THE SANDERS CUP CONTESTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 99, 22 January 1924, Page 5

THE SANDERS CUP CONTESTS

A MUCH-COVETED TROPHY

FOURTH SERIES OF RACES COMMENCE TO-MORROW

Of all the cups that have been presented for competition in this country, the Sanders Memorial Cup has perhaps created the greatest interest in the shortest time. Presented by Messrs. Walker and Hall, of Auckland, in memory of LieutenantCommander W. E. Sanders, V. 0., D.V.0., R.N.R., who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, this is the fourth year of competition for the coveted trophy. Lieutenant-Commander William Sanders was born at Takapuna, Auckland, and at an early age became adevoted yachtsman, becoming expert in the sport on the waters of the Waitemata. He commenced his seafaring career in the small steamer Kapanui, afterwards joining the Union Company’s Willochra, and then the Tofua. ■ While an officer on the Willochra he passed an examination for his master’s Certificate. . When the Tofua was employed in carrying troops from New Zealand to England, Sanders applied for a transfer to the Navy, and after much delay he was posted to the Navy as a sub-lieuten-ant. Then began a short but brilliant career, a career that enhanced New Zealand’s prestige in other lands. In trhe short space of twelve months SubLieutenant Sanders had become Lieutenant-Commanders Sanders \ .C., D.S.O.

In Memory of a Brave Man. The Sanders Cup perpetuates the memory of a brave man. It was presented not only with the idea of creating competitive yacht racing, but also with the purpose of encouraging young New Zealanders to become seamen ready to take their place in the defence of the country' in times of The cup itself has already been described. It is made of solid silver, mounted on an oak pedestal. A feature of the trophy is the series ot messages engraved upon the silver panels. History of the Competition. The cup was first vested with the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association. In 1921 the Auckland fourteen-footer Iron Duke, the propertv of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, was defeated by the Otago challenger Heather. The cup then went south In 192Auckland won the cup back again with their Desert Gold. Auckland again stalled off challenges from Wellington,

Otago, Southland and Canterbury last year, the Rona being the defending boat. The Auckland Association had every rmht to hold the contest at Auckland this year, but in ing fashion, they decided that thecon test should be held in Wellington. The Auckland boat Rona marks a new era in small yachts. She was built by Messrs. Bailey and Lowe, of Auckland. . It was soon seen that she was superior to the other built in different moulds, and consequently the Dominion Conference ot yachtsmen decided that future co™" petitors should be built on the Rona design. The cup is open to Australasian 14-footers. Altliough no entries have been received from the other side of the Tasman so far, it is hoped that before long a yacht bearing the colours of Australia will be competing. Competitors Described. Following is a brief description of the yachts which are competing in tomorrow’s race: — June, Otago’s representative, was built in Dunedin last year by Mr. J. McPherson. She was built on a mould which is the replica of the one on which the Rona was constructed. Shs> is named June because she was completed in June last, and is owned by Mr. J. B. Francis. She raced in the trials at Dunedin with moderate success. She is suited to heavy sailing, and was chosen as Dunedin’s representative in view of Wellington's reputation for such conditions. Linnet, the Canterbury boat, is owned by Mr. S. Sinclair. This is her third Sanders Cup contest. Although she did not win the cup on any previous occasion, she has always sailed consistently. She won the 14ft. championship of New Zealand at Auckland last year. Linnet was built at Lyttelton in 1921. She proved her sailing capabilities by beating the signed Secret in the trials at Lyttelton recently. The Hawke’s Bay boat, Konini, is the baby of the sextette. She was built at Auckland towards the end of last year by Messrs. Bailey and Lowe. She is the property of the Napier Sailing Club, and gives every promise of being an all-round boat. Rona, from Auckland, was the first boat of her clas—the one design. She wag built at Auckland by Messrs. Bailey and Lowe, and last year won

the Sanders Cup. Her racing career has been a phenomenally successful one. She has won most of the races for the small boats in Auckland.

Peggy is an a 11-Wellington beat. She was built at the Boat Harbour by Mr. Edwin Bailey, who is now her skipper. Last year she competed in the trials against Eynin and Claire, and was not very successful. Lauer she underwent structural alterations, which greatly improved her sailing capacities. Southland’s representative, Murihiku, was built in Dunedin in 1921 by Mr. J. McPherson. She raced in the Sanders Cup contest in Dunedin in 1922, winning two races cut of seven. Last year she again represented Southland at Auckland, winning the Ross Cup at the Auckland regatta, and coming home first in one Cup race. She is owned by a syndicate of yachtsmen, who all belong to the Stewart Island Yacht Club. CIVIC RECEPTION TO VISITING YACHTSMEN. His Worship the Mayor, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., extended a civic v’elcome in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall last evening to the yachtsmen who are visiting Wellington for the Sanders Cup. There was a representative gathering of yachtsmen present. On the platform with the Mayor were Messrs. J. B. Johnston, chairman of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association; H. E. Moller, president of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat. Association; and Mr. W. Duncan, chairman of the Wellington Yacht and Motor Boat Association. Mr. Wright, in extending a welcome, dealt in detail with the life history of Lieutenant-Commander W. E. Sanders, V.C.. D. 5.0., in whose memory the Sanders Memorial Cup was presented. All the honours conferred upon him were well deserved. If it had not been for the bravery of Sanders there would have been no cup. Yachtsmen, therefore, owed a deep debt to the late herb). The Mayor said he knew something of yachtsmen, and he believed them to be sports of the true type. In extending to the visitors a cordial welcome on behalf of

the City of Wellington he hoped that their stay would be a pleasant one. Mr. J. B. Johnston replied on behalf of the North Island yachtsmen. He believed that such an event as the Sanders Cup was of national importance. Naturally Aucklanders hoped that Rona would win the impending contest; but whoever won, he felt suro that the representatives of other centres would vie in rushing forth to do homage to the winner. On behalf of South Island yachtsmen Mr. H. E. Moller responded to the Mayor’s welcome. He said that it was a splendid idea to hold .the ra> in Wellington because it was central. It gave young yachtsmen an opportunity to witness the contest. There were now over 70 supporters from the south in Wellington. The gathering came to a close with cheers for the Mayor, end “God Save the King.”