Mander Shows His Worth In Change-Boat Race

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30026, 10 January 1963, Page 6

Mander Shows His Worth In Change-Boat Race

. (From Our Own Reporter)

The national R class champion, G. S. Mander, this morning gave a remarkable demonstration of his ability by climbing into an unfamiliar boat and winning convincingly from a fleet of more than 10 competitors. His performance dispelled any suggestion that his eminence as a skipper has been due in greater degree to his owndesigned, self-built and per-fectly-tuned boat Frenzy than to his inherent qualities as a helmsman. , This morning. Mander borrowed the clinker hulled yacht Lynx, built professionally last winter at the comparatively high cost of £283, for the Auckland skipper K. Rushbrook. He led the L Fleet from the drop of the flag to finish imin 17sec clear. Rushbrook's best place In the contest with Lynx was eleventh. Mander lent his own boat for the impromptu event to M. Bowden, of Auckland. Frenzy finished ninth, nearly lour and a half minutes astern of Lynx. Conceded A Place Bowden’s boat.- Chamois—the triple-trophy winner was sailed by C. Papps, of Christchurch. Papps held a handy fifth at one stage but conceded a place near the end to D. Harrison. Harrison was sailing Fantastic, belonging to G. J. Cooke, of Walmakariri. He began poorly but made up time all round the three-lap course. The change-boat event brought to top positions a number of skippers who had not done nearly as wen in trophy racing. I. Donaldson, of Waimakariri, borrowed the Auckland yacht Scimitar, and followed Mander about the bottom mark—after an ofl-the-wind start—for the first time. Donaldson might fairly have been expected to finish about fifth or sixth after such a beginning but he rose to the occasion and ft took all the skill of F. G. B. Simpson, of Christchurch (sailing G. Wilson's Tempest, from Ka Iraki) to displace him to third position. Three skippers at least had the salutary experience of learning the advantages of sailing properly—tuned high-per-formance eraft from Christchurch clubs. The Wellington helmsman, J. Gatland, the Auckland skipper B. Vallely, and J. Boag. of Dunedin, all •bowed Improved form in boats borrowed from D. Harrison. C. Pappe and F. G. B. Snnpeon. < Bnn *^ y •* Chri *-

in 1955, is a fifth-year dental student. He sailed with his sister. Miss S. Boag, as foar’ard hand. Their boat is Hectic, designed by Harrison 11 years ago and sailed by him to win the second Leander Trophy contest in 1952. Hectic was bought by Papps and won the trophy in 1953, but it is now an old boat and his week has been the tail-ender in a fleet of more than 40. Foam buoyancy that has acted as a sponge rather than as an aid to flotation has not helped. Results of the change-boat race were:— Lynx (G. S. Mander, Canterbury), 11:49.30, 1; Tempest (F. G. B. Simpson, Christchurch), 11:50.47, 2; Scimitar (I. Donaldson, Waimakariri), J1:51.38, 3; Freeway (B. Vallely, Manukau), 11:52.33, 4; Fantastic (D. Harrison. Waimakariri). 11:53.55, 5; Chamois (C. Papps, Christchurch). 11.5324. 6. Retort (J. Gatland, Evans Bay), 1133.43, 7; Altezza (A. W. Shields, Canterbury), 113334, 8: Frenzy (M. Bowden, Manukau), 113348. 8; Sari (J. Boag. Dunedin), 11:54.19, 10; Radiant (T. C. Brandon, Paremata). 1134.57, 11; Blue’ MietfA G Brown, Buckland’s Beech). 1135.28, 12.