THE SANDERS CUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 14

THE SANDERS CUP.

PREPARATIONS FOR CONTEST. DELEGATES IN CONFERENCE. (Special to Daily Times.) AKAROA, February 13. All preparations have been completed for the first race in the Sanders Cup contest which will be held to-morrow. The crews have been busy overhauling their gear and .giving a .final polish to the boats. Very little sailing has been done during, the past few days .owing to the absence of wind. This morning the Eileen, Clyde and Colleen were out in a light wind which freshened-slightly in the afternoon when the Avalon -, and Murihiku HI joined the. others in practice sailing. The Avalon looked a picture with her. hull polished to a mirror-like surface, although the Canterbury boat, Colleen, has little to lose as regards appearance in comparison. Both the Auckland and the Canterbury crews are very confident. In a practice run Murihiku 111 showed that she could move well i.. light airs. A triangular course has been buoyed off tentatively, starting off at a'main wharf, thence around the buoy, off Green Point,-thence around a buoy off Red Point and back to the starting line, three times-round. - So far very light winds have prevailed and the harbour will undoubtedly be a flukey one as regards wind.

Mr G. Andrews is among the visitors to Akaroa and he hopes to have Betty here in time to sail in the championship race on Saturday. The tenth Sanders Cup Conference met to-night, when the visiting delegates and yachtsmen were welcomed by the Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong). In the course of his welcome Mr Armstrong said that although not much sailing was done in Akaroa at present, the time was when the sailing events attracted large entries at the annual regatta. In those days there were cutter and schooner races, and more exciting still whaleboat races, especially those between the rival crews of the pakehas and the Maoris. Therefore the holding of the Sanders Cup contest at Akaroa was but a revival of sailing, and he hoped it would cause more interest to be taken in sailing locally. He welcomed the visitors and hoped the contest would be most successful and that they would find the harbour all they expected 'it .to be. Mr W. Duncan (Wellington) replied on behalf, of the conference, expressing the appreciation of the visitors of the delights of Akaroa and its beautiful harbour.

Messrs W. D. Wilkinson (Auckland), J. T. Paul (Dunedin) 3 0. Johnston (Southland) and H. G. Lamb (Canterbury) also replied. . Mr Duncan (Wellington) was elected chairman of the conference. In opening the conference he said he hoped, that the proceedings would be conducted amicably and that any differences would be 'ettled at the conference. He also hoped that .the various associations would support’ the action of their respective delegates when they returned. Mr W. D. Wilkinson (Auckland) was appointed secretary. In the absence of Mr 0. Mollcr, Mr F. Cloke acted as the other delegate for Auckland. The proposal-to inaugurate a Dominion fund ; to • build sis boats, one for each province, was briefly disposed of, all the delegates voting against it. It was stated that all the associations had'turned down the proposal. The proposal to tighten up the regulations in regard to the measurements of boats was introduced by the chairman. Mr Wilkinson (Auckland) said his association was of the opinion that the present regulations were sufficient, except that" there, should '.be a minimum weight. The proposal was, dropped. ,

A remit, was. received from the.,Canterbury Association asking, that the' regulations be altered so. that the boats, should be measured prioy eo each contest." ’ Mr P. Morrison (Canterbury)' moved —“ That a set of outside moulds should be made three-quarters of an inch larger than the inside-moulds to allow'for the thickness of> the planking.” This was seconded by .Mr H. G. Lamb (Canterbury),.-' . . ■ ' ■ Mr T. Anderson (Otago) said he did not see that any advantage could be gained by measuring boats from outside moulds. "

Mr Paul,(Otago) said this was an important question, and if carried would completely revolutionise the existing condition!

At this stage the chairman ruled that the remit was out of order, as the associations had not received copies at the proper time. The proposal will probably be dealt with at a later stage of the conference, .

The. Royal New Zealand -Yacht Squadron submitted a.pro forma remit ,to the effect that the age of all future Sanders Cup crews should be restricted to 21 years.

Mr Wilkinson said, he would have ,to support the remit. He was-in a very awkward position, - but he was in duty bound to move" the remit pro forma. He wished to take an expression of opinion back to Auckland after the remit had been discussed. • ; < .

The chairman said that the general opinion throughout the Dominion was against such a proposal. The remit was not discussed at any length, and the delegates voted against it; the decision being unanimous.

Mr Wilkinson said he was of the opinion that all the boats should be allowed to compete in each race until one boat secured tt - ee wins.

Mr Anderson expressed" the same opinion

Mr Wilkinson then submitted his suggestion in the. form of a resolution, which was carried unanimously. The following contest officials were elected:—

Judges—Messrs H. Camp, G. Andrews, W. Duncan.

Measurers, Messrs T. Anderson and W. A. Wilkinson.

Starter and timekeeper, Mr W. Wilkinson.

It was decided that the first race start at 2 p.m. to-morrow, and that two races be sailed on Friday, starting at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. It was decided that the time limit for each . race be three, hours. The course for to-morrow, will be a windward and leeward one. The first race on Friday will be over a triangular course.