THE SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 18022, 17 July 1922, Page 3

THE SANDERS CUP

AUCKLAND INSISTS ON THE ONEDESIGN CLASS.

At last week's special meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Bout Association the objections to the fourteen-foot one-design class raised by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association wore considered, and a decision was uuanimoualy arrived) at to. confine the racing for the Sanders Memorial - Cup to strictly onedesign boats instead! of a fourteen-foot restricted class advocated -by the Otago Association. ,

The letter from Mr J. D. Cameron, hen. secretary of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, stated that his association was willing to challenge Auckland for the championship of New Zealand in the fourteen-foot restricted class of sailing dinghies, but was not prepared to challenge for the Sanders Cup if confined strictly to a one-desigb class, as this would result in restricting competition in building fast boats; and it. did not think it possible to build strictly to the plans and epecificiitions.

Considerable discussion took place on the question amongst the delegates present, and it was pointed out by Mr Wilkinson (who was in Dunedin this year when the competition took place in Otago Harbor) that his original idea, was to foster u healthy 1 ' typo of boat, not necessarily the fastest which could be built for-its size, so that the principal factor would always be the skill of her crew in handling the boat. Other speakers agreed that this was what was wanted, and held that the class would continue to prosper in spite of any apparent difficulties. Mr Kelly said that Otago had chalenged both in 1920 and IS2I under Auckland’s conditions, and won the first time, and ho failed to see any hardship now, an the plan had never been really altered—only a few of the specifications were rather loosely worded, which allowed 1 variations to creep in. In proof of tho fact that tho present plans were the same as the original ones, ho instanced Desert Gold, which was built to the plans over five years ago, and which complied fully with the plans to-day. Mr Gifford- thought tho time bad come to make a definite stand for tile one-design class, which was their first idea. The words “ not men- or not less” were simply loft in the specifications to allow for any slight variation after the boat was built. He was .sorry (o leam that Otago would not race for the Sanders Cup, but ho did not see how they could accept a challenge for a restricted fourteenfoot sailing dinghy, as this would- he departing from the class to which the Sanders Cup was given, it was finally resolved that the chairman and secretary write to tho Otago Association conveying the decision of the Auckland Association to strictly adhere to the one-design class.