YACHTING SPORTSMANSHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 8

YACHTING SPORTSMANSHIP

THE SYDNEY VISITORS.

(To the Editor.)

I am sure that the crews of the AucklaM yachts will not agree with the remarks of tfc» writer "Sporting Truths." The many thn. sands of people who were privileged t& wit*** the races will be pleased that our visitoifc-%—* • treated well while here. The s])ort«tnanli|> action of the owners of the Sydney boat* !■'.'-■ allowing the race for the worlds champion. I ship to take place in Auckland is t.com mended. Mr. Empson referred to'tht protest by the skipper of the Limerick for 1 breach of the rules prior to the start of tl»-~ third race. The protest was quite in order but the result pleased nobody, and least «f-. all the owners of the Mann, who are real goot sports. In view of the fact that Secretary' T. Knight expressed disgust at the action of ' launch owners and others obstructing tat course, it would appear that at least oat "sporting truth" has gone west.

NEXT TUB.

I have just read a letter in "Star" signed "Sporting Truths," and I mart say I am more than surprised at the Kenti> nients expressed concerning the bad time gntt the Auckland yachtemen on their recent vkft to Sydney when they com|)eted in the worl&V championship for eighteen-footers in 1938. \ would like to quote from the "Auckland Stai* of Saturday. June 25, 1938. In an artkfc headed "A Modern Eighteen-footer," speakuw of the Sydney Eighteen-footere' Sailing Leago* it says: This is the clnb which invited tfci-i Auckland crews to Sydney and paid the eort.' of transport of their boats, besides doing everything to make their visit a memorabli one." Again, quoting from the "AockUni Star" of February 4, 1938, Sydney critics stressed the fact that Irena would have dona • even better than third and fifth positions tat for lack of local experience of the harhow; and also that the New Zealanders jraiatd valuable experience, in addition to having Onetime of their lives at all functions arrange! in their honour, etc This article also sayti "On arrival in Sydney they were met by the I secretary of the Eighteen-footers* Sailing I League and all the prominent yachtsmen, and | a launch was waiting to tow their boats to S Watson's Bay boatsheds, where the men n)tnv billeted, with the boat* only a few yards awtr I from them." A second launch took crews aaiv gear from the Awatea to Watson's Bay, aad ] they were well cared for in every way. ana, as one put it. "We are having the time of oar lives, even if we did not win." Again, thr Australians showed the true sporting spirit in hringing the trophy over here to be competed for, when they could have mail competitors go over the Tasman to compete for it. So in the face of these "truths" taji";' can "Sporting Truths" make such stupid state* ments as no entertainment was provided loT? the Xew Zealand yachtsmen and that tiey had to find their own diggings? FAIR DEAL FOR AUSSffit^