YACHTING Eighth Time Lucky For Cup Winner

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 7

YACHTING Eighth Time Lucky For Cup Winner

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Mar. 8

Hawke’s Bay’s The Answer narrowly beat Auckland’s Blue Boy in the fifth and final rhce to win the Moffat Cup national yachting championship at Petone today. The Answer, sailed by R H. Zorn (skipper) and J. Bridgeman (Forrard), led from the first lap but in an exciting finish was almost overtaken by Blue Boy, winning finally by only 14 lengths. Blue Boy, sailed by D Barn (skipper) and J. C. Wakefield (forrard), had started the final race 10 points ahead of Hawke’s Bay. Superior Sailing

Auckland sailed well off the wind, taking time out of Hawke’s Bay in runs and leads, but The Answer stayed ahead due to superior on-the-wind sailing. In the last lead to the line Auckland crept up and it was nearly neck-and-neck across the line. ■ Spectators were in doubt as to the winner until a message was relayed by radio from the launch.

Zorn, a 36-year-old Napier drapery store-owner, has contested the cup seven

times for Hawke’s Bay, finishing runner-up twice to Wellington, in 1957 and 1958.

Result of the fifth race was: Hawke’s Bay 12:50:11, .1; Auckland. 12:50:15, 2; Southland, 12:51:51, 3; Wellington, 12:52:2. 4; Poverty Bay. 12:53, 5; Otago, 12:55:30, 6; Nelson, 13:4:9, 7. Canterbury did not finish, and Bay of Plenty did not start.

Final Points Were.— Hawke’s Bay, 390. 1; Auckland, 366. 2; Southland, 290. 3; Wellington, 230, 4: Poverty Bay. 131.67, 5 Nelson, 118.01, 6; Otago. 110, 7; Canterbury, 98.01, 8; Bay of Plenty, 88.05. 9.