THE SANDERS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 18137, 29 November 1922, Page 8

THE SANDERS CUP

“ AUCKLAND’S NARROW-MINDED VIEW;’ 1 THE SUBSTITUTION PROPOSAL. “ Tho general opinion in Otago and otlier southern provinces is that the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association has taken a narrow-minded view of the Sanders Cup contests all through,” said a well-known Dunedin yachting enthusiast to a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day, when asked to give an opinion regarding Auckland’s latest proposal to allow' nomination of another boat just before tho start of a race in the event of the boat first nominated being damaged. “ The opinion amongst all southern yachtsmen,” ho continued, “is that tho Auckland Association wants to dictate to the other associations, and have its own way in everything. The Auckland Association Ims not considered any of tho other associations in any way when drafting tho sailing conditions. Aucklanders seom to hold the opinion that, as the Sanders Oup was presented to them in the first place, it is their property for all time, and it looks as though they intend to use every means in their power, whether fair or foul, to retain possession. “If the Auckland Association carried this latest one-sided resolution (lie continued) it would give it power to outer just before the start of a race any boat which was not nominated. For instance, if their selected and nominated boat was a light-weather one, arid tho conditions wore rough just before the start of a race, they would be able to substitute that boat by ouo more suitable to heavy weather, which would bo most unfair to tho boats from tho other provinces. Tho present conditions—and tho Auckland Association agreed to those conditions—state that ail boats to race at Auckland early in the noiv year must be nominated three weeks before the sailing date of the first race. Tho selected boats from Southland and Dunedin will have to bo despatched to Auckland at least two weeks before tho first race is sailed. If these boats should bo damaged in any way in transit, tho owners would have very little chance of_ obtaining another boat in time. It will thus be seen that if tho other associations agreed to this latest one-sided proposition put forward by the Auckland Association—which they will not.—the advantage would be entirely with Auckland, and would give them a loophole in which to retain possession of tho cup. There are_ several members of the Auckland Association wdio are right against these unfair tactics, hut these have evidently been out-voted. It is to be hoped, however, that the Auckland Association will see the unfairness of the proposition, and that the series of races will be sailed under conditions satisfactory to the owmers of boats from each province.”