THE SANDERS CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18131, 1 July 1922, Page 11

THE SANDERS CUP.

SPECIFICATION QUESTION.

AUCKLAND FLANS KEJEOTED

OTAGO OBJECTIONS. [BT TT.LXGBAI"H.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Friday. A meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor-boat Association was held at Dunedin last night. The business was to receive replies to the question, put to the other provinces in regard to the Auckland proposal to alter the plans and specifications of boats competing for the Sanders Cup. The Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association haa actually adopted these new plans,, and it is said that this has been done without consulting the other aquatic clnbs belonging to Auckland.

Southland answered to the effect that it left everything in the bands of the Otago Association. Canterbury wrote that it would not accept the Auckland proposals. Wellington did not write, but. communicated its reply to an Otago yachtsman, who chanced to be passing through, this being that Wellington could not see its way to accept the Auckland proposals, and that it assured Otago of support in whatever stops might be taken. It was decided send the following resolution to the Auckland body: "This association being of opinion that boats ; cannot be built strictly according to the plans and specifications submitted by the Auckland Yacht and Motor T boat Association and retain their measurements, and being of the further, opinion that boats built to such plans and specifieatif.ns would be slower than many of the boats already buiit, it is satisfied that enterprise in building will be killed. This association therefore declines to challenge again to race for the Sanders Cup. It is willing, however, to challenge the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association to race fear the championship of New Zealand for the 14ft. restricted class sailing dinghies under the plans and specifications submitted by the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association dated June 1, 1920, with amendments submitted by this association on August 16, 1921, a copy of which is attached hereto."

It was also decided to send a copy of the above resolution to the other provinces interested, who, it is understood, have rejected the Auckland plans and specifications.

Men who know the subject say that .Auckland in unreasonable in its demand for a one-design class, which means hard and fast measurements. New Zealand already has a restricted class, which means " not more than " in some things and " not less than" in others, and Otago argues that that is as near as can bo got. It is impossible to build two boats so exactly alike as to be mathematically identical, and even if such could be done a bump in travelling or a variation in temperature might cause a boat to vary by as much as would give measurers a chance to put her out. There is the further consideration that with a little give and take there is room for the boatbuilder's skill to .come in.