Controversial Outsider

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 11

Controversial Outsider

Topside sailing won the day in the national Olympic Finn championships at Evans Bay this season, according to the Nelson skipper, M. E. Pope, who is one of six helmsmen to represent New Zealand at

the Inter-Dominion Finn title races on Sydney Harbour at Easter. Although Pope was at a disadvantage in Wellington as he had no built-in buoyancy for his boat, he was one f only three in a fleet of 18 who finished each of the four races sailed in wild northerly gales.

A 30-year-old insurance agent, he is the controversial member of the

team who surprised everyone by his ability tc handle his craft in a blow: he has yet to justify his inclusion in the representative group by showing good form in lighter airs The contest sailing committee had an unpalatable decision to make- Gales blew out the contest which was to have been decided over seven races and the freak conditions were no proper basis for selection. There was talk of separate Auckland and Canterbury trials after coming to agreement on how many skippers should come from each area; but finally, the committee—to its credit—decided to abide by its ruling preceding the contest; that the first six available on the points table should be representatives irrespective of the number of races. It is unlikely that any decision would have been entirely satisfactory in the extraordinary circumstances, and there is certainly some doubt about the composition of the team; but it was refreshing to see a yachting committee stick to a decision.