AUSTRALIAN RACING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29479, 4 April 1961, Page 17

AUSTRALIAN RACING

N.Z. Skippers To Participate

Participation of an Olympic Finn fleet from New Zealand in inter-Dominion sailing at Perth in November next year, at the same time as the Empire Games, was agreed to by owners of the class competing in the national title contest at Lyttelton yesterday. The possibility of inducing South African skippers to enter the championship on the Swan, and even one or two Englishmen, will be investigated, it was decided. Yesterday’s conference agreed that New Zealand entries should be open to an owner of any registered Finn able to make the trip rather than a restricted number of top liners. The object is to gain overseas competition and experience before selection trials to precede the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A similar attitude was taken in consideration for the venue of the 1962 contest of the class. At present there are no Finn yachts in Wellington and the New Zealand owners’ association of the class hopes to get the type established there to enable any interested skippers to gain competency in time to be available for the trials. Owners have agreed that the contest should be at Wellington but are undecided whether it should be in conjunction with the Easter regatta at Paremata or at the time of the Festival of Wellington in January on the harbour. A decision has been deferred pending inquiries about accommodation and a referendum of all individual Finn owners in the Dominion. At the same time, the owners agreed to levy themselves £1 a year starting now to gain funds to finance the Olympic Games trial races on a water yet to be fixed. A target of more than £2OO will be aimed at sen along but they could not catch him. Among the bunch further