YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 14

YACHTING.

THE SANDERS CUP. HEW PROPOSALS TURNED DOWN. REPLY TO SOUTHERN CRITICS. THE SPEEDY OUT BOARDS. (By SPEEDWELL.) Tim proposals submitted by Mr. Hislop to centres interested in the Sanders Cup content were again discussed by the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association this week. It was thought that the time was opportune to go into the matter of future contests as owners and otuers interested may want to build during the winter, and the sooner any question of departure from the present conditions was settled the better for the class. While the resolutions decided on by Ihe association only rank as recommendations to the Dominion Conference, held prior to the contest for 1029, it possible that if they arc discussed and agreed to by all the associations concerned thoy could be made effective for tn.it contest. The fact that Auckland bin turned the new proposals down eo decisively does not altogether exclude them from the possibility*of being carried into effect, although from the opinions already expressed by southern men familiar with the present conditions, there seems to be little chance of such a drastic change being mode. One of the four resolutions carried by the Auckland association concerned the question of a minimum weight for future boats. This is a decided step ahead and oiio which has already been discussed by tho Otago association. When discussing the plans and specifications of the Rona type with "Speedwell" last year, Mr. George Andrews, owner of Betty, expressed his belief that they were very complete. The only point on which they were not definite was that of weight. He took advantage —in a perfectly legitimate manner—of thi* omission by getting second-class timber and drying it thoroughly and thus was able to make Betty from 401b to 601b lighter. If the proposed minimum weight is adopted, this loophole will bo blocked, and where the present plan* are built to with an honest endeavour to make the boat comply, they should have little fe.ir of the boat passing the ineasu.es. Another good point made by the resolutions carried on Tuesday was the determination to have all boats, both old and new, competing in future measured by the official measurers appointed by the conference. The present rules provide for this, but they have not been enforced. This would jionsibly be hard on a competing boat which might ' a\e been sent to the appointed place, only to find that she did not comply with the measurements, but it would be better for the contests generally to find this out prior to racing, than have it bandied about later that such a boat did not comply with the plans. The proposals bearing on the matter of minimum weight and the strict measurement by the Dominion measurers of each competitor will be sure to rccoive careful consideration by tile other centres and only good can cotno of their adoption. The proposals were as follow:— .(1) That the adaption of the tugged tad proposals would prejudice the class as it would ibi scour ago the building of boats, the incentive of the chance of selection as representative boat being absent.

(!i) Tliat It would exclude all existing boats and thus be unfair to the present boat* which in all respects had fully complied with the plans and specifications for the class.

(3) That in future contests all boat* should be measured by Dominion measurers appointed by the conference, and any boat which does not comply with the plane and specifications should be disqualified from taking part. (4) That it is desirable that • minimum weight for each boat be adopted. It was decided to send the above resolutions on to the various southern associations for their opinion. Reply to Southern Criticism.

The criticism of Mr, J. Hislop's proposal for the conduct of future Sanders Cup contests made by Mr, C. J. Treleaven, of Christchurch, which appeared in this column last Friday, has brought the following answer from Mr. Hislop, who writes: "I have read with great interest the criticism of Mr. C. J. TrelraVen, secretary of the Christchurch Yacht ami Hailing Club, in your columns of Friday last, in which Mr, Treleaven sets out to criticise my proposals, to which you gave publicity on May 4, I waleoinc this criticism, for at least it I brings to tho surface the opinions of others and gives one an opportunity of removing misunderstandings. "I am sorry that when interviewed by the Christrliurch 'Press,' Mr. Trcleaven did not get the opinion of his great friend, Mr. (}. (J. Andrews, the skipper, designer anil builder of the Betty. The proposals set out by ine were discussed with Mr, Andrews whilst at Stewart Island, and Mr. Andrews seconded the resolution bearing upon the matter nt the conference, and also supported it. 1 know that Mr. Treleaven would pay a great deal of attention to what Mr. Andrews would say uj»on a matter of this sort, and had he discussed it with him, I feel sure the criticism would not have Appeared. "The first disagreement Mr. Treleaven has with my proposal is that the contest should,: not be one of respective skippers. I would point out that the Sanders Memorial Cup contest was established some nine years ago with two object*) in v. ;Viv« Firstly as a memorial to Lieut.-Commander Sanders, V.C., and secondly us tiie Australasian championship in one-design* 14ft boats. It wa* laid'down most emphatically that there was no intention to' pefrnit the boat builders' skill to enter into the content at all, but it' waa a contest to bring forth skill in seamanship. This, of course, implies not a contest of skippers ulo*«, but of the crew of the boat as

"'J'Jm reason given for the opposition i» tlmi Mr, Treleaven fttate* it is Irapossible for any one builder to build ft mutter ,)i to attain the object M la %w, WJ.il, thi» umy be * very tiling to <lo in a keeler or in £ ««rfo)U Mroa4 boat, it is, quite a when it* coined down to £s®* *"> "Mpportefl in my 'MS Lk'?**'* Mw*esfc builder* 'a Anvnll jpw & Ji po«»ibla in

in measurement, weight and design, that it there was a difference, it would be so infinitesimal that it would never be taken into consideration in racing. "So far as the mainsail becoming stretched is concerned, there is no fault to liind with the mainsail of to-day. If it becomes baggy and will not get the best out of the boat, then you are at perfect liberty to buy a new one, provided you do not have anything above 150 square feet of canvas as set out in the present regulations. "Regarding the weight of the boats. It is quite an easy matter to make the boats all alike, or as nearly alike that a pound or so would not make any difference in the race.

'•KegarJing the necessity to have two boats identical in each centre. I t.hinV I made myself quite clear that the proposed boats built to represent the province would not race among the boats of a similar class during the year. "All that is necessary is for the association or judges to pick from the crews that are at present racing in the Jellicoe class of bot the skipper they think the most suitable to represent their province, and he, ..long with thfc committee, select the crew. I can see no more difficulty in doing this than selecting 15 football players to represent the province in the various interprovincial matches.

"I would like it to be distinctly understood that the fact that some well-known Aucklander is keen to build a boat,' does not enter into the question at all. We do not wish a boat-building competition and this was never intended. The aim of the contest 'has been so clearly laid down that there should *be no misunderstanding about it. "I appreciate very much Mr. Treleaven's criticism, as I know there is no more enthusiastic well-wisher of the Sanders Cup contest in New Zealand son, who is the able spinnaker hand of than Mr. and Mrs. Treleaven and their the Betty."