YACHTING AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23362, 30 November 1937, Page 7

YACHTING AFFAIRS

CORNWELL CUP TRIAL RACE TO BE RESAILED As a result of a complaint lodged by letter from Mr A. W. Watson, who was disqualified last Saturday in the second race of the Cornwell Cup trial held -at Ravensbourne, it was decided at last night's meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association that the race be declared null and void, and Mi at it be resailed. Mr J. D. Cameron was in the chair, and there were also present: Messrs G. King, F. P.rcy, W. H. RiddelJ, F. C. Henderson, J. Kewish, A. Cameron, H. Nees, C. Smith, P. Ward, F. C. Brown, W. G. Hewitt, W. H. Sell, and the secretary (Mr A. Robb). Mr Watson stated that he considered he had been treated unfairly by being disqualified. Mr Riddell informed the meeting that he had given the sailing course for the day, and had told the crews of the boats that they had to keep to an up-channel course. Watson had not followed the directions, he concluded, and consequently had been disqualified. . Members were divided in thenopinions of the happening. Mr Ward stating that, in his opinion, a mistake had been made in disqualifying the contestant. It would be better to have the race resailed, as other boats had not strictly adhered to the instructions, another member stated. \fter further discussion Mr Percy moved that Mr Watson be advised that, on account of the written instructions of the judge; not being fully explicit the race would be declared null and void, and be resailed. The motion was seconded by Mr Ward: An amendment was moved by Mr Riddell that the action of the judges be upheld, this also being seconded. On being put to the meeting the motion was lost, the amendment being carried by eight votes to three. In view of the heavy reservations being made for berths on the interisland ferry over the Christmas period, it was agreed that the secretary should pencil in three berths for December 28 for the members of the Otago crew who were going to Wellington to compete in the Cornwell Cup contest on January 3. WRONG INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED Although he emphasised that he did not wish to cause any trouble Mr Henderson was strongly indignant at the verbal instructions issued to the crews of three of the boats in Saturdays Sanders Cup trial to the effect that the buoy in the Lower Harbour was supposed to be shifted over to the Macandrew Bay side. When the race started, he said, the three boats concerned—Eileen, Betty and Val—had proceeded in the direction of where the buoy was supposed to be and had then found that the buoy had not been shifted at all. This had resulted :n lost time and had caused a deal of annoyance to the crews concerned. None of the other five boats had received instructions of this nature from a member of the Sailing Committee. On Saturday a certain boat had been fouled and her chances of winning the race had been considerably lessened. Club members wanted assurance from the association that similar happen.ngs would not occur again. One member should not give verbal instructions, he concluded; they should be given by every delegate on the committee. Mr Percy said the matter was an eye-opener to him, but if it was the wish of the Sailing Committee to shift the buoy he was willing to co-operate with them. ~ ._ The discussion then lapsed, Mr Henderson mentioning later in the evening that he would bring the matter up again unless some satisfaction was obtained. SANDERS CUP The Auckland Association wrote asking if Otago was challenging for the Sanders Cup under the conditions existent in a copy of the minutes of the 1936 conference. The president stated that he had ob. tained from the Canterbury Association a copy of the minutes of the 1936 conference. He drew the attention of members to some conditions and rules in the minutes which had since been deleted. The Otago Association, he said, was challenging under the 1937 rules, which were the same as those employed at Lyttelton last year. It was decided to inform the Auckland Association of Otago's decision to challenge for the Sanders Cup under the 1937 rules. MASPORT CUP CONTEST The subject, of the Masport Cup contest was introduced by Mr Nees, who stated that there had been some talk of holding the Masport Cuo contest on the Otago Harbour next year, but, as far as he knew, nothing had been done in the matter. Mr Hewitt said that he had been in touch with the Picton Association, but had learned that no meeting had yet been held. Otago had launched a challenge for the cup, and if possible it was hoped to hold the contest here next year. If it was not held in Dunedin Otago would send a boat up to Picton. In the meantime, however, the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association was not committed to anything of a definite nature.