a good combination from Avalon and llona, including heavy and lighter weights, and would work well together.

The chairman concurred in the view that the best possible crew should be sent, and he thought the men suggested would worthily uphold the prestige of the port. After further discussion the above crew was agreed to.

Avalon will leave this evening by train for Wellington. She will then be transhipped to Lyttelton and continue her journey by rail to the Bluff, where sbe will make the last stage by the Bluff Harbour Board's steamer to Stewart Island. The crew will leave on Sunday night.

The first race of the 1928 contest will be sailed at Paterson's Inlet, on Friday. February 17, and the contest will be continued daily until one boat wins three races.

This year there are five boats competing. The new Rona type boat, Wellesley 11., will represent Wellington. Betty is already at Stewart Island as representative of Canterbury, Otago has a new boat in Eileen, which is also at Stewart Island, wlulo Murihiku 11. will be Southland's representative.

The committee of the Stewart Island Yaclit Club, under the able guidance of the Commodore, Mr. Arthur Moffett, has made complete arrangements for the visiting crews. The club takes delivery of the contesting boats on arrival at the Bluff, and attends to their shipment to the Island. A big room has been set apart for the use of visiting yachtsmen, and separate sheds and sli|« built for the boats at Half Moon Bay. The Bluff Harbour Board will run a daily service to the Island during the contest.

VICTORIA CRUISING CLUB,

CUP DAY ON SATURDAY

The Victoria Cruising Club will hold three geueral handicaps for all their classes next Saturday. The 11. L. and N. Class will raeo for the Casey Cup, the M. V. and S. for the Rae Cup, and the 14-footers for the Boonstra Memorial Cup. A race will also be held for launches. Entries close this evening at the usual place.