Getting ready for the 2020 Sanders Cup at Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club, Wellington
by Antje Muller 28 Nov 2019 15:41 PST
6-8 December 2019
Wade and Demian onshore - Sanders Cup © Antje Muller
As the winners of the 2019 Sanders Cup, Wellington Province has the right to defend the trophy on their home waters if they wish. They have taken up this right and so the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club is proudly hosting the 96th edition of this prestigious regatta, over the period of the 6th to the 8th December 2019.
Wellingtons win, the Province's first since 1987 after a wait of 32 years, was a just reward for its representatives, skipper Wade McGee and crew Demian Dixon. They had their Javelin written off in a car accident eighteen months prior and had to purchase and tune up another boat before their win on Lake Taupo.
The regatta is preceded by the holding of the open invitation race, the Kingham Trophy, which is contested by the provincial Javelin representatives as well as any other Javelin that wishes to attend. This one-off race provides a winner-take-all attitude; risk and reward tactics are fully used.
Wade and Demian will face stiff competition to retain their hold on the trophy, and this is expected to be lead by Colin and Ross Shanks from the East Coast, who have won the Sanders Cup three times previously, and from Manuwatu's David Brown and David Feek, who have been winners twice before.
Any province wishing to attend can enter online www.ebymbc.org.nz/2020-sanders-cup.
There are boats available for charter; please contact Antje Muller on to arrange.
Later this season, the Javelin class is holding its open National Championship in Tauranga on the 15th to the 17th February 2020, which is the New Zealand sailors' last racing opportunity before the boats are loaded into a container for the 2020 Javelin South Pacific Championships in Australia.
That event is to be held on Lake Cootharaba, north of Brisbane, over Easter 2020, and the 6 strong Javelin fleet will attempt to win (and beat the Australians on home waters) for the 4th time in a row. A good sized fleet, which has been up to 26 boats in the recent past, should make for exciting racing in the expected conditions of moderate sea breezes and up to 35 degree temperatures. Details for this event are available on lcsc.org.au/javelintitles
For more information on the Javelin Skiff Owners Association, please visit www.javelins.org, or follow us at facebook.com/javelinskiff