messing about in boats

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 9

messing about in boats

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

Unbeatable P. Lester (Vitesse, P Class), N. and G. England (Rana, Junior Cherub), A. Blanchard (Reply, Moth) and T. Naylor (Mon Pere, C Class catamaran) are in unasailable positions in their respective classes after three of the four races in the 1969-70 Estuary Pennant yachting series. The final heats will be held on April 5. The England brothers, the winners of the New Zealand championship at Charteris Bay in January, have been unchallenged in Junior Cherub racing since the runners-up in the national series, A. Ineson and P. Collingwood, dropped out of the class and placed Casino up for sale.

T. K. Stevens (Hi Fi) has provided most opposition to Lester, the South Island champion, in the P Class but his second and two third platings have left him more than 100 points behind Lester in the over-all standings. Although not unbeaten, Blanchard and Naylor have also ensured themselves of over-all success with their consistency. Blanchard won the first race, finished third behind his Waimakariri clubmates, M. E. Seiwood (Dibrucol) and G. Wilson (Flurry), in the next and was second to F. Haliburton (Checkmate) two weeks ago. Naylor appeared likely to emulate Lester and the England brothers when he convincingly won the first two C Class catamaran heats but he had to be content with second place in the most recent race, won by M. Chirnside (Contessa).

The other catamaran classes have yet to be decided. In the A Class K. Chirnside (Belinda) holds a 25-point lead over C. Papps (Legend) while C. Metzger (Intruder) trails E. Orange (M’lady) by 40 points in the H Glass. J. S. Weam (Jolifin) holds a commanding lead in the Finn class and D. Le Page (Zodiac II) has drawn away from the other O.K. dinghy skippers. However, the Sunburst and D Class have provided keen competition and the outright winner will not be found until the final races of the series. The leaders in each of the classes (with points in parenthesis) are:— Catamarans. A Class: K. Chirnside (275), Papps (250), K. Mclntyre (Chiquita, 170), D. Alexander (Sidewinder, 150). C Class: Naylor (275), G. C. Penney (Stampede, 150), S. Dickey (Sabre, 120). H Class: Orange (275), Metzger (235), W. Purves (Hustler, 75). Monotypes. Finn: Wearn (260), Fi Dickson (Fintana, 187.05), D. Bryson (Fi.ndetta, 152.85). W. H. Beere (Finntastic,

122.85). O.K. dingies: Le Page (235), P. Whitmore (Pinto, 177.22), M. Johnstone (Kotuku, 101.18), G. Kilburn (Okaiawa, 100). Moths: Blanchard (235), Haliburton (100), J. Roberts (Spectrum, 37.05). P Class: Lester (300), Stevens (190), P. Maynard (Tyke, 110), D. Partington (Cadet, 108.33), P. McDowell (Pateena, 98.59). Crewed Yachts.—Junior Cherubs: N. and G. England (300), M. Sewell and R- Whiting (Tekaka, 60). Sun6ursts: A. and I. Britton (Sunbeam, 250), H. H. and Miss A. Le Page (Sunmyth, 235), G. Shaw and D. Ray (Miss Eversleek, 50). D Class: M. and E. Snowden (Athena, 195), A. C. Howse and R. Kilburn (Carolyn, 185), D. Haughey (Fam, 175),. R. Harrison and S. Mander (Cheetah, 100). Junior course The Christchurch Yacht Club, which gained the first five platings in the Graham Mander Trophy provincial P Class (under 16) championship this season, has added to its programme an instruction course for young yachtsmen to be held on the afternoon of Easter Saturday. The latest newsletter produced by the club includes the result of a committee discussion on the progress of a junior through the classes available at the club. The four stages aire: (a) P. Class—basic sailing skills and racing tactics, 8-16 years; (b) Junior Cherub—extension of basic skills to fore and aft rig, spinnaker and trapeze, team-work, 16-19 years; (c) O.K. dinghies and Moths —consolidation of skills in highly competitve racing in national classes, building up body weight, 19-20 years: (d) Finns and catamarans, 20 years. New date The four open handicap trophy races which were postponed by Canterbury club officials last week-end because of strong winds and rain will be sailed tomorrow afternoon. A division yachts (Flying Dutchman, all catamarans and all other centre-board craft 14ft and over) will contest the Norris Barometer, the B division (Javelins and R Class) will compete for the Rhind Trophy and the C division (Junior Cherubs, monotype yachts, Trailer Sailers and all other centre-board yachts under 14ft) trophy will be the Grove Meikle Memorial. The C.Y.M.B.C. Trophy will be at stake in the P Class race.

The second heat of the Christchurch club’s class handicap races, which were postponed from February 21, will be held this afternoon.