SANDERS CUP CONTESTS

Evening Star, Issue 18032, 28 July 1922, Page 6

SANDERS CUP CONTESTS

THE AUCKLAND PROPOSALS,

CONSIDERED BY OTAGO CLUB.

CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE,

A meeting of tho committee of the Otago Yacht ami Motor Boat Club was- hold last night mainly for the purpose_pf considering the proposals forwarded by the Auckland Association that the rules and conditions of the sailing contests for the Sanders Memorial Cup should be altered so as to limit the competition to boats of a strictly one-design class. Mr A. C. Hanlon (commodore) presided, and all' the local chibs, with the exception of Port Chalmers, were represented. The _ Port Club wrote stating that it was holding a general meeting of members that night. g The Auckland Association’s proposals were fully discussed, and it was then decided to forward the following reply:— This association, being impressed by Ihe desire of the Auckland Association to confine all future contests for the Sanders Cup to a one-desigu class in order to foster seamanship instead of boat-building, is prepared to withdraw' its previous objections and to endeavor to have boats built which will conform to tho plans and specifications submitted by the Auckland Association, and to challenge for tho cup next year, provided the contests are confined to boats that

are entered by provincial associations, and provided 1 also that all boats built prior to tho last contests for the Sanders Cup will L-e eligible to sail in tho 1923 contests on tho distinct understanding that for the, 1924 and ail future contests the one-design boats only, .shall bo eligible; and, further, that tho yachtsmen visiting Auckland during the 1923 contests bo given an opportunity to hold a. conference to adopt tho design and measurement for the future strictly one-design boat. This resolution is put forward in tho hope that it will bo accepted by the Auckland Association, with the result that good feeling and harmony will prevail for all time between the" provincial associations, and that the gallant conduct of a heroic sailor will be filtinglv commemorated.

Poftl CHALMERS CHALLENGE. The Port Chalmers Yacht and Motor Boat Club derided at a general meeting last night to proceed with its challenge recently issued and accepted .for the Sanders Gup. Mr T. Basiro, commodore of the club, presided, and he stated that his club had issued the challenge because it believed in the one-design class of four-teen-footers, also as a memorial for tho late Mr John M'Donald Stevenson. Several apeakeio detailed what had been done, and others asked questions relative to the club issuing a challenge while the matter of design was at issue between the Otago and the Auckland Associations. Mr A, Wiseman, who won the Sanders Cup for Otago iu the Heather, said tho question of a one-design class of boat was discussed in Auckland 1 at the time, and Auckland did not seem so favorable to it then as were some of the visiting representatives. He understood then, however, that a one-design class was to be adopted, but was surprised afterwards on bis return that nothing was done in that direction. Ho was always a one-design man, because one design made winning a matter of seamanship, whereas restricted design made winning ft matter for tho boatbuilders. One design, further, made the sport Jess coally. The Desert Gold cost £55 to build, but later fourteen-footers cost over £IOO to build. If the Otago Association could not carry it out, then there was no reason why his club should not do so. Further discussion showed that the challenge had evidently been issued by tho Port Chalmers Club as a means of breaking the . deadlock which existed between the Otago and Auckland Associations. The meeting (voting was restricted to active members of the olub) decid'ed to go on with the challenge, and to build a boat to compete. The competition, however, was to be left open to all Otago dinibs, but whatever boat qualified to meet Auckland must be under the control of tho Port Chalmers Club, and must be named the Stevenson Memorial Boat.