THE SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 6

THE SANDERS CUP

AH OFFICIAL STATEMENT. At a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association held lost evening it was decided that an official statement should bo published, as an erroneous impression Ims got abroad through the statements made by Mr M'Culloch in his speech at the presentation of the Sanders Cnp to the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association at the conclusion of the contest. Mr M'Culloch said: “I do not consider that we got a fair go. I was told in Auckland that I would never have tho pleasure of managing a boat again ; but I won the races hero and did sail a boat again. Our own representatives were up against mo. I know that they are, and others know it, too. I may bo speaking rather straight, but that is what I think about it. It was done, however, and they got away with it. Anyone can win a race; but there should' be fair play.”. These remarks were applauded by a section of those present. Such a statement as this would create the impression that the contests were not conducted fairly, that tho,judges did not decide tho protest fairly, and that the local officials were so prejudiced against Mr M'Culloch that they were prepared to sacrifice Otago’s interests. That being so. tho public, and particularly that section of it which contributed funds to send a crew to Auckland, and also to defray tho expenses of entertaining the visitors here, should be provided with an official statement of tho facts relating to the two contests.

It is important to point out that individuals cannot challenge for the Sanders Cup. but challenges must*’bo front recognised provincial yachting associations. The Otago Association last year challenged the Auckland Association, to whom (lie cnp had been presented by Messrs Walker and Hall, and after a series of test races the Heather was chosen to represent Otago against the Iron Duke, which had been chosen to represent tho Auckland Association. In our .series of tests the Heather and Valmai each won three races, whereupon tho owner of tho Valmai, in a sporting spirit, withdrew his boat in favor of the Heather in order to save valuable time The local association made arrangements by which tho Heather would be carried free upon tho railways and upon tho U.S.S. Company’s ferry steamer, and it paid the travelling and hotel expenses of Mr M'Culloch and his crew, and, through the generous help of Dunedin and Port Chalmers yachtsmen, the Heather was provided with the best gear from all the other 14-footcrs in Otago Harbor. The association, realising its obligations to the province, determined to spare no effort to ensure success, and at its last meeting prior to journeying to Auckland, at which Mr M'Culloch was present by invitation, it was pointed out that the enterprise was a provincial matter, and that the perusal element was to bo entirely eliminated, fjtul the control of the boat and orew and of all other matters relating to the enterprise placed in the hands ,of the responsible Management Committee. Mr M'Culloch agreed to abide by the decisions of flic committee in all matters. The committee

<>j-..‘iiiLecl was composed of blesses A. C. Hanlon, J. M'D. Stevenson, B. H. Necs. and 1). Wall, and these gentlenmn at their own expense proceeded to Auckland to carry out their duties. Later on the management was strengthened by (ho presence of Mr IT. E. Moller, who gave them his whole-hearted support. Shortly after the arrival of the committee in Auckland it became evident that Mr M'Cnlloch was determined to act according to Ids own views, and although the Heather and her crerv wore at considerable expense suit up in time to allow ample opportunity For the crew to learn any intricacies oi the Auckland courses, Mr M'Culloch’s vacillation and indecision wero such that on the day of the first race the Heather had never been clown the harbor as far as the turning mark, and had not tho competing boat pot fli’.st away and led on tho first leg, it is quite possible that an erroneous course would have lost Otago the first race, and the only one which Mr M'Cnlloch succeeded in winning. Further than this, although tbs' crew sent up with Mr M'Cnlloch was as good as Otago could nr can to this day produce, he astounded the management by making a proposal that ho should bo allowed, to’ put tho Otago crew out of tho boat and replace them with Auckland men. Naturally the management refused to listen to this proposal, and Mr M'Cnlloch was very promptly told that it was Otago that was involved in tho contest, and, win or lose, tho contest was going through with Otago men.

Of the second and third races the least said the better. It is enough to say that Mr M'Culloch lost both of these races, and lost them under circumstances and in a manner that left Otago’s supporters very much dissatisfied. As the first boat to win three races would bo declared the winner of the contest, and Auckland had already won two, it became apparent that some drastic change was necessary, and the management decided to ask Mr M'Culloch to allow Mr Wiseman to take charge. This request was met by a flat refusal; and nothing would induce Mr M'Culloch to honor the undertaking he gave to the Otago Association until ha was informed by the commodore that, unless ho was prepared to stand to the promise he had made, the association would withdraw tho Heather from the contest, and return to Dunedin and publish tho facts. At first Mr M'Culloch flouted the idea, but upon its being pointed out that tho contest was one entirely between the two associations, and not between individuals, ho reluctantly gave way. Visiting Otago yachtsmen and supporters, knowing nothing of the difficulties that faced tho management, but convinced that Otago’s only hope lay in a change of skipper, asked permission to wait on tho senior officers, and presented a petition in the following terms:—“To the Management Committee, Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, —When tho present contest was entered upon and interested yachtsmen wore asked to subscribe to pay tho expenses of tho boat and crew selected to represent Otago against Auckland, and the challenge was issued by your association, it was understood that you would ho in charge of tho boat just as if it was tho property of tho association, and funds for necessary expenses were cheerfully subscribed on this understanding. Other boat owners gave you tho loan of much of their gear, and many of us came up to see tho contest at our own expanse; that of tho skipper and crow being mot by the general fund. So far it seems you arc only considering tho owner of tho boat, and wo feel it is time you studied the interests of Otago generally, and refuse to he put in a position which wo humbly submit yon cannot justify. Wo have made tho trip to Auckland in order to support our province and your association in their effort to register a win on the Sanders Cup; and, to bo frank, wo consider wo aro not getting a fair deal, and that the best is not being made of tho crow and tho boat brought hero. We recognise that under certain conditions the best has been made of tho boat, but submit that this lias not boon tho case in tho last two races. We ask you, therefore, to resume the responsibility you undertook, and take control of tho boat entirely for tho ensuing race or races; otherwise we must consider you are dominated by a desire to study tho feelings of ono man only, and have forfeited our confidence. If you will do as we suggest, wo can assure you of our entire support. Unless you can see your way to accede to this, wo feel that all tho good work you have done, and which wo recognise, will go for nought, and there will have to bo a change of management before Otago yachtsmen will support any further effort to win tho cup.” This document bears the signatures of several citizens and yachtsmen of Dunedin, and it shows that tho action of tho executive was approved of by prominent Otago people who were in Auckland. Mr M'Oolloch’s Auckland grievances were that he was not allowed to put Auckland men into his boat in place of tho Dunedin men, and that ho was not allowed to sail all tho races. Shortly after he returned to Dunedin he had another grievance. Ho wished to get possession of the cap in order that ho might exhibit it

along with tho Heather amongst his business exhibits at tho Dunedin Winter Show. This the commodore stonily refused, informing Mr M'Culloch that the cup was donated to perpetuate tho memory of a gallant sailor, and that tho association would never allow it to bo used for the purposes of advertising any business. Mr M'Culloch thought that he was badly treated in this matter, and did not hesitate to sav so.

.Dealing now with tho contest just concluded, it must bo stated quite frankly that tho conditions under which it waa •agreed* to sail the local trials for the purpose of selecting a defender failed to satisfy a great majority of those interested, as it was considered that enough trials were not being sailed to do justice to tho new boats. Notwithstanding this the Heather was chosen as defender, because, in tho opinion of the association, she had won decisively, and that on performances she was the best boat. When the choice was made Air M'Culloch, who by this time had been elected a delegate to tho association, was asked to agree to tho association assuming control of tho Heather, and again ho did so. In consequence of the trouble in Auckland the appointment of representatives proved difficult, as no one was disposed to undertake a task that might prove a repetition of its forerunner; but eventually Messrs E. C. Hadlett and It. 11, Neea wore prevailed upon to represent tho province. These gentlemen had full power to appoint skipper and crew for all races, and it redounds to the credit of Otago yachtsmen that all who had rendered such valuable service at Auckland again placed themselves at tho disposal of Otago’s representatives. Not only did they offer their services, but at considerable inconvenience attended at tho boat sheds each day during tho whole series of races, and although only on one occasion was one of them chosen to reinforce tho Heather’s crew, they cheerfully did their utmost to ensure sucoc.sc, for the province.

Messrs Wiseman. Paterson, and Kcllett a.rc worthy of every praise for their loyalty and devotion to the enterprise. As we have stated, the representatives had full power to change skipper and crew : hut no doubt realising that in Messrs C. ■George and C. French Mr M'Culloch had men of great skill, and knowing that the minimum of alteration was desirable, they early advised Mr M'Culloch as under; “To save misunderstanding it is desirable that it should bo distinctly unde..stood that the skipper appointed for the day has absolute command of tho boat, and will pick his orew as bo deems fit from amongst tho selected men, carry such sails as in his judgment is proper, and will exercise full and exclusive authority on the manner in winch the races are to bo sailed. All sails and gear will bo kept ready for immediate service, and in the event of tho races being sailed on other than the O.Y.C. course the extra boat must bo requested to carry all spare calls and gear. Tho officers of the association desire in every possible way to help, and feel sure that all hands will do their utmost for the honor of Otago ” It is of interest t.o note, in view of Air M'Culloch’s assert.ion that his own representatives wore against him, that of all the boats competing Air At'Culloch was the only skipper who sailed the whole of the races, and in hia efforts he was loyally supported by tho association and tho yachtsmen .of Otago generally. When ■ the Alurihiku won her second race Mr At'Culloch protested against her on the ground that she had crossed the half-tide wall. This protest was dismissed by the judges on the ground 1 that there was insufficient evidence to 1 prove that the Alurihiku went over tho wall, and Mr Al'Culloch was grievously annoyed that the association did not reverse the decision of tho judges. It has already been stated in the public Press that this cannot he done, because no appeal lies from tho decision of tho judges, except as to tho interpretation of rules, and this was purely a question of fact. In reference to tin's protest it may bo said that at tho time the Alurihiku was supposed to have crossed the wall it was submerged to tho extent of about sft. and it is questionable whether she, could have been disqualified even if she had gone over the wall, seeing that the rules provide that no submerged object can be treated ns a mark of the course.

Any sportsman would have graciously bowed to the decision of tho judges; but Mr M'Culloch so far forgot himself ns to grossly insult Mr Kelly (the Auckland judge) when he stepped on to the wharf after being at an outing tendered 1 by tho association to the visiting yachtsmen. As a result Air Kelly tendered his resignation as a judge, and it was only at the earnest entreaty" of tho association that ho continued to act during the remainder of the contest.

There seems to bo no end ip Mr M'Culloch’s grievances, because in the final race of tho series ho found l fault with the Desert Gold for sculling, and prepared a protest against her which ho wished to hand to the commodore, who declined to take it, because tho rules provide that it must bo handed to the judges. Mr M'Culloch stated that tho skipper of the Murihiku would support his allegation, and, upon, his being called into tho pavilion and asked to state tho facts, Mr Hansen said that when the three boats were at tho Anderson Bay rounding-mark ho saw the sculling going on, and that it was Mr M'Culloch who started it. Mr M'Culloch then became very abusive towards Mr Hansen, ami one of those present had to interfere. Mr M'Culloch then said that if Mr Hansen. was going to slick to that statement ho would not put in tho protest. The protest was not put in. It will readily bo seen that Mr M'Culloch was , prepared to protest against tho Desert Gold if, ns a result of tho protest being upheld, tho Heather would win tho contest; but ho was not prepared to do so if tho Heather were to bo disqualified as well as tho Desert Gold and the Murihiku declared the winner. A few hours after this Mr M'Cullooh stated in his speech at tho Town Hall that ho was pleased that the Desert Gold had won tho Cup, and ho was pleased to have been- associated with her crew and with the crows of the other boats, all of whom were real good sports. How can that statement bo reconciled with Mr M'Culloch’s conduct of a few hours before, in which ho protested that tho Desert Cold had been y-uiltv of taking a mean advantage, and the skipper of the Miu’ihiku had boon guilty of making a false Ftatoment in charging Mr M'Culloch himself with sculling his boat? To sum tho matter up, Mr M'Culloch’s connection with tho Sanders Cup has been as followsHo built tho boat at his own expanse, as several others in Dunedin and Port Chalmers did. His boat was selected to go to Auckland, and it was taken there free of expense to Mr M’Culloch, and his travelling and hotel expenses, as well as those of Iris crow, wore borne by Die Association. There ho won ono race out of three and Mr Wiseman won tho other two, which gave Otago the Cup. In Dunedin Mr M'Culloch sailed in seven races, succeeded in winning only two, and lost the Cup for Otago. Whereupon he thought fit to revile tho representatives of the association for being unfair to him. The management of tho contest by Otago and her hospitality to tho visitors have been applauded in every province, and it is a pity to think that tho final act should have been marred by Mr M'Culloch’s childish outburst.

There is a-raplo evidence to prove every statement ia -the foregoing explanation, and tho association invites Mr M'Culloch or any of bis supporters to controvert any of them if they think it possible.

MR M'CDLLOCH WILL REPLY. When approached by a ‘Star’ reporter this morning Mr M'Culloch said ho was surprised at tho statements which bad been made. Asked if ho had any statement to make, ho said ho had heard tho report read only last night at the meeting of tho Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and, of course, had not yot bad time to mako a full and comprehensive reply; but he would do so, probably to-morrow. Ho would also have some criticism to mako of tho manner in which the meeting authorised the publication of the above statement.