YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 22

YACHTING

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THE SANDERS CUP

PEGGY'S CHANGES

GENERAL NOTES

COMING EVBMTS,

February s—lriter-club Cup. ' February 14—-Second Races, Sanders and Cora.

well Cups. February 15—Third Races Sanders and Cornwell Cups. . . .

The race for the inter-club cup ii being sailed this afternoon, and keen, interest is being shown in the result. The Evans Bay contingent comprises the Euna (Captain Wilkinson), the Coo-ec (Mr. A.\ Johnston), and the Tui, ex Eynin (Mr. Pycroft), and the Miru (Mr. T. E. Mellor), which may not be. ready in time. Last year, the E.P.N. T.C. won the cup from Evans Bay;. Heretaunga boats are also competing.

- The Viking left Evans Bay on 1 Tuesday for Pelorus Sounds, where she will remain for about three weeka. Several ladies are included in the party-f and will camp ashore during the cruise.

' The Eomp has arrived back from'the Sounds after a trip in very pleasant weather.

The fourteen Footers.

On Saturday next, on Lyttelton Harbour, the 1927 contest for the Sanders Memorial Yachting Cup, the blue riband of the sport in the Dominion, will commence, and already interest in the outcome of the series of races is quickening. A number of ..local yachtsmen have announced their intention of going .South for the contest, which is expected this year to be the most interesting to date. The supporters- of the tried and proved boats in the Rona (Auckland), the Avalon (Hawkes Bay), the Peggy (Wellington), the Betty (Canterbury), and the Winifred (Otago) are already inclined to respect the new Southland challenger, Muri* hiku 11., which has not yet been seen, in action outside her province, and there are many who consider that the painstaking work of her builder, Mr. C. Bailey, of Auckland, will bear surprising results. In the hands of Carol Hansen, young though he is, the boat should be well handled, and it would be to the benefit of the sport and pleasing to yachtsmen generally, were she to carry off the trophy.

The local challenger, Peggy, has shown her worth in light weather, and since this is expected at Lyttelton. about the time of the contest, she may: spring a surprise. "Wellington has waited long enough for possession of the • cup, but even, when the 1923 contest was held here,, she was unable to make good her claim. Last, year, at Dunedin, the Peggy was well up in the eliminating races and was once placed second, but the Bettey outsailed all her opponents, and the cup went to' the province which had rightly won ifc— Canterbury. With Mr. A. Sterling, who handled her so well in the trials, at the helm, the Peggy is certain to put up a good showing.

The crew to sail the Avalon, Hawkes Bay's representative in the cup conteb., will comprise N. Gillies (skipper), Jb\ Clarke, E. Farquhar, L. A. Turville^ and I. Gillies. The Avalou is to be sent down on Monday next, and the crew will follow two days later.

Apparently Auckland is havirg some trouble in rousing a response to the appeal for Sanders Cup expense. "Spindrift" writes: ."The cost of sending the Rona and her crew to Lyttelton is estimated at approximately £.100, and each club has been asked to contribute its share of the expenses involved. Up to the present very little money has been forwarded to the association, which requires it immediately. Last year, several clubs failed to contribute anything towards the fund, leaving the remainder to shoulder the responsibility—a rather unsportsmanlike attitude to adopt. If Auckland is to take part in the Sanders Cup contest annually, then all the clubs affiliated to the association should contribute. This year the allocations are lower tran in. the past, and although one cJub has already advised the association that it cannot see its way clear to contribute anything, for more reasons than one, there is every probability that the rest of the clubs will respond." The "Winifred, Otago's challenger for the Sanders Cup, is being railed to Lyt« telton this week-end, while the crew will leave Dnnedin on Bth February. The entertainment programme for the visiting yachtsmen to Lytteiton has been somewhat altered. The revised programme is as follows:— 11th February.—Beception at Christchurch, 7.30 p.m. Reception at Lytteiton, 8.30 p.m. Conference of Dominion delegates. . ' ■ 12th February.—First race at 2 p.m^ evening free. 13th February.—Motor ride to Ashley Gorge and picnic. 14th February.—Second race. Evening, entertainment by Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club. 15th February.—Third race. Evening, entertainment oy Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club. 16th February.—Fourth race. Evening, entertainment by Brighton, Power' Boat Club, and Pleasant Point Yacht and Boat Club. .' Speei} Boats. Among the visitors at the Wanganui speed boat regatta was a young man. from Nelson, who had gone over to observe the performances of the speedsters competing in. the race for the Masport Cup. His curiosity was not without a motive, says the "Wanganui Chronicle," for he said he intended to build, if possible, a boat that could annex the honours in 1928. Th'- object of this was, he asserted, to give a stimulus to t'<e sport of speed-boat racing in Nelson. Dissatisfaction Expressed. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at the decision of the R.P.N.Y.C. to allow only its own boats tt compete in the morning races on Anniversary; Day. One correspondent wrote to "Mainsail" after the programme was announced, protesting against the decision, and asserting that except when, it had been controlled by the R.P.N.Y.C., the regatta had always been open, to all-comers. "I consider that the morning races should have been open, in view of the small fields which resulted, from the decision," he said. "For example, there were only two competitors in the first-class handicap, which thus proved more or iess of a wash-out. Surely, the club cannot think that by its action it is helping to encourage the club spirit, of whichi we hsive »hearc" so much lately." Mr. C. Holmes's yacht Wairer^. I. is expected to Jeavo in a week or so.for a fortnight's cr ise in the Sounds.

The Takapuna class is becoming firmly established in Napier, and enthusiasm has increased by the dona« tion of a handsome cup for competition in this class. The donor is Mr. A. H. M'Carthy, vice-commodore of tha Napier Sailing Club.