YACHTING CONTESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 18

YACHTING CONTESTS

SANDERS CUP SELECTION

BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

The selection of the Laviria'(Royal Port I Xicholspn Yacht Club) as 'the boat to j represent the Wellington Province in the New Zealand 14ft X class championship contest for the Sanders Cup at Lyttelton in February waß announced at a meeting of the Wellington 'Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association last evening. N. D. Blair, who sailed the Lavina in the trials, was chosen as skipper with the following crew:—J. Elliot (forward hand), P. Harlen (mainsheet hand), and R. Julian' (fourth man). P. C, Fitzgerald and J. Holmes were selected as, emergencies, and the selectors asked for authority to arrange practices and generally train the crew and cinergencjes, and also, should the necessity arise, to substitute one or both of the emergencies for any of the crew chosen. '■• "With-regard to the trials," the report continued, "we would like to state, that the method introduced this year of folding preliminary trials has assisted us greatly in our task, and the racing witnessed would not have been possible under the old conditions. 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. As the performance of the boats was so even, Blair's ow,n boat.-^the Lavina, was the obvious choice." Mr. L. Waddel, 'selector of the Wellington crew to .compete,' in the New Zealand 12ft 6in Z class championship contest, at Dunedin in January, stated that after, fifteen trials he had chosen Evan Julian us skipper and D.' Beck as forward hand. The final selection had proved most

difficult, there being several boys well worthy of representing the port. In moving the adoption of the reports, Mr. 0. A. Moller said he did not think that Wellington had ever had such harmonious and satisfactory trials. He had heard nothiug but praise from those watching the,,'races; and the association bad been fortunate in having as selectors men who had dove their woi'k particularly well. He thought there wa« an.excellent chance of bringing the Sanders Cup back to: Wellington. Mr. G. H. Tanner eaid that the system under which, the Sanders Cup trials were held-had worked very smoothly, and it augured well for the future of the sport j that everybody interested was completely satisfied .that the. -selectors, Messrs. L. Robertson, <E.vW, Hargreaves, and R. Kerr, Ijad •carried' out their duties in an impartial' and ■considerate manner. On . behalf: of the association the chairman (Captain .W. J.Keane) congratulated the yachtsmen selected to represent Wellington. The trials, he said, had fihoivii up one-design racing in the way they bad hoped for—it had proved that crew* and not boats were the deciding factor. Any one of the Ihree boats in the Sanders Cup trials■; was good enough to represent, the'province, and the main question was foe selection of the crew. He; also extended to the unsuccessful competitors; the association's appreciation; ,of their,, sportsmanship. ■ The reports were adopted. ; .. Sir,VAVadde'l was appointed manager of •the Z class crew and delegate to the conference. '"' '.-.' ' A committee was set- tip to deal with the programme for the Anniversary Day regatta. ■ The new lifejacket, which has been successfully tested, was officially approved, and it was decided to recommend its adoption by affiliated clubs. '■