SANDERS CUP.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 13

SANDERS CUP.

A DUNEDIN VIEW. AUCKLAND'S IDEALISTIC ACTION. "By gracefully offering to return the Zanders Cup to the donors, the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association has diplomatically averted an impasse, the most serious consequence of which would have been the sullying of the name of a gallant naval officer and yachtsman in whose memory the interprovincial contests have been held for the past 13 years," says the Dunedin "Evening Star" of August 30. "Auckland's action is more or less idealistic. Under the terms on which the cup was vested originally to the j Auckland Association, that body was clearly the owner of the trophy, and Auckland had right on its side when it objected to the cup being presented to the newly-formed New Zealand Yachting Council without its consent. Auckland's authority in the Sanders Cup contests and regulations governing the types of competing boats has been repeatedly conceded at the Dominion conferences preceding the contests, and Southern yachtsmen were unwise to question those powers at this belated stage in the history of the races. A break from Auckland's domination has long been threatened, and it has now eventuated without any loss, of dignity on either side, in which the Northern body's judicious handling of the latest dispute has been the final factor. Dissatisfaction with the Rona type of boat was widely expressed at every contest. The boats were mere racing shells, having no utilitarian value, and the battle between the professional boat builders resulted in the price of the small yachts soaring to an exaggerated figure, limiting the pretensions of yachtsmen who aspired to win the cup. The contests lost their true place; Auckland confesses that when it states: 'The contests have tended to exhibit the skjll and ingenuity of the builders of the competing craft instead of the seamanship and courage of those sailing them.' "A change of type of yacht was necessary, and if the New Zealand Council had not taken the initiative in calling for designs it is certain that the Sanders. Cup contests would have died, in any case, through rapidly waning interest in the Rona boats. Associations —and Otago was one —would only be wasting their funds in challenging for the cup with obsolete craft, and no sportsmen were forthcoming 'to provide new boats suitable for racing alone. The desirable type of boat is an inexpensive cruisingracing craft, and such will race in future for the Sanders Cup. Already there has been a revival of interest in the contests, but Auckland's entry and affiliation with the New Zealand Yachting Council is still withheld. The creation of the Dominion Council w disapproved in Auckland as being unnecessary. It is vital for the future of yachting that there should be a supreme controlling authority, such as exists among aquatic sports in every country. The effectiveness of the new governing body would, however, be lessened if Southern yachtsmen were to allow Auckland the disproportionate voting power it seeks, representation to each province equivalent to the numbers of active yachtsmen. If that demand were granted, the national view would not be fairly represented."