Oborn very near to trailer-sailer title

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32805, 4 January 1972, Page 3

Oborn very near to trailer-sailer title

G. Obom, the dominant skipper in Canterbury Hartley 16 trailer-sailer yachting in recent seasons, seems certain to become the first official New Zealand title-holder since the class was given national recognition.

At Lyttelton yesterday Oborn gave further evidence of hia prowess in fresh conditions; he won the morning race quite easily and surpassed this with a remarkable 14min victory when the fourth heat was sailed later in the day.

Obom has only to bring his craft, Eno Gro, home in the first 12 yachts in the final race this morning to retain the Quik Stik Trophy, a prize that he gained two seasons ago when trailer sailers from throughout the country met in competition for the first time.

There was a decidedly straight - forward attitude about Obom’s methods in moving up from fourth over all to take an 80-point lead on his 19 rivals. In each of yesterday’s events Eno Gro was immediately taken to the front, the margin between it

and the other boats increasing as the races progressed. Winds confound In contrast to the success enjoyed by Obom in the fresh easterly wind and moderate seas, the three skippers who had been ahead of him after Sunday’s heats —D. Despy (Auckland), D. Tonks Wellington) and N. Stringer (Canterbury)—all faltered. Despy was third in the morning, behind Obom and A. Rendle (Wellington), but had an expensive tenth in the afternoon; Tonks was fifth to finish on each occasion; Stringer dropped back when he was ninth in the third race but recovered some of this ground when he was the runner-up to Obom a few hours later. With two wins and two thirds, Obom has 320 points in the series. Tonks (240.37) is next, but well in Obom’s wake and facing challenges from Despy (235) and Stringer (227.27). Three visitors, M. Evans (Auckland, 187.50), Rendle (153.47) and R. Gross (Auckland, 153.47), are still in front of the next best Canterbury representatives, O. Kempkers (130.60) and B. Burrough (128.38). Some improve Because of the exceptional speed that Obom managed to find from Eno Gro, most interest in yesterday’s events was transferred to the minor placings. The most significant progress during the third heat was made by Tonks, who was a lowly twelfth at the end of the triangle section of the

course, while Rendle improved from sixth to second. W. Davey (Canterbury) did well to keep with the leaders for most of the journey before fading over the later stages.

Things were more stable in the fourth race, although Evans gained four placings once the fleet began the windward-leeward section and Despy slipped from sixth to tenth.

But while these comparatively modest alterations were being made further back in the fleet, Obom and his efficient crew were sailing away with both events, and —in all probability—the title. Results:—

Third race: Eno Gro (G. Oborn, Canterbury), Ihr 47min 48sec, 1; Red Baron (A. Rendle, Wellington), 1:53:37, 2; Wicked Wahine (D. Despy, Auckland), 1:54:33, 3; Windara (R. Gross, Auckland), 1:55:1, 4; Judy Lee (D. Tonks, Wellington), 1:55:32, 5; Aurora (M. Evans, Auckland), 1:57:33, 6.

Fourth race: Eno Gro, 1:53:15, 1; Turi II (M. Stringer, Canterbury). 2:7:14, 2: Judy Lee, 2:7:31, 3; Elope (O. Kempkers, Canterbury), 2:7:39, 4; Ju-Lee (B. Burrough, Canterbury); 2:8:38, 5; Aurora. 2:8:58, 6. Over all points after four races: Eno Gro, 320, 1; Judy Lee, 240.37, 2; Wicked Wahine, 235, 3; Turi 11, 227.27, 4; Aurora, 187.50, 5; Red Baron, 168.33, 6; Windara, 153.47, 7; Elope, 130.60, 8; Ju-Lee, 128.38, 9; Sequin (J. Lindsay, Invercargill), 92.83, 10.