Champions’ race in Lyttelton regatta

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 20

Champions’ race in Lyttelton regatta

(By J. O. COFFEY/ One of the most illustrious fleets of centrehoard yachtsmen assembled for one exent in this country will take part in the Mount Cook Airlines race of champions during the Canterbury Yachting Association's annual regatta at Lyttelton on Waitangi Dav, February 6.

Among the skippers "ho have already accepled invitations are the 1956 Olympic Games gold medallist, P. G. Mander (Canterbury), the former world O.K. dinghy titleholder, (’. A. Roberts (Auckland), and the Olympic representatives, J. V. Bilger ( Auckland). J. G. Farmer (Rotorua), and R. R. Watson (Auckland).

There is also a pos-l sibility that the 1964 Olympic Flying Dutchman champion,) H. O. L. Pedersen (Auckland).| will be available, and it is hoped that two Swedish) helmsmen who took part in the recent world O.K. dinghy | contest in Adelaide will) come to Christchurch. I They are expected to be : staying with Roberts in ) Auckland for a short time. ) before returning home. 1 j The yachtsmen, having at-j tained prominence in various! classes, will meet on equal l terms at Lyttelton. Members! of the Canterbury Sunburst! Association have agreed to) lend their craft to the 25) starters, the race having) been scheduled between the! morning and afternoon heats) iof the regatta proper.

Boats will be allocated by ballot, the for’ard hand being the regular skipper of the Sunburst. It is intended to set the course as close as possible, to the Lyttelton side of the harbour to make identification easier for spectators.

A member of the organising committee (Mr P. F. Pritchett) said yesterday that the special event had been added to the regatta programme in

a bid to promote the sport with rhe general public. The regatta has long been regarded as the showplace of the season in Canterbury, and it is hoped that as many at 300 entries will be received for the 34 races on ithe programme. i To familiarise people with 'the sport, an information post will be set up on the i recreation ground at LyttelIton during the day. and a comimentary will be given over a ! public address system from • the start of the first, morning | race. These are rare innovaitions in what is usually re'garded as a solely participant ) sport. i Between them. Mander. !Roberts. Bilger, Farmer, and

BILGER iWatson have won about 30 (national championships. (Mander heading the list with his 11 successes in six classes, as well as his Olympic triumph and two victories in world 18ft series. Roberts has held the New Zea tand O.K. dinghy title nine times: Bilger was runner-up in the 1971 world Flying Dutchman contest and holds the South! (Pacific Javelin crown; Farmer sailed for New Zealand in tjiei Finn section of the 1968 Mexico! Olympic regatta and won the; last British and Austrian open, events; and Watson has gained national honours in Finns, Flying Dutchmen, and Dragons. * The quality of the fleet cer-l

tainly does not end with t; i« group. It will be completed b\ local yachtsmen, all of them former New Zealand champions in at least one clas* Peter Mander will be opposed by his brothers. Graham ai.i David, and the winners of last month’s trailer-sailer championships in Wellington G. V Ohorn ana P Robins, will be starting So. too, will M. F Seiwood, one of this province s strongest calenders for the Pan Pacific Moth championship off Lyttelton Memories of many proud accomplishments of the past will be revived by the presence of three former Sanders Cup holders—A. W. Burgess. J Morrison and E. O. Sinclair, as well as other such well-known helmsmen as G. Cooke. F. G. R. Simpson, A. W. Shields. H. L. England, and R. G. Moor ABSENTEE The notable absentee is F. G de Thier, the outstanding ( an terbury Finn skipper, but he will be serving his sport in another capacity in m»dFebruary.'b\ extending New Zea lenge to Australia. The Mount. Cook Airlines race of champions is a most no\el way of drawing attention to yachting and seems sure to make the first Waitangi Dav regattathe new public holiday will be the permanent date for the fix ture in future summers—a memorable one.