Fine Sailing By Sundowner

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 9

Fine Sailing By Sundowner

The Pigeon Bay yachting regatta ended yesterday on the same high note on which it began—good competition racing in perfect conditions.

On few occasions has a regatta been blessed with such constant weather and such steady light breezes.

Yesterday, although fleet strength was down on the previous day, there was still racing of worth and interest. Highlights yesterday included a fine win in the morning by the Javelin, Koa (D. Elder and D. R. Smith, Canterbury) which was the first boat in the five-race regatta to lower the colours of the Sundowner. This race began in a drifter from the south, finished in a light north-east-erly’ and after holding a huge lead at one stage, Koa finally won by only a few boatlengths. In the afternoon, with a superb six to 10 miles an hour breeze, M. Robertson in the revolutionary Moth, Ozymandias, won by five minutes and a half. Pointing at least fifteen degrees higher than the others on the wind, and

with Robertson picking the wind shifts well, the boat went further away on each lap. Results: Open Handicap (23 started).— Koa, Javelin (D. Elder and D. R. Smith, Canterbury). 1 and fastest; Ra. Javelin (C. White and B. Robertson. Christchurch). 2; Sundowner, Javelin (C. and I. Smith, Canterbury), 3. P Class (three started).—Pippin (J. Smith, Pigeon Bay), 1. Javelins (four started).—Sundown. 68:40. 1: Koa, 70:55, 2; Giavelina (W. H. and A. T. F. Beere, Christchurch). 71:05, 3. P Class (three started).—Tui (N. Pawson, Christchurch). 92:25, 1; Pippin, 94. 2. Moths (12 started).—Ozymandias (M. Robertson, Christchurch), 83:33, 1; Tiki (W. Radford, Pigeon Bay), 89:05, 2; Vanessa (D. Hunt, Pigeon Bay). 89:10, 3. Open Handicap (six started). —Zenith, O.K. (D. Hobson. Canterbury), 1; Altlora. Junior Cherub (I. and R. Smith, Pigeon Bay), 2; Witch Hazel, Y.W. catamaran (B. Richards and V. Buller, Pleasant Point), 3 and fastest.