More Protests In Yachting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31295, 15 February 1967, Page 17

More Protests In Yachting

**Th« Press” Special Service

GISBORNE.

Scoring two commanding wins in the second and third races yesterday, the former Pacific and national titleholder, N. R. Everett, of Takapuna, now has a clear lead in the New Zealand Finn class yachting championship.

He always had the measure of a fleet which provided spectacularly close, intense and exciting racing.

Protests and heated discussions have plagued this series since it first began. The behaviour of many of the contestants, former class champions, has been disgraceful.

There was again a protest lodged against the sailing committee for the resailed second race yesterday, which the protest committee dismissed as frivolous, and many allegations were made which the skippers concerned later withdrew when the error of their ways was pointed out to them.

The example that many leading New Zealand yachtsmen have set at this champ-

ionship has neither done their reputations any good nor has it helped the Olympic Finn class.

In yesterday morning’s race which was postponed for nearly two hours because of the lack of wind, nearly started and then postponed again for another windshift, Everett led all the way, but was pursued hotly by J. G. Farmer (Rotorua). The Christchurch skipper, J. S. Wearn, and four others were disqualified for being over the starting line at the five-minute warning signal.

Wearn came back to take second place in the afternoon race, while two other Christchurch yachtsmen, P. F. Pritchett and B. E. Treleaven, gathered in a lot of places on the last beat to the finish. Two more races will be sailed today. Results were:—

Resailed Second Race (46 started, 38 finished). —Finnella (N. R. Everett, Takapuna). 1:1:5, 1; Vanity Sue (J. G. Farmer, Rotorua). 1:2:56. 2; Tiffinny (M. A. Pope, Aurora), 1:3:8, 3; Finette (J. W. Jenkin. Blockhouse Bay), 1:3:18, 4; Infinity (B. L. Morley, Tamaki), 1:3:29, 5; Dolphin (T. J. Speed. Takapuna), 1:4:1, 6. Christchurch placings: Finnaddict 7: Loafin Too 9; Jan 14; Fintastic 21; Finnig 25; JoMfln and Boffin disqualified. Third Race (45 started, 43 finished).—Finnella. 4:57:25, 1; Jolifin (J. S. Wearn, Christchurch), 4:57:45, 2; Dolphin, 4:57:57. 3; Loafin Too (P. F. Pritchett, Charteris Bay), 4:58:3, 4; Jan (B. E. Treleaven, Christchurch). 4:58:18, 5; Beefinn (J. Gilpin. Tauranga), 4:58:23, 6. Christchurch placings: Boffin 25: Finnig 31; Finnaddict did not finish; Fintastic did not start.

Unofficial points after three races: Finnella, 8,1; Vanity Sue, 25, 2; Dolphin. 29.1, 3; Finnkeen (G. W. Gibbs, Muritai), 32, 4; Tiffinny, 35.7, 5; Finette, 36, 6.