YACHTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 21

YACHTING.

IN TERP RO VI NUT A L CHAL LEN GE. The secretary of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association has received a commqpiodtion from the secretary of the Auckland Yacht and Motor float Association accepting with pleasure, on behalf of the latter body, the challenge from Otago for a series of races at Auckland at Easter between representative yachts of the 14ft one-design sailing dinghy class. The interest which is being manifested sailing dinghy class is likely to bo further stimulated b.v the donation of a New Zealand Champion Gup. The conditions governing competition for this trophy are indicated in an interesting letter received by Mr A. C. Hanlon, commodore of the Otag-o Yacht and Motor Boat Association, from Mr J. Ilislop (of the firm of Walker and Hall, Auckland), an old Dunedin yachtsmen. The writer says, inter alia:— “1 have given, on behalf of the firm, a 50-guinc-a cup for the champion boat ol New Zealand, amateur, one-design, 14ft. This cup will be competed for under the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for tho championship, and will be carried back to the club winning it. , The owner of the boat, in addition to the ordinary prize, will receive a small miniature of the cup to indicate his having held tho New Zealand <- 'hampion Gup. The cup itself is a very nice one, and I will, in the near future, send it dow n to you and ask you to have it shown in. say, Charles Begg and Co.’s window, along with a photograph of Lieutenant-commander Sanders, V.C., D. 5.0., R.N.R.

“We are dedicating (his c-up to the memory of N 'A Zealand’s gallant naval Victoria Cross hero, and perhaps it would riot bo out of place for me to record the exploits cf_ this gallant young New Zealander. Lieutenant commander William Edward Sanders, V.C., D. 5.0., R.N.R., born in Takapuno, Auckland, he spent his early boyhood pottering about the beats on the Waitemata Harbour, and had to go to sea much too early iit life to earn his own living*. However, lie was evidently made of the right stuff, for he gradually worked himself up in the Union Company’s steamers and obtained his master’s ticket, and was posted to the Union Company's Willoehra as third officer; Liter to ’the Tofua. He went to England trooping, and applied to join the Royal Navy. After some delay lie was given a post in the navy and within five months ho had won his Victoria Cross and his D.S.O. Ho was commander of a mystery ship, specially fitted out for his dangerous work of sinking submarines. VS e have the authority of the Admiralty dthat he was one of the most successful officers at his dangerous game, and amongst his captures was one of the most successful submarine oinmanders ill die German Navy. It was due to the escape of one of his prisoners, after he had handed them over to the naval authorities in Scotland, that his scheme for capturing submarines with tlie mystery ship was made known to the German Admiralty, and Lord Jellicoe is of the opinion that the I/un Admiralty appointed special ships, whose sole duty it was to pursue and sink him without trace. A letter written from the Admiralty to the father of the dead hero, said, after naming the vessel he commanded, ‘Her gallant commander, Lieutenant-com-mander Vv. E. banders, who, in a short time of five months, had been awarded the Victoria Cross and the D. 5.0., in command of his ship, went down beneath (ho Atlantic wave, leaving his name to be inscribed imperishable on the same roll of naval history where stands the names of Blake, Nelson, and Riou.’ “In presenting this cup as a memorial to such a gallant young New Zealand sailor, w,e trust that in some small degree we will keep his memory green amongst; the young yachtsmen of New Zealand, and we hope that his deeds will be an inspiration to every bey who believes within Ins heart and soul that the navy is the Empire’s all in all. I might mention that Admiral Jellicoe will be writing a lew lines to young New Zealand yachtsmen pointing out tlie great example that is set them by the late Commander Sanders. This message will be inscribed upon one of the panels of the cup, over the signature of Lord Jellicoe. This will make it interesting, seeing that the message is sent by die great Admiral of the Fleet in which Sanders played such a gallant part.”