Yachting MOFFAT CUP

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 6

Yachting MOFFAT CUP

Hawke’s Bay In Lead ( N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 6. Hawke s Bay (The Answer) is leading in the national Idelalong yachting for the Moffat Cup after three races have been sailed tn the series Hawke’s Bay, winner of the first race on Monday, won this afternoon after leading for almost the entire distance. Auckland (Blue Boy) won the second race of the competition this morning Blue Boy handsomely beat Southland, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, in that order

Auckland got the full benefit of a sudden shift in an increasing southerly wind in the second lap. From fifth place at the start of the lap Auckland gained two minutes by selecting a different course from the previous leaders. Hawke’s Bay. Poverty Bay and Wellington Conditions worsened for this afternoon’s race, although the wind was not reallj’ troublesome.

Canterbury (Air Raid) withdrew before the start because of the indisposition of its skipper, C Barber. leaving eight crews to contest the SduthJjind (Vtkmg) ' started well and took an immediate lead but before long gave way to Hawke’s Bay. In the final round it appeared Hawke’s Bay was unbeatable Then tne spinnaker on the Auckland craft split and freak conditions allowed the yacht to move right up to the leader and head the field for a short time. The split spinnaker told on the last leg and Hawke’s Bay sneaked to a second win. Points are:— Hawke’s Bay 250, Auckland 233.34. Wellington 140, Southland 140. Poverty Bay 98.33. Otago 82.14, Bay of Plenty 75.58. Nelson 64.44 Canterbury 63.57 Results:— Second Race.—Auckland, 12hr 13min 57see, 1; Southland, 12hr 16min Usee, 2; Hawke’s Bay. 12hr 16min 17sec 3; Wellington. 12hr 18min 17sec. 4 Then came Poverty Bay, Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, and Bay of Plenty, all a long way back. Third Race.—Hawke’s Bay, 4hr 22min 9sec, 1; Auckland, 4hr 22min 28sec, 2; Wellington. 4hr 24min 52sec, 3: Southland. 4hr 25min 31sec 4; Bay of Plenty, 4hr 28min 58sec. S; Otago. 4hr 31min 9sec. 6; Poverty Bay, 4hr 31min 59sec, 7; Nelson. 4hr 41min 51sec, 8. Dutchman Heats (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter — Copyright) ST. PETERSBURG (Florida), March 6 R. Tasker, of Australia, yesterday won the third heat of the world Flying Dutchman class yachting championship off St. Petersburg. The win put him into seoond place behind Denmark in the over-all placings. There were four races still to be held. The New Zealand yacht finished in third place today and was in tenth place tn the over-all standings.