YACHTING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25084, 16 January 1947, Page 4

YACHTING

TAURANGA CLASS CONTEST

CANTERBURY AND AUCKLAND WIN RACES The New Zealand sailing championship for Tauranga, or P class sailing boats, for the Tanner Cup, was started on the Estuary at Mount Pleasant yesterday, when two races were held. Auckland won the first race and Canterbury the aecond. They are equal on fcomts. The Tauranga class isffor 7ft restricted boata for boys under 16 years on January 1, and the boats are sailed singlehanded. The contest was inaugurated at Wellington in 1940. Last year’s winner was G. Mander, of the Mount Pleasant Boating Club, in Hi-Ho. This year he is defending the cup in a new boat. Pip. Interest in the present contest is added ’o. by the entry of a girl, Jean Mackay, who is representing South Auckland: The Tanner Cup was given by Mr R. G. H. Tanner, of Wellington, for interprovincial competition. The contest is decided by one boat securing three winfl. or by a competitor securing most points in five races. The first race, Which started at 10.52 a.m., was over a windward and leeward course, the distance being three miles. There was a light southerly wind and a flood tide. Finishing the first run to the leeward mark, Canterbury led Auckland, with South Auckland (Jean Mackay), Bay of Plenty, and Nelson following. Mander (Canterbury) maintained his lead on the beat up to the weather mark, but Cheetah, the Bay of Plenty boat, rounded in second place. M.C. (Nelson) had been in second place, but had mistaken the mark. Auckland was in fourth position. On the run down to the mark again Jean Mackay was successful in blanketing the Nelson boat for a while. On the turn Canterbury was still leading, wita the Auckland boat second. It was on the beat to the finishing line that Auckland overtook Canterbury, to win by 20 seconds. _ _ , The result was:—-Kiwi (D. Jackson), Auckland, 11.59.23, 1; Pip (G. Mander), Canterbury, 11.59.43, 2; Cheetah (B Southey), Bay of Plenty, 12.1.47, 3; Thistle (Jean Mackay), South Auckland, 12.3.48, 4; Pluto (W. Yates), Wellington 12.9.34, 5; Falcon (D. Mills), Hawke’s Bay, 12.n.30, 6; Fiona (P. McConachy), South Canterbury, 12.15.59, 7. M.C. (M. Amos), Nelson, finished third but was disqualified for fouling a mark. The second race was started at the top of the tide and was over a triangular course, the wind having become lighter. The start was at 12.33 p.m., and at the end of the first lap Canterbury was leading from Nelson by 21 seconds. After the boats passed the jetty Auckland went into second place, with Bay of Plenty and Nelson close handy. Canterbury increased her lead as the round progressed, and soon had 11 minutes on Auckland. Mander continued to increase h Heiults:—Pip (Canterbury), l-20-39 P-m., 1; Kiwi (Auckland), 1.23.2 L 2; M.C. (Nelson), 1.23.53, 3; Cheetah (Bay of Plenty), 1.24.3, 4; Pluto (Wellington), 1.27D0, 5, Falcon (HaWke’s Bay), 130.42, 6; Thistle (South Auckland), 1.31.45, 7; Fiona (South Canterbury), 1.33.55, 8. * Points awarded for the two races were as follows: z on Auckland and Canterbury (equal) 173.80, Wellington 89.04, Bay of Plenty 87.14, South Auckland 66.47, Hawkes Baj' 60./I, South Canterbury 51.58, Nelson 50. Two more races will be held to-day, the first of which will start at 11 a.m. At the finish of the present contest an inter-club contest will be held for the Mellish Cup.