N.Z. Yachtsmen Left Behind In Light Breezes

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30868, 29 September 1965, Page 18

N.Z. Yachtsmen Left Behind In Light Breezes

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Sept. 28. New Zealand Flying Dutchman class yachtsmen still led the world in breezes of 15 knots or more, but a basic revision of light weather techniques would be needed if a medal was to be won in the 1968 Olympic Games at Acapulco.

; This opinion was stated in i Auckland today by R. H. ’ Roberts, the Takapuna yachtsi man who recently represented New Zealand as crew for G. [A. Smale in the world Flying . Dutchman championships in Italy. “We were indisputably the best crew when we could get out on the trapeze." said Roberts. “But in breezes of 0-8 knots we were fortunate if we were in the top three. “This pattern was repeated wherever we raced—in America, where we came second in the national championships. Austria, where we were second again, and at the world championships, where we were sixth. “Never on Trapeze” “At the world championships we won an invitation warm-up race by a wide margin. This was sailed in a moderate breeze.

“But during the world championships the breeze never rose above five knots, and I never got out on the trapeze.

“In these conditions our placings of 11-7-4-2-14-7 were better than we expected. Our final placing of sixth in the series actually represented a tremendous improvement in light weather sailing on the part of Geoff Smale.” Roberts said that because light conditions could be expected at Acapulco, New Zealand yachtsmen should immediately begin serious training in light winds, if necessary by sailing regularly at night. “We certainly will have to

Roberts said he and Sma'> found the East Germans to be a coming force in Olympic yachting. They came first and second in the Finn Gold Cup. first and fourth in the European Finn championships and third in the world F.D. event. Roberts said it had been decided that the 1967 world F.D. championships would ho sailed in Montreal, and that the 1969 championships could possibly be sailed in the Pacific, probably in Australia.

find some method of revising our techniques of sailing in breezes of 0-8 knots,” said Roberts.

Impressed In Mexico He and Smale visited Acapulco on their way to Europe, and were impressed by the preparation being made by the Mexicans for the Olympic Games. “They plan to run a major regatta every October until the games in order to make exact preparations for the big event.” he said.