Yachting OCEAN RACE TO AKAROA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 11

Yachting OCEAN RACE TO AKAROA

Serica Wins Trophy The Banks Peninsula Cruising Club's annual ocean race to Akaroa was wpn by P. J. Beaven's Serica when the race was sailed in good conditions yesterday. It was the first win by a B-class keeler for some years. The Serica, a Bermuda-rigged sloop designed by Alan Buchanan, won on a 34 per cent, handicap, gaining the Admiral Burges Watson Trophy. The Husky Memorial Trophy, awarded this year to the A class, was won by Calypso (A. R. Couling and J. Harrison). The first yacht home was the Perie Banu (W. M. Cotter), followed fairly closely by Tucana (L. Bachop and C. Dickie) and Gale (L. G. Holder). The race was notable for the number of starters—l4 —and the success of the smaller boats in the uncertain wind encountered off East Head. Some of the larger boats took advantage of the stronger wind offshore, and they managed to save their time by keeping moving. After a period of calm off East Head, the wind backed away to the east, giving the yachts a good, fast spinnaker run to the Akaroa Heads.

Near the finishing line, flukey winds caused by the high surrounding country made the final few hundred yards uncertain and exciting. From the start of the race there was interest because a strong flood tide and very light winds caused half the starting fleet to be late over the line. The only boat which seemed to take best advantage of the conditions was the Gale, which made a very alert start, allowing It a lead as far as Le Bons Bay. Apart from Tucana and Calypso, the rest of the fleet had indifferent starts, including Perie Banu, which, equipped with a new mainsail, caught up fast with splendid sailing. AU starters got home safely, although some had to finish under power because they ran out of time. One boat only. Main Royal (P. Mangos), returned to Lyttelton after getting as far as East Head.