YACHTING N.Z. OLYMPIC FINN CONTEST STARTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 11

YACHTING N.Z. OLYMPIC FINN CONTEST STARTS

Canterbury skippers took top placings in the first race of toe New Zealand Olympic Finn class contest at Lyttelton Harbour yesterday morning, but Auckland yachtsmen turned the tables in the afternoon. The 1960 Olympic Games representative, R. Roberts, of Auckland, scored a first and a fourth; and the 1956 Olympic gold medallist, P. G. Mander, of Christchurch, sailed into similar placings. The two would have been leading the points table for toe sevenrace series but at the end of the afternoon’s event Mander was disqualified after the contest protest committee had heard evidence of a collision in which he had been involved on the starting line. Sixteen Finns are competing in the contest, two of them being sailed by New Plymouth skippers who have borrowed Canterbury boats. The fleet is the biggest of the class to sail in the South Island. The racin' standard of the top seven or eight boats is firstclass, with Roberts and Mander showing an edge so far. but with at least four other skippers giving performances which indicate they will be well in the hunt. D. Bryson (Canterbury) was in front for much of the morning race and finished third. In the afternoon he led the fleet over almost the entire course, but lost the wind on the last leg when 200 yards out in front. He finished fifth. G. Oborn (Auckland) sailed two well-judged races and was in a good position the whole time. H. Pedersen (Auckland), who was reserve to Elvstrom, the winner of three Olympic gold medals, and to Roberts last year made an indifferent showing in the first race, but after planing his mast he sailed with considerable skill in the afternoon to finish third, less than

a minute behind the leader. He had been only seconds behind Bryson for much ot the race, but lost ground when he caught the edge of the calm spot that Bryson later sailed into. The former Canterbury Finn champion and runner-up for the 1961 title taken by Mander. A. Ballintlne (Pleasant Point) was second in the morning, less Ulan half a minute from Mander, and was lying a handy fourth in the afternoon when he lapsed in a right-of-way situation; after the resulting collision he withdrew from the The fresh steady easterly that blew in Lyttelton Harbour -yesterday morning made perfect conditions for yachting and the competitors raced over the sixmlle Olympic type course (three rounds: a triangle and two windward and leeward) in about 45 minutes. The afternoon race took almost twice the time, with patchy puffs and gusts coming from the east at first and slowly veering north to be blowing from the west by the time the course was done. A magnificent start with alt 16 boats within two lengths of the line was marred by a collision which luckily resulted In not much more dania>e than disqualification. After the fiveminute gun had been fired most of the fleet bobbed near the line when the wind dropped: 20 seconds before the starting gun sounded it suddenly freshened and skippers were hard pressed to keep sill'.Mander was one who was forced to sail along, but ran out of space as he approached the starting boat, which was also anchored to be a starting mark, with the finger of the starter (Mr A. James) tightening on the shotgun trigger, Mander had to sheer away astern of the launch, bit as he gybed about to get back through the gate, he crashed amidships on to the Finn of J. Chapman (New Plymouth), which was coming on to the line from behind the launch at a considerable speed. The convener of the protest committee (Mr W. H. Beanland) saw the Incident, and after the race disqualified Mander, who had finished fourth over the line. Two races will be sailed today; two more tomorrow; and the final race on Monday morning. Results. showing finishing times, were as follows— First Race—Flntahl (P. G. Mander, Christchurch Yacht Club), 11:33.15. 1: Finrua (A. Ballintlne. Pleasant Point), 11:33.44. 2; Pandora (D. Bryson. Canterbury Yacht Club), 11:352. 3: Finneeota (R. Roberts, Takapuna). 11:3356, 4; Finnando (G. Oborn, Milford). 11:33.59, 5; Finn-eta (C. Roberts, Takapuna), 11:34.7, 6; Hyphen (D. Borrell, Canterbury). 11:34 25, 7; Personality (T. Speed, Tamakl), 11:3457, 8; Blue Finn (H. Pedersen, Otahuhu). 11:34.48. 9; Flnlto (A. Burgess, Pleasant Point), 11:3533. 10; Elfine <W. Beere. Christchurch), 11:38.15. 11: Finlandia (A. Mackenzie. Walmakarirl). 11:37, 13; Puffin lE. Slyfield, New Plymouth). 11:39.14, 13. nnlsterre (D. Turner, Mount Pleasant) finished at 11:3719, But was disqualified. Flnnui (J. Chapman, New Plymouth) and Fintere (G. Hobson, Walmakarlrl) did not finish. Second Race—Finneeota <R. Roberts), 4:2120, 1; Finnando (Oborn). 4:21.47. 2; Blue Finn (Pedersen). 4:22.15, 3; Pandora (Bryson), 4:22.55. 4; Elfin (Beere). 4:2253 6; Flnlto (Burgess), 4:23.17, 6; Fintere (Hobson) and Personality (Speed), 4:26.35 (equal) 7: Hyphen (Borrell). 4:27, 9; Finlandia (Mackenzie). 4:2BJW, 10: Puffin (Slyfield), 4:28.55, 11; Flnn-eta (C. Roberts), 4:29.15, 12; Flnnui (Chapman), 4:33.22, 13. Flntahl (Mander) finished at 4:22.16, but was disqualified. Finlsterre (Turner) finished at 4:28.1, but was disqualified. Finrua (Ballintlne) did not finish. Aggregate points for the two races (with five races still to be run and the worst perfortnance of the seven dropped) are: R. Roberts. 2208. 1; Obom, 1610. 2; Bryson. 1531, 3: Mander, 1306, 4: Pedersen, 1179. 5; Ballintine, 1004, 6; Beere. 870. 7; Burgers. 832, 8; Speed. 823, 9; Borrcu. 811, 10; C. Roberts. 753, 11; Mackenzie. 531, 12; Slyfield, 455, 13; Hobson. 431. 14: Chapman. 191, 15; Turner, —. 16.