De Thier takes slender lead in Finn titles

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 3

De Thier takes slender lead in Finn titles

(From J. O. COFFEY) NELSON. All the imponderables that are so prevalent in first-class yachting and the undoubted quality of the fleet have not been able to prevent the expected and intense duel between B. G. de Thier (Canterbury) and D. Schmidt (Auckland) in the New Zealand Finn class championship at Nelson.

De Thier and Schmidt shared the spotlight yesterday with a win and a third each — the very experienced N. R. Everett (Auckland) separated them in both races —but the Canterbury helmsman has taken a narrow lead on the aggregate points table.

By discarding his third, de Thier has conceded only three points from two firsts and a second. Schmidt, by having to count one of his two thirds in addition to his two wins, has dropped 5.7 points. With three heats remaining, de Thier and Schmidt have drawn away from Everett (16 points), P. Rudling (Auckland, 24) and N. J. Paul (Auckland) and J. S. Wearn (Canterbury), who are tied in fifth position with 28.7 points. Schmidt had the distinction of being the contest pacemaker when he revelled in the extremely light airs which nudged the competitors around the course in the morning. But his advantage was short-lived, de Thier restoring himself to the lead by winning in moderate conditions a few hours later. LIGHTER WEATHER Because of the postponement of the scheduled third race on Wednesday afternoon, there will be another morning event today. Nelson has shaken off the leaden skies and strong winds of earlier in the week, and Schmidt might well prosper from the programme change. However, de Thier is in a slightly more favourable position and his extensive international experience and knowledge of Nelson’s waters will complement his considerable natural ability and tactical skill. He did not get the best of starts yesterday morning, but came into his own in the later race.

Everett, who has won Olympic Games recognition in monotype and crewed classes and has twice won the New Zealand Finn Cup, managed to cut de Thier out of the runner-up points behind Schmidt in the morning and had an even more prominent role to play when the fleet returned to Tasman Bay. 40SEC MARGIN At the end of the triangle of the Olympic-style course Everett was ahead of de Thier, Schmidt, Rudling and Paul. It was on the last run to the bottom mark that de Thier made his move, finding a remarkable amount of boat speed to pass both Everett and Schmidt—who had briefly gone to the front —and he covered Everett throughout the final leg. De Thier’s winning margin was 40sec.

The consistent Rudling filled his third consecutive fourth placing, but ill luck continued to dog his Auckland , compatriot, P. W. Letcher, who was the “winner” of the third race until it was postponed on protest. Letcher was nineteenth after a very poor start in the morning and had to withdraw from the fourth heat when his gudgeon pin worked loose. Letcher might have lost a prominent overall position, but not his sense of humour. WEARN PROMINENT

Not surprisingly, Wearn was the most prominent of the' Canterbury contingent after de Thier, his sixth and eighth keeping him abreast of the reliable Paul in the aggregates. The lighter conditions did not suit B. G. Winters and P. Folter, but D. J. Campbell was fifth at the half-way stage of the after-, noon race before slipping to the middle of the list of finishers. D. Eastmond was in the top 10 both times yesterday and has joined Winters and Letcher at equal tenth in the

rankings after four races. The seventh gained by M. A. Pope yesterday morning was the best individual display so far by the keen band of local skippers. Results:—

Third race.—Schmidt 1, Everett 2, de Thier 3, Rudling 4, Paul 5, Wearn 6, Pope 7, L. K. Hope (Nelson) 8, Eastmond 9, D. G. Muir (Nelson) 10. Other Canterbury placings: Winter 11, H. Dimock 14, R. E. Wells 18, CampbeU 26, Foster 27. R. Farmer 30.

Fourth race.—de Thier 1, Everett 2, Schmidt 3, Rudling 4, B. L. Morley (Auckland) 5, Paul 6, A. Macfarlane (Wanaka) 7, Wearn 8, Eastmond 9, P. B. Nelson (Auckland) 10. Other Canterbury placings: Dimock 12, Folter 13, Winters 14, Campbell 15, Wells 17, Farmer 26. Unofficial points (best of three placings in four races). —de Thier 3 points 1; Schmidt, 5.7, 2; Everett, 16, 3; Rudling. 24, 4; Paul and Wearn, 28.7, (equal) 5; Macfarlane, 42.7, 7; Morley, 43, 8; Nelson, 45.7 9; P. W. Letcher (Auckland), Winters, and Eastmond, 46, (equal) 10.