GYPSY BACK TO REGULAR RACING, WINS C CLASS KEELERS' CONTEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 15

GYPSY BACK TO REGULAR RACING, WINS C CLASS KEELERS' CONTEST

Her powerful hull and gaff sail stood A. Leyland's Gypsy in good stead on Saturday when she won the unofficial championship race foi C Class keelers arranged by Mr. D. H. Skelton. In a fresh, but steady south-westerly, over a course of 10 miles, with a good deal of leading and only two short distances of slogging, the conditions suited Gypsy well, although Leo Bouzaid's Scout and D. 11. Skelton's Cyrena were never out of the picture. The oldtimer Speedwell sailed more to her true form of many seasons ago especiallv on the wind on the final leg of the race, when she headed Cyrena.

Best on-the-wind performances were put up by Scout.. With her tall Marconi sail and big Genoa bringing her high into the wind, Scout went into the lead on the first leg to the Pipe beacon and she rounded 22s ahead of Cyrena and 37s ahead of Gypsy. She was still leading when the fleet passed Westhavcn, although Gypsy was already narrowing the margin and was in second place. After passing King's Wharf, Scout lost her spinnaker tack. Gypsy opened up the break and was soon well ahead and to windward. Cyrena was in second place when the Resolution mark was reached, although Scout was only 10s astern. The flat run suited Gypsv well, and she increased her lead "from Scout, although Cyrena picked up 5s and was still in second position.

Back on the slog for the return to Resolution, Scout again demonstrated her remarkable propensity for windward work, and laid Resolution in two boards. This fine performance brought her into the lead by 15s from Gypsy. This was soon more than made up by Gypsy on the leg to the Viking, in Shoal Bay, and here she again had a lead of 29s over Scout.

A dead beat to windward made an exciting last leg. Gypsy, Scout and Cyrena, after a short board on port, stood round on starboard towards the Western Wharf. Speedwell's

skipper, W. Paterson, showed good judgment in holding on to the poit tack as far as Northcote point before going about, and he made up considerably. , . o When the three leaders came round Speedwell was hard in then wake. Excellent handling increased Gvpsv's lead, but Sco-ut was now sailing at her best. All four boats lav for the line in close companySpeedwell, which had shaken out her two reefs and was sailing fastei, caught Cyrena on the wrong tacK and slipped into third place. Gypsy had a make a short board to pass inside the starting' mark, but sne crossed at 4h 26m 555, 2m 9s ahead of Scout. At 4h 30m 26 s came Speedwell. Cyrena finished at 4h 31m 2Gs and lona at 4h 40m 40s. Although the winner, Gypsy, was built shortly before the outbreak ot the present war, the season just finished was her first in regular C class racing. She has proved herselt exceptionally good in heavy going, and in the hard sou'-westerly blow of last Regatta Day she led Scout home by a good margin. Her lig, however, has been favoured by the type of course which has been sailed during the sccison. Courses nave provided a good deal of leading and running, with onl3 r short on-the-wind l e£ r S and. very little hard slogging to windward. Gypsy has been well handled, though, and her skipper has always shown good judgment. In addition to gaining the championship, Gypsy also won the race on corrected time, with Cyrena second and Speedwell third. Although the two races were termed "harbour championships by the organiser, the results were not official, as the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association has the sole right to hold class championship races. Formerly, the first boat home in her class at the Anniversary Regatta was regarded as the champion. , . , The E class race, which was sailed in conjunction, was won on time by Naiad, which finished first. Cherie was second and Moutere third. Finishing times were: Naiad, 4h 47m 425; Cherie, 4h 48m 0s; Moutere, 4h 51m 18s.