CORNWELL CUP CONTEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 63

CORNWELL CUP CONTEST.

TAKAPUNA CLUB’S ACTION.

OTAGO ASSOCIATION’S DECISION.

Some plain words were spoken by delegates who attended a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, held on Wednesday evening, when the recent Cornwall Cup contests came up for discussion. Most of flie delegates expressed strong views on the decisions arrived at by the officials who. controlled the contest at Auckland early in February, and every point leading up to the decision arrived at by the Takapuna Club officials was discussed at some length. The discussion was introduced after th- secretary had read the following letter from the Takapuna Boating Club

Your letter of February 27 ncorporating a resolution by your association was considered by my committeee at its last meeting. It was treated as a request from your association that my club should join with you in preparing a statement of the facts and rules re’ating to the resailing of the Sfth race in order that the statement could be sent to the Yacht Racing Association for a ruling as to whether the Cornwell Cup Sailing Committee’s decision was a correct one. If this is what was intended my committee feels that tho course proposed is unnecessary, and will be devoid of all practical value. In the first place the rules relating to the Cornwell Cup make it clear that my club has no status, as the whole control of the race was in the hands of the Cor.twcll Cup Sailing Committee, whose decision disposed of the matter finally. It has been suggested tha". a ruling would be of assistance to those controlling future contests, but upon reference to the Cornwell Cup rules you will see that each conference can make such modification of the sailing rules for its own contest as it thinks desirable, and it follows that if you) association considers that any of the sailing rules are not clear or contrary to the best interests of yachting your delegate should move an amendment when the conference meets 24 hours before the next contest. In the opinion of my committee, however, the deciding factor is that the whole controversy hinges so much on the special sailing rules -elating to the Cornwell Cup contest that the Yacht Racing Association will refuse to give a ruling, and will hold that the proper body to decide any such matter would be the body which made the rules. My committee will, therefore, be pleased if you will further consider your proposal in the light of matters now mentioned and if you are still desirous of a ruling on the matter, which is now, after all, merely one of academic interest my committee will obtain from the judges and other officials full statements of what took place, and will supplement this with a statement as to the circumstances under which the much-debated sailing rule 3 was inserted, and its opinion as to the scope and intention of that rule. Subject to the approval ,of the late delegates, the whole matter could then be submitted to the Yacht Racing Association for its opinion on that part of the controversy which is governed by its rules.

Upon receipt of a reply from you my committee will submit the proposal to the late delegates for their approval. Although the Contest Sailing Committee has ceased to function, my committee feels that courtesy demauds that the various delegates should be consulted.

Mr J. T. Paul said the Takapuna Club’s letter had been received by the association with keen regret. The club’s decision, according to the letter, showed its disinclination to have the question referred to the Yacht Racing Association. The letter very skilfully evaded the whole question. The supreme yachting authority was the Yacht Racing Association—a recognised body, to which an appeal could be made in connection with any yacht racing rules. Such being the case, it was ridiculous for anv body of men, such as had been brought together to conduct the Cornwell Gup contest held at Auckland early in February, to decide that there should be no appeal in regard to the official’s decision concerning the contest. It was quite, evident that the Takapuna Club wag not anxious to have the matter cleared up, and the club also failed to recognise that it was a vital matter. The Otago Association should enter an emphatic protest, and to

carry the matter further he would move the following resolution :— “ The Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association records keen disappointment with the letter from the committee of the Takapuna Boating Club on the ground that the committee of the club fails utterly to recognise the importance of having all decisions in full harmony with the practice and rules of yachting, as interpreted by the supreme yachting authority—the Y.R.A. of Great Britain. This association holds that the contest for the Cornwell Cup, which has been ostensibly designed to encourage and train young yachtsmen, cannot be successfully and permanently conducted on lines at total variance with the soundly established rules of yacht racing • that the ' special sailing rules relating to the Cornwell Cup con test and ‘ the much-discussed rule 3 (boat not to be interfered with), ae quoted in the committee’s letter, ar e being introvC > i , P ur P os e confusing what should be stated to the Y R. A. as a plain case; that the committee’s statements that this association s. proposal for a ruling from the Y.R.A. ‘ is unnecessary and will be devoid of all practical value,’ and that a ruling on th e matter is merely one of academic interest ’ shows conclusively that the club fails' to appreciate the importance and far-reaching effects of an incorr,’Ct, ,- e ?T‘° n ’ . lts lnheren t injustice, and its blighting influence o n the future of the contest; this association therefore regrets that the committee of the Takapuna Club refuses to agree to its request that a plain cas e should be impartially prepared and submitted to the Y.R A for a ruling. ’ “

T -^ ndors ?n advocated that the assofn H? 1 S v° U H edhe . r sel,d the appeal direct flnil 1 ¥ achfc Racing Association for its final decision, or let the matter drop onc c fw L He thou g ht th e Takapuna eiiV letter gOlng t 0 place the as s°F at ’°" U k a m’ 1 , 1 more awkv -ard position, e the Takapuna Club appeared to have its own sailing rules, and it wag a farce to pursue the question any further, nl F Ub A C W I S t ? red of the controversy, and he thought it was onlv a waste of K e TX“»»c‘ub!' ..liC.'’" 1 s . aid . tlle future ° f the Coronn L C P contest was seriously jeopardised unless a proper interpretation of the racing rules was obtained from the Yacht ti™ r £/ SS °% tiOn -, The Ota S° Association had considered the whole matter in an unbiased manner, and, such being the would b e fg SU i re tllat tlle association vould have the hearty support of every Jachtsman and the public in whatever n fi ,t r7 iay dee ' de to take to rea ch some finality as regards the sailing rules f °r fhe Cornwell Cup contest. Hie association then went into comnntttee to discuss various points in connection with the case. It was afterwards announced that a copy of the president’s resolution which was unanimously ad °P^ ed . b e forwarded to the Takapuna Boatmg dub, together with a copy of the tollowing resolution:— “That this association is desirous of. forwarding a plain statement of the circumstances'’ in connection with the resailing o f the fifth race in the recent Cornwell Cup contest for a ruling by the Yacht Racing Asso ciation. —A copy of the association’s -statement will be forwarded to the club tor consideration.

Mr F Goodwin said the association was very fortunate in having such a fair and patient president as Mr Paul who had given much time and thought to the various important points connected with the unsatisfactory result of the contest, ai." 1 aul was to be complimented for his work on behalf of the association and yachtsmen generally. Mr W O. Martin spoke in similar terms, and a resolution was carried thanking Mr Paul for his services and the action he had taken.