YACHTING Lively Performance By New Javelin

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 17

YACHTING Lively Performance By New Javelin

H. L. England's newlycompleted 14ft Javelin class yacht stole the show on the Estuary yesterday afternoon in the Lake Trophy event which drew a fleet of 24. With three up, the whitehulled boat sped through the water to record fastest time over the course, even without a spinnaker and after mast halyard trouble when the mainsail dropped part way during a hard slog out to the Sumner bar. The Javelin class is new to Canterbury this season. It is popular in Auckland where it was introduced to give heavy crews who had been sailing 12ft Cherubs a better chance to perform in lighter weather without a weight handicap. There are three of these boats now sailing in Christchurch and their performance, which has coincided with a revival of the 14ft X Class craft, will be watched with interest.

Yesterday, England, assisted by energetic stacking-out by his for’ard hand, L. Wales, on the end of a trapeze wine, nursed, rather than drove, the boat after the teething troubles in the last two weeks.

Nevertheless, the Javelin was 2min 26sec faster over the course than the South Island champion R Class dinghy sailed by G. S. Mander who took the laurels for lome high-speed spinnaker runs down the channel into the Estuary. Mander took a scratch crew, P. France. During the race, the Javelin was seldom sailed fine; rather it streaked back and fourth across the course in a series of reaches leaving a potentially wide margin for high pointing after it has been turned. Its acceleration and lightning lift to planing stance were impressive.

At the end of the race Mander took the helm of the Javelin for a run up the Estuary to test the new yacht’s capabilities. Results, showing handicaps and corrected times, were: Invicta. Junior Cherub (C. and D. Ineson), 15min. 4:8:15, 1; Volante. Junior Cherub (W. A. Beere and B. Robertson). 18min, 4:11:33. 2; Sapphire, R Class (H. Hobden and R. Randall), 4mln. 4:13:47, 3; Finnisterre, Olympic Finn (D. Turner), 6min. 4:13:58. 4: Spectre. OK dinghy (J. L. Oliver), 12min, 4:14:29, 5: Wayward, Javelin (H. L. England and L. Wales), scr, 4:14:29, 6; Freeway, R Class (C. Papps and R. Davies), 2mln, 4:14:30. 7; Elfin. Olympic Finn (W. Beere), 4min, 4:15:25, 8. An open handicap race sailed by the Christchurch Yacht Club on Saturday resulted:— Invicta 1, Volante 2, Thyme (W. M. Robertson) 3.