THE SANDERS CUP

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 10

THE SANDERS CUP

CONTEST AT BLUFF NEXT MONTH SIX BOATS LIKELY TO COMPETE CANTERBURY’S PROSPECTS Canterbury, which has a proud record in the annual contests for the Sanders Cup—the blue riband of New Zealand yachting—will make a strong bid to regain the trophy in the forthcoming races at Bluff. Canterbury has a new representative this year, Huia, selected after an exhaustive series of trials at Lyttelton, and a crew which has the necessary background of experience ior the task ahead. The Sanders Cup commemorates the heroism of Lieutenant-Commander W. E. Sanders, V.C., D.5.0., R.N.R., son of Mr and Mrs E. H. C. Sanders, of Auckland, an officer of the Mercantile Marine, who served with the Royal Naval Reserve during the war He commanded the topsail schooner, Prize, which was fitted out as a Qship to decoy and destroy submarines, and the decorations were conferred upon him in recognition of his “services in action with enemy submarines.” The hazardous work was to cost him his life, for the Prize, soon becoming known to the enemy Üboats, was torpedoed and sunk on August 14, 1917. The Sanders Cup contest is open to the nominated boats of the various provinces, the boats being of the 14ft restricted Jellicoe class. It is a class that has proved popular in New Zealand, for not only are the boats comparatively cheap to build and maintain, but they provide ideal training for deep-sea sailing in the big keel yachts. Present indications are that five provinces will challenge Wellington for the trophy, trials having been held in all centres and boats and crews selected. The competitors are likely to be:

Wellington: Vanguard (Coleman) Auckland: Marjorie (Parkes). Canterbury; Huia (Tissiman). Otago: Lynette (Petlitt). Southland; Vorena (V. Bragg). Stewart Island: Rona (G. Bragg).

New Defender for Wellington

Wellington, which wpn the cup last year, will have a new representative in the coming contest. Vanguard having beaten the champion in the trial races. Wellington’s winning boat last year was skipjjered by Nigel Blair, a great yachtsman and fine sportsman, who announced his retirement from active racing after the contest. This year Wellington’s skipper will be Coleman, who won the Sanders Cup with Lavina at Lyttelton two years ago.

Auckland's representative is a new boat, built last winter for W. Parkes. In the trials she gave a most convincing performance,, and she is expected by northern yachtsmen to have a good chance of winning the trophy for Auckland for the first time since 1929.

Huia has not previously represented Canterbury. She won three of the eight trial races held at Lyttelton, and although there is little to choose between her and her closest rivals, she is expected to be a worthy representative of the province. She is in very good racing condition. W. F. Tissiman, her skipper, represented Canterbury two years ago. S. Sillars, forward hand, had the advantage of understudying F. Forman, one of the best spinnaker men ever to appear in Sanders Cup contests, when Canterbury won the trophy at Auckland in 1936. H. Erodie and J. Olsen, the remaining members of the crew, have not previously represented Canterbury in the contests, but they have had plenty of racing experience in recent seasons.

Southern Challengers Lynclte left no doubt about her superiority over other boats of the fleet when trials were recently held on the Otago Harbour. She was built in 1936 by her skipppr, Pettitt, a shrewd and experienced yachtsman. Her entire crow have handled Lynette this season in a manner which promises well for Otago’s prospects in the contest.

Southland, the home province, will be represented for the first time by a boat built in Southland, owned in Southland, and sailed by a Southland crew in Southland waters. The Vorena was built at Bluff three years ago by J. Shannon, a member of this year's crew. Her skipper, V. Bragg, is a fisherman who has a wide knowledge of sailing small craft. He lived at Stewart Island until a few years ago. Local knowledge should bo a big help to Southland’s crow, as the Bluff Harbour will provide a course affected to some extent by tides. Stewart Island vpll be represented by Rona. the Stewart Island Yacht Club’s boat, and her skipper will be G. Bragg, another member of the wellknown yachting family.

Former Winners of Trophy Winners of the Sanders Cup have been: — Year. Province. Boat. Where Sailed. 1921 Otago Heather. Auckland. 1922 Auckland, Desert Gold, Dunedin. 1923 Auckland, Rona, Auckland. 1924 Auckland, Rona, Wellington'. 1925 lona, Auckland. 1926 — Canterbury, Betty, Dunedin. 1927 — Canterbury, Betty, Lyttelton 1928 Canterbury, Betty, Stewart Is. 1929 Auckland, Avalon, Akaroa. 1930 — Otago, Eileen, Auckland 1931 — Wellington, Betty, Dunedin. 1932 Canterbury, Avenger, Wellington 1933 Canterbury, Avenger, Lyttelton 1934 — Canterbury, Irene, Lyttelton 1935 — Canterbury, Irene, Stewart Is. 1936 Canterbury, Avenger, Auckland 1937 Wellington, Lavina, Lyttelton 1938 Wellington, Kitty Dunedin