Better Racing At Regatta

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 17

Better Racing At Regatta

The final day of the Waimakariri Regatta began and ended on a much brighter note than the previous ones with bigger fleets and some first-class racing.

Conditions were good. A gentle breeze kept the boats together for most of the course. Individual honours were taken by a Moth class skipper, G. Wilson, and C. Vincent dominated the O.K. class. The Moth fleet again provided plenty of interest with another close battle between Wilson, O. Brown, M. Selwood and T. Blanchard. Wilson. sailing A. M. Holland’s Flurry, had a slight edge for most of the journey and won by nearly a minute. Brown sailed probably his best lightweather race to take a wellearned second place. There was not a great deal among the four. The best racing was provided in the open class where five boats duelled and stayed together only a few lengths apart for most of the distance. A very light south-easter, which puffed fitfully and died until a light northerly came in for the finish, separated the boats. The five boats were the two Sunbeam catamarans, Scat II and Katrina, the Y.W.

Catamaran, Witch Hazel, the Finn Hi-Jinx (M. Willson), and the Y.W. Hornet—an English class which is strange to New Zealand waters. There was little in speed among these craft for two of the laps. P. Lester beat L. Kennedy in the P class after K. Bowry had led at the start, but Kennedy, who was fifth on the first lap, improved con- . siderably to get his second. Results were: Moth class (13 started): — i Flurry (G. Wilson, Waimakariri), 74:34, 1: Jaqui (O. Brown, Wai makariri). 75:17, 2: Adonis (M. Seiwood. Waimakariri), 75:37, 3: Reply (T. Blanchard, Waimakariri), 76:16, 4. Handicap winner: Miss Wendy (D. Ramsay). O.K.’s (four started): —Okaiawa (C. Vincent, Canterbury). 61:35, 1 and handicap winner; Zenith (D. Hobson, Canterbury), 62:01, 2. Open class (10 started):—Katrina, Sunbeam (C. Metzger. Waimakariri). 64.08, 1; Y. W. Hornet (A. Ineson and D. White, Waimakariri), 64:15, 2; Witch Hazel, Y.W. Catamaran (B. Richards and V. Buller, Pleasant Point), 65:57, 3. Handicap winner: Glenley, Junior Cherub (E. Agnew and Miss G. Denvir, W&imaka riri). P class (13 started):—Petite (P. Lester, Christchurch), 60:38, 1; Supreme (L. Kennedy, Blenheim). 60:59. 2; Sahara (K. Bow>try. Mount Pleasant), 62:38, 3; Fidget (D. Collins, Canterbury), > 62:51, 4. Handicap winner: Tahi J(S. Mclntosh. Mount Pleasant).