FAMOUS SKIPPER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 16

FAMOUS SKIPPER.

MAY SAIL IN AUCKLAND. COMING WITH AUSTRALIANS. The announcement that the worldfamous open boat skipper Chris Webb, former holder of many world sailing championships, would accompany the party of Sydney yachtsmen arriving here on Monday by the Awatea to compete in the world's 18-foot sailing championship, was made to-day by Mr. Cecil Merci, • member of the executive of the New South Wales 18-footers Hailing League, who arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Mariposa. "Webb is coming as a spectator, but lie may be persuaded to sail one of our boats in a heat," said Mr. Merci. "He in one of the greatest yachtsmen Australia has produced.",. . . < < « Owner of the IR-footer Ajax, Mr. Merci is a brother of the owner of Malvina, one of the three Sydney boats * coming here to compete. The other* are Taree and St. Oeorge. The visiting crews would total about 30 men, Raid Mr. Merci, the average being about ten to the boat. The racing crew wm generally eight. All were working men, who had had to save for some time in order to make the trip. Naturally they were looking forward to it keenly. Mr. Merci Iβ accompanied by his wife and his sister, Miss V. Merci, who has done much of the organisation work in a huge queen carnival being run by the IH-Footers.' League- to raise funds for charitable purposes. The aim is to collect £600 to endow a school for a Sydney cripples' hospital. It ..was stated to-day that 12 boats had Men nominated to race against the Australian*. Two more—Manlni and Arleiw—were being nominated by the Heme Bay and Wakatere Clubs respectively. It ie,expected that Arlene will be nailed bV ;JV. Rogers, who won the - world's 14-footer championship for New Zealand at Hobort last year.