SAILING CONTESTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 13

SAILING CONTESTS

Sanders Cup and Youths’ Event ■■ BOAT AND CREWS CHOSEN Lavina’s selection as the representative of Wellington province in the New Zealand 14ft. X class championship contest. for the Sanders Cup at Lyttelton in February, was decided upon at a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-Boat Association last night. The names of the boys to represent the port in the Z class championship were also announced. The report of the Sanders Cup selectors (Messrs. E. N. Hargreaves, R. Kerr, and L. Robertson) was that in their opinion the following comblnatiou was most suitable:—Boat, Lavina; skipper, N. D. Blair; crew, J. Elliot (forward hand), P. Harlen (mainsheet baud), and R. Julian (fourth man); emergencies, P. C. Fitzgerald and J. Holmes. The selectors suggested that they be given authority to arrange practices, and, should the necessity arise, to substitute one or both of the emergencies for any. of the crew chosen. “With regard to the trials, we would like to state that the method introduced this year of holding preliminary trials has assisted us greatly in our task, and the racing witnessed would not have been possible under the old conditions,” stated the report. “The racing throughout was of a very high order, and was so closely contested that the. choice of a - boat proved very difficult. The selection of a skipper finally resolved itself into a question of racing tactics. In this respect, Blair proved himself undoubtedly superior to Harlen and McKenzie. As the performance of the boats was so even, the choice of Blair’s own boat, Lavina,' was the obvious one.” Z Class Championship. » The choice of D. Beck as forward hand and E. Julian as skipper to represent Die port of Wellington in the 12ft. 6ln. Z class New Zealand championship was reported by Mr. L. Waddel., He stated that ail the boys competing in the trials should have no, difficulty whatever in being able to qualify lo represent the port at the contest following the coming one. The filial selection had been most difficult, several boys being well worthy to represent the port, ' ' The reports were adopted on the motion of Mr. O. A. Moller, who expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the trials. The ' association had been fortunate in its selectors, and he thought there was an excellent chance of the Sanders Cup returning to Wellington. Satisfactory System. Mr. G. H. Tanner said the system of holding the trials had worked smoothly indeed. Everybody interested was satisfied with the selectors’ impartiality and considerateness. Congratulating the selected crew, the chairman (Captain W. J. Kean) said that the trials had shown that the crews and not the boats were the deciding factor. Any one of the three boats in the trials was fit to represent the province. He expressed appreciation of the unsuccessful competitors’ sportsmanship. The motion to adopt the reports and act upon them was carried. Mr. Waddel was appointed manager of the Z-class crew, and delegate to the conference. A lifejacket, which was submitted by a local firm, and which has been tested, was approved, and its adoption recommended to affiliated clubs. A committee was set up to deal with the programme of the Anniversary Day Regatta. EILEEN SELECTED > Otago Association. Choice ‘ By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, December 13. The Otago Yacht and Motor-Boat Association decided to-night that the Z class New Zealand championship will commence on Otago Harbour on January 24 instead of January 20; as previously arranged. The alteration in date was made to enable yachtsmen to attend the Sanders Cup contest at Lyttelton. The association also approved of the conditions under which the silver cup presented by the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-Boat Association for the Z class championship has been accepted by the New Zealand Yachting Council. It was reported that there was a shortage of 12ft. 6in. boats in Otago, and the association decided to procure additional craft for the contest from other ports. The association selected Eileen to represent Otago in the Sanders Cup contest, with the following crew:— Messrs. I. McGrath (skipper), McLaren (forward handj. Kennedy and Cuthbert; It was decided, in the event of Eileen not complying with the steel moulds, that the president and secretary of the association be empowered’ to procure another boat.