Tohe Candu might sail in world series

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33512, 18 April 1974, Page 20

Tohe Candu might sail in world series

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Tohe Candu, the provisional winner of the South Pacific Half-ton series, might represent New Zealand in the world Halfton championship at La Rochelle, France, in August.

The yacht provisionally won the South Pacific series at Auckland when she finished fifth in the fourth and last heat, won by Conquer© (P. Smith), which crossed the finish line at 3.33 a.m. yesterday.

The owner of Tohe Candu, I. Gibbs, says he might put the Bruce Farr 27-footer in a container for shipment to Europe for the series. ‘‘She’s a great little boat,” Gibbs said of the yacht, which, as Tituscanby, won the first South Pacific series in 1972. "Remember, we have only had the boat a short time, and are still sorting out what she likes and what she doesn’t like. I think there is more to be got out of her, and am seriously considering doing the world series if the right arrangements can be made. The boat is a great little all-rounder.” One-Ton Cup Gibbs would like to combine a world Half-Ton challenge with a campaign for the One-Ton Cup in Torquiy in July. He would take with him at least the basis of his Tohe Candu crew. He has been offered a new One-Ton-ner, designed by an expatriate Aucklander, R. Holland, and being built under his supervision in the Irish Republic. "If we can marry it all together, I would like to give it a go,” said Gibbs.

Tohe Candu is now a different proposition to the craft she was when a group

of dinghy sailors under her owner, R. Blackburn, took the first South Pacific series by storm in 1972. Gibbs has changed the name, the boat’s colour scheme (from white to a grey blue), and improved the gear and sails. He gathered a young crew for the Half-Ton campaign. The members include the former owner, Blackburn, and the sailmaker, R. Guinevan, who were aboard in 1972.

Early lead

In the last heat of the series, Conquero led virtually from start to finish around the 200-mile Hauraki Gulf course, building up a lead in the fresh northerlies of Monday night and Tuesday, then holding her advantage as the breeze slowly died to a flat calm early yesterday. But her superb finish to the series (she won the last two races) was not quite enough to head off the early dominance and later consistency of Tohe Candu. The provisional final points position is that fohe Candu has won the trophy with 174 points from two firsts, a third and a fifth. Conquero finished with 170 points from a fifth, an eighth, and two firsts.

There were double points for the last heat.

Tohe Candu was becalmed off Milford, about six miles from the finish, at 2.30 a.m. With the line in sight first Tramp (W. Caldwell) and then Damijohn (J. Allen) slipped past Tohe Candu.

Finish times: Conquero. 3.33 a.m., 1; Preten-

der, 4.51 a m., 2; Tramp, 4.52 a.m., 3; Demijohn, 5.52 a.m.. 4; Tohe Candu. 6.42 a.m., 5: AlleyOop, 7.56 a.m., 6.