YACHTING Mander Favourite For Finn Title

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 7

YACHTING Mander Favourite For Finn Title

(frcra Our Own Reporter) NELSON, February 14. The 1963 New Zealand Olympic Finn contest today resolved itself into a duel between the two men who have shared the title for the last five years—R. H. Roberts, of Auckland, and P. G. Mander, of Christchurch.

Mander made himself the favourite by soundly beating Roberts in both of today’s races, and thereby lifting himself from seventh position on the points table to within striking distance of the defending champion.

~ The deciding race will be held on Friday afternoon when fresh winds are forecast

The result may be Mid to be wide open, because seven skippers are all within reach of the top places (the two leaders wall go to Holland later in the year for file world Finn championship) and five of them have won heats in the contest

The points leaders in the fleet of 35 (with worst performances discarded) are: R. H. Roberts (Auckland*, 5948, 1; P. G. Mander (Canterbury), 5829, 2; H. O. L. Pedersen (A.), 5262, 3; T. J. Speed (A.), 4783, 4; C. A. Roberts (A.), 4629, 5; J. G. -Farmer (Rotorua), 4432, 6; D. J. Newell (A.), 4428, 7; R. J. Watson (A.), 4359, 8; N. Everett (A.), 4019, 9; B. de Thier (C.), 3395, 10; M. Mitchell (A), 3305, 11; B. E. Treleaven (C.), 3258, 12.

Roberts was completely baffled by near-calm conditions and tricky wind shifts this morning, and finished nineteenth. Mander, who led for a lap, was overtaken by D. J. Newell, of Auckland, and finished second.

This afternoon’s heat was the best race of the contest. It was sailed in a steady north wind ranging from 10 knots at the start to 15 knots at the finish. Roberts gained a 40yard advantage on Mander over the start line.

The two were at first separated by many boats, but came together almost as if by arrangement to do battle. It was exciting while it lasted. Board for board Roberts covered the Canterbury skipper, but Mander managed to squeeze an extra knot from his Finn and eased through to leeward. Roberts immediately broke contact and went about with the intention of returning on the starboard tack with the right of way that would have enabled him to push Mander off the top mark. He was attempting to lay the mark, but

Mander got there by a narrow three seconds. From then on Mander dictated the running and Roberts was forced to fight for his second place with the young Rotorua skipper, J. G. Farmer. Mander lapsed at one stage when he veered course downwind. The whole fleet followed him—the second time in this contest “the sheep” have been seen—but Roberts (as he had done earlier in the week) sailed his own race and made directly for the mark. He took time from Mander by doing this, but not enough, and at the finish gun he was a full minute behind.

Results of today’s races, showing finishing times, were:— Fifth Heat.—Newell. 1:7:14, 1; Mander, 1:8:22, 2; C. A. Roberts, 1:9:36, 3: Pedersen, 1:9:39, 4; Speed. 1:9:44, 5; Mitchell, 1:9:58, 6; R. Green (A), 1:11:3, 7; De Thier, 1:11:7, 8; A. J. F. Ballintine (C), 1:11:9, 9; J. F. C. Morgans (C.). 1:11:23, 10; Everett. 1:11:29, 11; Watson. 1:11:50, 12.

Sixth Heat.—Mander, 5:15:58, 1; R. H. Roberts, 5:16:48, 2: Farmer. 5:17:11. 3; C. A. Roberts. 5:17:19, 4; Mitchell. 5:17:29, 5; Pedersen, 5:17:38, 6; Everett, 5:17:47. 7; Newell. 5:17:54, 8; De Thier, 5:18:8, 9; M. E. Pope, Nelson, 5:18:33. 10: Watson, 5:18:57. 11; P. F. Pritchett (C), 5:19:7. 12. , Several pretests are pemding but they cannot affect the leaders in the contest.