CUP PRESENTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 6

CUP PRESENTED

IDLE ALONG CHAMPIONSHIPS BAY OF PLENTY CREW CONGRATULATED MARITA'S FINE BURST OF SPEED j The New Zealand Idle Aiong Sailing Championship Cup was presented to R. Mackell, skipper of the Bay of Plenty boat Rose Marie, at a function attended by crews and delegates in the Aurora Sailing Club’s room yestex-day afternoon. The chairman of the committee, Mr A. K. Griffith, presided and congratulated the winners on their fine sailing, and he also made refei*ence to the wonderful exhibition of sailing given by the Canterbury boat Marita in the second race of the series. Mr Griffith congratulated Bay of Plenty on its fine sailing throughout the contest and explained that the cup was being handed over in recognition of the Taux-anga boat's fine performances, pending an appeal by Wellington against the committee's decision in connection with the re-sailed second event. If Wellington did appeal and was successful that centre would have a right to a re-sail.

Mr Gi’iffith said he had been a sailor since 1908, with 14 yeai's professional services and in his long experience of sticks, slings and winds he had seen sailing I‘anging from the seven-footex*s in Nelson Harbour to the 2000-tonners. However he had never seen anything go so fast in sail as the Marita last Thursday afternoon when the boat planed over the water for a long distance. The skipper, E. Beaumont, was to be congratulated on a fine piece of seamanship.

Throughout the contest the championship winners, Bay of Plenty, displayed excellent tactics and the skipper showed that Rose Marie was hard to beat in any weather. The Wellington skipper, C. V. Stutter, also sailed the Tornado with great skill. The championships, said Mr Griffith, hdd pi*ovided Nelsonians with a gx*eat sailing treat and would help the sport greatly in Nelson. One outcome of the contest was the addition of the Canterbury boat Marita to the Nelson fleet as it had been purchased by local yachtsmen. On behalf of the Aurora Sailing Club he thanked the visitors for coming to Nelson and making the contest such a success.

Mr R. Mackell, skipper of the winning boat, said it was a great thrill to him to have come out on top in the contest. It gave him the greater pleasure because he built the boat himself. He thanked the Nelson Club for the hospitality extended to himself and crew during their stay. Mr T. F. Coxxnor, Commodore of the Tauranga Sailing Club, said the matter of expense was a big matter in sending a boat as far as Nelson, but his committee considered it necessary to give the crew experience this year in view of the sailing at the Centenial i-egatta at Wellington next year. The fact of taking the cup away was a secondary considei'ation.

Mr Connor thanked the Nelson people for the manner in which the visitors had been entertained and housed. Nothing had been left undone which would have done moi*e to make the stay a pleasant one. Mr A. V/. Johnson (Wellington) congratulated the Bay of Plenty skipper on the splendid way he had sailed his boat. The racing had been of a high order. The best of boats of each centre were present and he did not think there was very much difference between the Tornada and the Rose Marie. The weather had been windy at times and tl.e visiting skippers had managed the wind and tide conditions really well. He also thanked the Auroroa Sailing Club for their help and the good time they had given the visitors.

Mr Johnson hoped that the Tauranga class cup donated by the Nelson Club would be contested as a New Zealand championship event at the Centennial regetta at Wellington next year. The difficulty of a Tauranga championship was the travelling by boys, but if the contest was held each year in conjunction with the Idle Along Championship, the boys would always have someone to travel with. He thanked the Nelson Club and the Harbour Board for the facilities provided for the racing. Mr J. Mahar (Canterbury) also thanked the Aurora Club and the Nelson people for the hospitality extended to his crew.

Mr Gi'iffith in reply said it was a pleasure to have the visitors in Nelson and he concluded by expressing the thanks of the committee to Captain Reeves for making his launch available for the officials during the contest.