Celebrating the 100th edition of the Sanders Cup Interprovincial Challenge in Gisborne
by Craig Gilberd and Antje Muller 28 Apr 17:51 BST
25-28 April 2024
Sanders Cup Interprovincial Challenge 2024 © Peter Millar
A full social and racing program of was scheduled for this auspicious anniversary.
The following provinces were represented:
- Northland - Phil McNeill and Hamish Hey
- North Harbour - Peter Precey and Alex Edwards
- Auckland - Rob Fordyce and Craig Gilbert
- Bay Plenty - Antje Muller and Fi Charman
- East Coast - Ross Shanks and Colin Shanks
- Manawatu - David Brown and David Feek
- Wellington - Wade McGee and Demian Dixon
- South Canterbury - Bill Frater and Gordon Collister
On the water, fierce competition from 11 previous cup winners was as expected. Colin and Ross Shanks attempted to defend the Cup on home waters after their tie-breaker win at the last event held on Lake Rotoiti.
As the oldest trophy sailed for in New Zealand under its original inception, and the only remaining senior interprovincial challenge competition still sailed for today, the Sanders Cup holds a special place in New Zealand Yachting History.
Since the inaugural races in 1921, the Sanders Cup has been sailed every year with the exception of 1942-45. Originally sailed in the 14 ft X-Class, the competition was transferred to the John Spencer designed Javelin Class in 1971 to continue this fine tradition.
The trophy was dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant-Commander William E. Sanders from Devonport, who served in the First World War with the Royal Naval Reserve. In command of the Q-Ship "Prize", Sanders distinguished himself through leadership and courage in action, which earned him the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order posthumously, after the "Prize" was sunk with all crew by a German U-Boat in August 1917.
The Kingham Trophy - Sailed on ANZAC Day
This beautiful trophy was presented by Harry Kingham and family in 1952 to the winner of the Invitation Race, sailed prior to the Sanders Cup.
This race was held in a gusty northerly offshore breeze with peaks around 30 knots. Survival was the name of the game with only the three of the eight competing yachts completing the course without capsizing. The Northland representatives, Phil McNeill and Hamish Hey, won easily from the Auckland representatives, Rob Fordyce and Craig Gilberd.
The impressive trophy was donated by the Timaru Yacht Club in 1951. Fittingly, this edition boasted an entry from that club, Bill Frater and Gordon Collister, the only South Island representatives this year.
A special honour was the presence of Commander Yvonne Gray of HMS Manawanui who was invited to commemorate Commander William Sanders, the only New Zealand Navy officer to be awarded the Victoria Cross. In the spirit of the day, before the presentations, Gina Samson spoke the Oath to the Fallen followed by a minute of silence.
Commander Gray acknowledged the connections between the Navy Commander the trophy is named after and the history and traditions of more than 100 years of 14-foot Interprovincial competitions as well as the current yacht races on modern carbon foam sandwich boats. Her first presentation was the Kingham Trophy to the new holders Phil McNeill and Hamish Hey on Phlipnhel. Hamish thanked his skipper and the organisers, mentioning how he enjoys being back in the fleet after a few years of absence. The Sanders Cup Trophy from 1921 was then presented to the Gisborne Yacht Club Commodore Colin Shanks as a special mark of respect for the 100th edition of the event. In return, the Club gifted a replica of her ship, made by Peter Millar, to Commander Gray.
Sailors and supporters afterwards enjoyed refreshments and a barbecue while some boat repairs were carried out in the background to ready the fleet for the next days of racing.
Sanders Cup Competition
The first race of the series was held straight after the Kingham in similar conditions with half the fleet not able to complete the course. This race was won once again by Northland.
Overnight repairs to 4 of the 8 boats enabled everybody to be ready for the next day, except for Auckland whose damage to mast and rudder was too extensive to repair.
Day 2 of the regatta consisted of 3 races, sailed again in strong winds gusting 25 to 30 knots. This resulted in Manawatu sailed by David Brown and David Feek making the best of the tough conditions to record a first and 2 seconds, which gave them the overall lead with one day of sailing to go.
Day 3 dawned sunny with the breeze swinging around to Gisborne's fabled southerly sea breeze of 6 to 12 knots. A large onshore swell with a chop on top and large windshifts resulted in placings in each race changing continuously. With Manawatu's mainsail coming adrift in the first race, they scored 9, 2 and 4 points. This opened the door to Northland regaining the lead with placings of 2, 3 and 1, but Wellington representatives Wade McGee and Demian Dixon were on fire, recording 1, 1 and 2. So now having sailed 7 races, the Sanders Cup was won by Northland by 1 point from Manawatu with Wellington a further 2 points back.
On the final evening, past and current owners were honoured, and the granddaughter of the first ever winner awarded the beautiful Sanders Cup to the Northland represeantatives. During the course of dinner, the DFL was awarded to Ross Shanks, and an emotional moment was the award of Life Membership to Craig Gilberd who has been actively sailing - and winning - in the Javelin Class for half a century.
The evening confirmed to all present the positive atmosphere of the Class. Huge thanks are due to all involved in the organisation of this successful event, Race Officer Paul Davies and his crew, the Gisborne Yacht Club and their dedicated volunteers, as well as all sailors and supporters.
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