AUCKLAND REGATTAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 3

AUCKLAND REGATTAS

BIG CENTENNIAL FEATURE WORLD'S SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP EIGHTEEN-FOOT BOATS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 6. One of the outstanding features of the centennial regattas to be held in Auckland early next year will be the world sailing championship for 18foot boats. In view of the tremendous interest aroused in Auckland last February when three of the fastest of the Australian 18-foot boats competed with the best of the Auckland fleet, it is expected there will be a large entry for the race, including several new boats now in the course of construction or in contemplation. Recent advice from Sydney indicates that a number of representative boats of this class will in all probability be sent across the Tasman. Further interest is likely to be lent to the contest by the possibility of such famous yachtsmen as Harold J. Vanderbilt, of New York, and T. O. M. Sopwith, of London, sending boats to Auckland to take part. Although better known for their part in the recent America's Cup race, when they competed with the big yachts of " J " class, Mr Vanderbilt and Mx Sopwith have both sailed in boats of a smaller type and have keen interest in the sport generally. About three months ago the Mayor (Sir Ernest Davis) who is„,also chairman of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council, wrote to Mr Vanderbilt and Mr Sopwith suggesting that each of them might consider building and sending to New Zealand in 1940 an 18-foot sailing boat to take part in the contest. There has not yet been time to receive a considered reply to these letters, but Sir Ernest has assured them that if they decided to be represented this will be greeted as a gesture of goodwill that will be greatly appreciated by New Zealand.

There is also the hope that the participation of these two outstanding yachtsmen will result in other English and American owners deciding to take part. Two years ago Mr Vanderbilt was in communication with the New South Wales 18Footers' League as a result of his interest in the type of boat used in the league's Sydney races, and a copy of the specifications governing the construction of these~boats was sent to him.

As showing the likelihood of Australian clubs sending champion boats to Auckland next year, it was stated in Sydney recently that a special £2OO gold cup and the J. J. Giltinan trophy, worth £75, would go to the winner of the New Zealand race. A further statement made in Sydney in recent weeks which should go far to remove all traces of the unpleasantness which marred the contest in Auckland last February was that it was now unlikely that the New South Wales 18-Footers' League would carry further Bert Swinburne's protest against the, disqualification of his boat Taree.