messing about in boats

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 17

messing about in boats

Bang ! It was at Timaru on a Sunday morning not so long ago that the yachtsmen were ready for the start of a race when trouble was experienced with the starting pistol. After experimenting with it in different positions, the starter, B. Wallace, used commendable foresight by calmly hurting the offending weapon into the bottom of the starting launch, pointing his fingers in the direction of the competitors and loudly calling “Bang!” The water rat did not wait to find out how any recalls were to be handled but felt that the Timaru club in using this new method for starting may find a large saving in the cost of cartridges. Venue Timaru, in spite of its excellent dub and launching facilities and fine weather has not been popular as a yachting contest venue. Now, however, the trend may be reversed because of more interest in its suitability for championship events. A major event that could be held there is the 1968 Olympic trials for the Finn dass. To try and find conditions similar to Acapulco will be most difficult, but Timaru could well qualify. Officials are looking for deep sea coonditions with a large swell and winds of under 10 miles an hour. R. H. Roberts said recently in Christchurch that at Acapulco winds of 10 miles an hour or more were con-

sidered a hard breeze there. One of the biggest problems New Zealanders face is finding these light weather conditions and training in them to improve their overall standard. Next Year Although this season has not finished, many are already thinking of next season and the New Zealand championship series for each class. Many of the forward thinking classes have already finalised dates and venues. Some of them are:— New Zealand restricted Moths at Lyttelton, January 12-14, 1967: New Zealand Javelins at Lyttelton,

January 2-6, 1967; Leander Trophy for R class at Wellington, March 8-11, 1967. Catamaran week is to be held in Wellington at Christmas. Another contest in local waters will be the Junior Cherub class series at Lyttelton. It is understood that the Finn series will be held at Gisborne while the South Island restricted Moth class title is mooted for Timaru in early December. Final The lan Mac Lean Cup, the last championship series for the Finn class, was completed on Sunday at Charteris Bay in fine weather and good condi-

tions. The first four boats finished within 28 seconds with Finn Karby (B. G. de Thier) just beating Jolifin (J. S. Weam). A close third was Jan (B. E. Treleaven) with Loafin Too (P. F. Pritchett) fourth. Over-all winner of the event was Weam with R. D. Eastmond second and de Thier third, de Thier, Eastmond, Treleaven and Pritchett will have their boats shipped to Sydney later this month for the Pacific Finn cup series on Botany Bay at Easter. The way they have sailed this season they must stand a good chance of bringing home top honours.