SANDERS CUP RACES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 8

SANDERS CUP RACES.

Canterbury Crew Receive Praise. At a meeting of the Wellington Yacht and Motor Boat Association a detailed report on the recent Sanders Cup races at Lyttelton was supplied by the Wellington crew manager (Captain Keane), who said that the result of the races was a true reflex of the merits of the boats and crews. “ It would be hard to improve on the condition of the Canterbury boat and her sails,” he said. “ Her crew work was consistent, the crew functioning as a unit more than the othe.- crews. It must be admitted that the spinnaker work of Forman was ahead of the others, but he was given every assistance by the skipper and crew to get his sail cet. . . . What little luck there was in the contest I think favoured Canterbury and was against Wellington, with Otago and Southland about equal. The contest will, however, rank as one of the most successful that has been held. It would be hard to get a better exhibition of one design racing so far as the boats were concerned. . . . The behaviour of the crew’s ashore and afloat was a credit to the provinces they represented The contest was conducted in a true sporting spirit and showed that such a sacred trust as a memorial to New Zealand’s naval hero can be safely left in the yachtsmen’s hands. “ As it was the first contest conducted under the New Zealand Yachting Council, it was pleasing indeed to see the council emerge with flying colours. The actual conduct of the contest was a credit to those responsible, as it was run off without a jarring note.” In referring to the crew, the report said:—“ Had the members been able to infuse some ‘ do or die ’ spirit into their work, they would have given a better account of themselves. It was quite obvious that at times their work was not of the standard which we know they were capable of, and I can only put that down to. the lack of sparkle and dash, which is necessary for success in these races.”

In the course of a desultory discussion on the Sanders Cup races. Captain Keane mentioned the disability under which the T 7ellington crew laboured in not having Lavina’s sails “ tuned up ” before the first race. The fine selection of sails at the disposal of the Canterbury boat was also mentioned.