Sanders Cup goes back to Northland

The Saturday and Sunday weather and sea conditions for the Sanders Cup and Phase 2 yacht races on Poverty Bay at the weekend contrasted markedly. On Saturday it was smooth sailing with little wind but on Sunday the variable conditions caused a few problems. Northlanders Craig Gilberd and Phil McNeill won their fifth interprovincial title. Pictures by Paul Rickard

THE Sanders Cup yachting title went down to the wire on Poverty Bay at the weekend and was decided on the last race.

The defending champions took the trophy back to Northland.

In shifting conditions yesterday, the fleet was buffeted by changing wind directions and strengths that saw every javelin capsizing at some stage of the three races held.

Phlipnhel, with Phil McNeill and Craig Gilberd, triumphed in the last race by a narrow one-boat margin over the Manawatu pair of Dave Brown and Dave Feek.

That was enough for them to retain the Sanders Cup as well as the Kingham Trophy sailed on Friday.

It was the fifth time that McNeill and Gilberd had won the interprovincial title.

Antje Muller and crew from South Canterbury in Hot Gossip were third.

Gisborne’s Colin Shanks used two substitute crew to cover for those who were injured. He finished fifth.

In the Phase 2 North Island titles, Adrian France and partner Marie from Hamilton saw off a close challenge from locals Peter and Lucy Millar, sailing together for the first time in a contest.

France won the title with a race to spare.

He took up the challenge from the Millar team to let the women helm the last race. It was narrowly won by the France pair after they had trailed the Gisborne team for most of the race.

The Phase 2 racing for the top two boats was very close, with winning margins down to just one second in race three.

Third place overall went to Gisborne’s Noah Lee and his crew.