YACHTING Auckland Regains Lead In Moffat Cup Races

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 16

YACHTING Auckland Regains Lead In Moffat Cup Races

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 7.

Southland’s Viking, skippered by M. King, climaxed its consistent efforts in the 1962 Moffatt Cup yachting series off the Petone foreshore today by winning the fourth race. Sailed in a stiff southerly, it was by far the most eventful contest of the series, with the rugged conditions taking their toll of the competitors Southland's victory by 2min 27sec over Auckland’s Blue Boy with Wellington’s Windhover II another 2min 35sec back and Hawke’s Bay's The Answer fourth, gave the overall lead back to Auckland once more. One Race Left The contest, with the final race to be held tomorrow, was still wide open, though the Auckland crew, who have not been out of second or first place yet, were strong favourites. Only six yachts started in today’s race. Otago’s Topic breaking a rudder gudgeon and Poverty Bay’s Trishia fouling the starting buoy both before the gun. The next casualty was Bay of Plenty’s Consequence (K. Abbott) which brake its mast and took no further part in the race. Southland. Auckland Hawke’s Bay and Wellington juggled for the lead but Hawke’s Bay. which broke a mast stay early on. developed spinnaker trouble and dropped away. Windhover" Brooked right in the race until it capsized while lying second to Viking. The yacht was righted, but not before Auckland had moved Into

second which It held to the finish.

Finishing times were: Southland 3:55.81 1, Auckland 3:57 58 2 Wellington 4:00.33 3. Hawke's Bay 4:01.49 4. Points after two race* were: Auckland 300.01, Hawke's Bay 290. Southland 340, Wellington 100. Poverty Bay 98.33, Canterbury 96.90 Nelson 93.0 i. Bay of Plenty 88.te. Otago 82.14.