Third Win In F.D. Trials

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 11

Third Win In F.D. Trials

(Ntw Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Giving a masterly display over the final stages of a dramatic race, G. A. Smale and R. H. Roberts (Auckland) scored their third consecutive win in the national Flying Dutchman Olympic yachting trials off Pakatoa Island yesterday.

Even with four races still to be sailed, they seem to have gained a stranglehold on the other 19 crews vying for Olympic nomination. Under the low-scoring system used at these trials, Smale is still on zero. G. S. Mander (Christchurch) showed excellent form to finish second yesterday, and his placings of second, second and fourth give him 14 points. J. V. Bilger and M. R. Fisher (Auckland) are on 22.7, with second, fourth and sixth placings. R. Watson, the 1960 Olympic representative, and J. Scholes (Auckland) are fourth on 25.7, and H. O.

L. Pedersen, the reigniug Olympic Champion, and his crew, J. Hansen, are fifth on 26. With their worst performances dropped Smale is still on zero, Mander on six, Bilger 11, Pedersen 13.7 and Watson and J. Mackay (Auckland) equal on 15.7 Smale and Roberts cut it very fine yesterday. At the finish they had only lOsec to spare from Mander and 15sec from Watson. It was some indication of the superb sailing of Smale and Roberts that on the last vital beat to windward they started it in third place and finished it in first.

The placings of the other Christchurch skippers were: D. Eastmond eighth, F. Simpson tenth and H. England twelfth. M. Pope (Nelson) was thirteenth.