YACHTSMAN’S REWARD

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31908, 8 February 1969, Page 15

YACHTSMAN’S REWARD

(N.Z. Press Association) TAURANGA. The reward of his secretarial work in organising the New Zealand Finn class championships came to Tauranga yachtsman, J. Williams, yesterday when he led a strong fleet home in the invitation race on the Tauranga Harbour. On the first beat, Williams was close behind B. de Thier, of Christchurch, and later moved into the lead. De Thier chased hard throughout, the two yachts leading the rest of

the fleet by a minute and a half, but after three laps Williams was nearly a minute ahead. De Thier closed the gap on the final beat but Williams was still 25sec ahead at the finish. Third place went to American Olympic representative, C. van Duyne, who had a fine tussle with B. Treleaven (Christchurch). Today, the first two of seven contest races will be sailed. The result of the invitation race was:

Williams, 1:25:5, 1; De Thier, 1:25:30, 2; Van Duyne,

1:26:57, 3; Treleaven, 1:27:12, 4; R. J. Watson (Auckland), 127:30, 5; R. J. Bailey (Tauranga), 1:28:0, 6. Late entries, including one from Tokyo Olympic Flying Dutchman gold medallist, H. O. L. Pedersen, have raised the number of competitors in the championships to 37. Apart from the national title, two Rothmans grants, which will be used to send two Finns to the Gold Cup world series in Bermuda, will be at stake. Representatives for the Pacific Cup will also be selected.