Last Race Cancelled

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31262, 7 January 1967, Page 15

Last Race Cancelled

The fifth and final race in the New Zealand Javelin class yachting championships was cancelled yesterday and the results were taken over the four races sailed.

There was a brisk 30-knot southerly on Lyttelton Harbour yesterday, poor visibility and a surge which would have made launching the boats difficult.

However, conditions were not marginal or too boisterous for sailing, and the final decision, in favour of cancellation is hard to understand.

While Wayward (H. L. England and L. Wales, Christchurch), had already won the series, the final race would have clarified the second to sixth place positions. The decision to cancel the race was influenced by a meeting of the skippers and

boatowners and did not come from the sailing committee which had scheduled the race to start on time. None of the visitors and only half of the Canterbury contingent were in favour of sailing in a race that would have firmly settled the major placings. In a senior class of such popularity, the temerity and faint-heartedness of the Javelin class skippers and crews at this series is hard to understand. Under similar conditions it is normal prac-

tice to have regular club racing in this province. In spite of this, this championship series was one of the best to be held on the harbour, with excellent racing being the maxim.

' Final result:— Wayward (H. L. England and L. Wales, Christchurch), 3,1; Tamoure (M. Amos and C. Ratcliffe, Nelson), 24.7, 2; Glavelina (W. H. Beere and S. Tiller, Christchurch). 33.4, 3; Hue and Cry (R. Smith and D. Clark, Auckland), 47.7, 4; Cirrus (A. F. Burgess and B. R. Marriott, Canterbury), 50.4, 5; Bonanza (R. Norris and R. Bryant, Canterbury), 61, 6.