New Catamaran Easy Winner In Race Debut

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 15

New Catamaran Easy Winner In Race Debut

Two important steps in the New Zealand yachting world were taken over the week-end which could have resounding and far-reaching effects. The first and most important was the launching of this country’s first International C Class catamaran, Opus, which was designed and sailed in its first race to victory yesterday by G. Stanton.

Stanton had the Shearwater skipper, P. F. Priest, crewing for him, and in drifting conditions they beat the next catamaran by 42 minutes. The yellow-hulled C class, reputed to be the smallest in the world, is 25ft long with a beam of 12ft Sin. She carries 300 square feet of sail in a sloop rig on a small section 30ft alloy mast.

For its first outing, Opus went well in frustrating conditions and it was sailing against some well-tuned opposition, so its winning margin was all the more creditable. Tuned, and with more wind, this craft will be capable of some exciting performances as its maximum speed can be well over 30 miles an hour. On Saturday at Lyttelton, the New Zealand Javelin champion skipper, H. L. England, tried out the Flying Dutchman class Gazelle, with G. Wilson for’ard. This was followed by the top Finn class exponent, R. D. Eastmond, trying his hand at the helm. With the Cooke brothers building one of these boats there is a resurgence of interest in the class. Results were:— SATURDAY Canterbury Club Yachts Under 14ft (12 started):—Giavelina, Javelin (W. H. Beere and S. Tiller), 1; Koa, Javelin (D, Elder and F. Fitzgerald), 2; Cirrus, Javelin (A. F. and R. Burgees), 3. Final- points Norris Barometer: Giavelina, 1; Koa, 2. Open class (two started):— Per Shan, B class (W. Cordell and G. Denise), 1; Gazelle, F.D. (H. L. England and G. Wilson), 2. p Class (six started):—Kapal (C. Price), 1: Osprey (J. Boraston), 2; Toni (V. Nelson), 3. Christchurch Club Open Class (nine started):— Wayward, Javelin (N. and H. L. England), 1 and fastest; Casino, Junior Cherub (A. Ineson and P. Collingwood), 2; Jollfln, Finn (J. s. Wearn), 3. P Class (A division—seven started):—Bernadine (R. Ineson), 1; For Sail (P. Turner). 2; Nimbus (G. England), 3. (B division—nine started):—Snorkel (B. Pappe), 1; Caper (P. Slemmer), 2; Tui (N. Pawson ), 3. Mount Pleasant Club Open Class (33 started): — Sidewinder, A class (B. Alexander), 1 and fastest; Saracen, A class (O. Stanton), 2; Pierre, Sunbeam (B. Naylor), 3; Imp, Moth (B. Boulton), 4. P Class (A division—eight started):—Fidget (B. Treth-

■ewey), 1; Sahara (K. Bowry), 2; Matuku (Miss A. le Page), 3. (B division—nine started): — Pippin (J. Smith), and Tinka (R. Connor), 1 equal; Waime (J. Edgington), 3.

Pleasant Point Club P Class (five started): —Fink (A. Ross), 1; Cygnet (E. van der Howen), 2. Open Class (11 started):— Slamat, Moth (IP. Fol ter), 1; Defiant, Moth (P. McOscar), 2; Gemini, A class (C. Anderson), 3. ' Trailer Sailer Yacht Squadron Junior Skippers’ Race (nine started): —Seamount (Miss J. Oborn), 1; Kotuku (B. Burrough), 2; Edelweiss (K. Turner), 3. SUNDAY Christchurch Club Open Class (13 started). — Ozymandias, Moth (M. Robertson), 1; Casino, Junior Cherub (A. Ineson and P. Collingwood), 2; Sunbeam, Catamaran (C. Papps), 3. Class Winners.—Javelins: Giavelina (W. H. Beere) and S. Tiller). Moths: Ozymandias. Junior Cherubs: Casino. Finns: Jolifin (J. S. Wearn). O.K.’s: Phantom (D'. S. Ineson).

Over-all Class Handicap Leaders after Four Races.—Javelins: Giavelina (W. H. Beere). R class: Ramrod (J. B. Simpson). Finns: Jolifin (J. S. Wearn). Moths: Noctua (E. Jackson). Junior Cherubs: Amokura (B. Hanlon). O.K.’s: Offbeat (M. White). D class: Companion (A. T. F. Beere). Progress Points P Class.— A. division: Conquest (S. Smith), 100, 1; Cadet (N. England), 75, 2. Final heat to be sailed on April 15. Mount Pleasant Club

Catamarans (four started). — Opus, C class (G. Stanton and P. F. Priest), 1 and fastest; Scimitar, B class (J. A. Townsend P. Townsend and S. Mander), 2. O.K.’s (six started).—Omaki (P. Dick), 1; Spook (J. Norrie), 2; Okarito (J. Taylor), 3. Junior Cherubs (three started).—Kuaka (D. le Page and G. Sauer), 1; Taranui (B. Sutherland and I. le Page), 2. Moths and Zephyrs (13 started).—Sundowner (G. Carnaby), 1; Sparta (C. Boulton), 2; Imp (B. Boulton), 3. D Class (six started).—Chaotic, R. class (R. B. Smith and J. Vincent), 1; Puck Too, FrostBly (R. and T. Murray), 2; Raeura. Frostbite (D. Clark and P. Tahapeehi), 3. P Class.—A division (five started): Fidget (B. Trethwey), 1; Patu (R. Denny), 2; Sahara (K. Bowry) 3. B division (eight started): Fiona (J. Laycock), 1; Waime (J. Edgington), 2; Linnet (S. Kernahan), 3.

Over-all Class Handicap Leaders after Five Races.—Catamaran: Scorpion, Shearwater <K. and M. Chirnside). O.K.’s: Spartan (R. Apperley) and Omaki (P. Dick) (equal). Junior Cherubs: Kuaka (D. le Page). Moths and Zephyrs: Oscar (R. Garland). D class: Raehura, Frostbite (D. Clark). P class (A division): Patu (R. Denney). Pleasant Point Club

Open Class (20 started). — Haurere, O.K. (L. Davenport), 1; Slamat, Moth (P. Folter), 2; Spectrum, Moth (M. Brown), 3.