Sanders Cup Senior Interprovincial Challenge at Lake Taupo for the 95th time
by Antje Muller 26 Jan 2019 21:16 PST
22-24 February 2019
Phil and Craig - Sanders Memorial Cup © New Plymouth Yacht Club
This year, the historic trophy will be sailed for on Lake Taupo from 22-24 February.
Entries are confirmed from Northland, Auckland, East Coast and Wellington, with Bay of Plenty deciding their representative at the Tauranga Regatta the week before the event.
Northland's Phil McNeil and Craig Gilberd have been winning the Sanders Cup five consecutive times since 2014, marking an exceptional winning streak in the 99-year history of this competition as they beat the X-Class Charade's record that has stood since 1970. They have not been able to sail in any event since last season due to injury, leaving the fleet guessing at the performance they will bring to Motuoapa.
The two family teams from East Coast and Manawatu have both held the trophy before and are keen to get their hands on it again. The new combination from Auckland of Peter Precey and Hamish Hey is an unknown quantity, bringing the latest Lee design to a fresh water venue for the first time.
The Kingham Trophy is put up for the open invitation race, and the Ladies team are hoping for light airs for a chance to take the impressive silver yacht home. The Manawatu entry of David Brown and David Feek are keen to bring their local knowledge into play to finally win this trophy, the only New Zealand Javelin silver they have not yet been able to conquer. It holds a special place in their family, as the crew's father Trevor Feek had won it in 1965 crewing on the X-Class Roseann III.
If you know anyone who would like to give these fast affordable fun boats a try, please contact the class on www.facebook.com/JavelinSkiff or at . There are often crewing or helming positions available, as well as boats for charter.
The Notice of Race is available here.