Lester outstanding in Estuary yachting

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33712, 9 December 1974, Page 22

Lester outstanding in Estuary yachting

(By j

J. O. COFFEY)

The already cramped odds that any aquatic bookmaker would be prepared to offer against P. Lester retaining the South Island O.K. dinghy yachting championship at Sumner Bay next week-end would have become even more cramped at the Estuary yesterday.

Lester was the outstanding performer among the 125 entrants in the second heat of the Estuary Pennants series, wresting even more boat speed from his O.K. than the competitors in the larger Finn class could manage.

Although he started 2min behind the meagre three-man Finn fleet, Eester quickly made up time and completed the course smin faster. The runner-up to Lester, D. Le Page, also gave a most creditable display, in spite of trailing his rival by more than 4min at the finish.

Victory in the Finn section went to F. Kempkers, this being one of only four results to be consistent with the opening pennants races a month ago. H. H. Kingham and Mrs E. Edgerton had 4mln in hand over I. Mclntosh and L. Fraser at the head of the Sunburst division, and E. L. Snowden and P. McIntosh gained some compensation for losing their lead in the provincial J.C. trials at Lyttelton on Saturday with an effortless win at the expense ft P. and A. Milliken and Miss M. Stemmer and P. Hobson. PARTNERSHIP The husband-and-wlfe partnership of D. Bryson and Mrs E. Bryson also retained their perfect points score. Their only opponents withdrew In the moderate north-easterly conditions, with consistent winds of 10-20 knots and gusts up to 30 knots. In the absence of a number of Canterbury’s better P class skippers—taking part in the South Island championship at Lake Moana—M. Chlrnslde dominated the junior race. He was almost lOmin in front of C. Wells, and the first-day winner, K. Wright, was next v M. E. Seiwood, a former national International Moth titleholder, was another to improve oh a more modest placing in the first heat. He was well ahead ot T. Blanchard and R. Mcßae, H. Hobden slipping back to fourth, the last of those to complete the course of an original entry of 11.

Abbreviations used in the results are; C.Y.M.B.C. (Canterbury. Yacht Club), C.B.Y.C. (Charterlc Bay Yacht Club) C.Y.C. (Christchurch Yacht Club), M.P.Y.C. (Mount Pleasant Yacht Club). P.P.Y.C. (Pleasant Point Yacht Club), T.Y.C. (Timaru Yacht Club). W.S.C. (Waimakarirl Sailing Club).

Results:— A class catamarans (five started). —Belinda (A. Salisbury, M.P.Y.C.) 1:58.35. 1; Christabel (B. Papps, M.P.Y.C.), 2:4.44, 2. Paper Tigers (eight started).— Nimbus (R. Lloyd, P.P.Y.C.), 1:45.0. 1; Flipper (E. Orange, P.P.Y.C.), 1:54.24, 2; Virago (M. Hay, P.P.Y.C.). 1:58.32, 3. JCV. classflfiSUmC.zUSS 02 .. J.C. class (five started). —Sagitta (E. L. Snowden and P. McIntosh, M.P.Y.C.), 2:8.58, 1; Cherokee (P. and A. Milliken (C.8.Y.C.), 2:16.28, 2: Geschiwindlgkeit (Miss M. Stemmer and P. Hobson, C.Y.C.), 2:17.23, 3. . 470 class (two started).—Fusee d’Or (D. and Mrs E. Bryson, C.Y.M.8.C.), 1:59.7, 1. Sunbursts (22 started).—Pas de Deux (H. H, Kingston and Mrs E. Edgerton, T.Y.C.), 1:49.30, 1; Gadja (I. Mclntosh and L. Fraser, M.P.Y.C.), 1:53.30. 2; Sunbeam (A. E. Britton and G. McCawe, M.P.Y.C.). 1:54.35. 3. Zephyrs (six started).—Zonda (R. Ebert, C.Y.C.), 1:53.32, 1; Foehn (D. J. Bridges, C.Y.C.), 1:54.37, 2; Runaway (Miss E. Maynard, C.Y.C.), 1:55.12, 3. International Moths (11 started).—Redeem (M. E. Sel-

(wood, W.S.C.). 1:57.53. 1; Don Quixote (T. Blanchard. W.S.C.), 2:6.24, 2; Scorpio (R. Mcßae, M.P.Y.C.), 2:6.51, 3. Lasers (13 started). —Laserbout (B. E. Treleaven, C.Y.C.), 1:58.20, 1; Laserfaire (T. Geddes, M.P.Y.C.), 1:58.54, 2; Lightflight (E. Agnew, P.P.Y.C.). 2:1.29, 3. Finns (three started).—Bluefinn (F. Kempkers. M.P.Y.C.). 2:4.51, 1: Hi Jinx (b. J. Campbell, C.Y.M.8.C.), 2:5.1, 2: Flnnln (H. Kemm, M.P.Y.C.), 2:5.20, 3. O.K. dinghies (15 Started).— Pressed Rat and Warthog (P. Lester. C.Y.C.), 2:1.45. 1; U.F.O. (D. Le Page, C.Y.C.). 2:5.57, 2; Moonraker (B. Cox, M.P.Y.C.), 2:6.41, 3.

D class (six started).—Bobbin (G. Penney C.Y.CJ, 1:43.8, 1: Companion (A. T. F. Beere and A. Ebert, C.Y.C.), 1:53.7, 2; Aberdeen (T. Arthur and B. Soper, P.P.Y.C.), 1:57.51. 3. Starlings (10 started).—Claymore (H. Fryer. M.P.Y.C.), 1:43.21, 1; Ara (B. Rattray, MP.Y.C.I, 1:44.35, 2: Pussy Purf (B. Young, M.P.V.C.), 1:48.41, 3. P class (14 started).—Magic (M. Chlrnslde, M.P.Y.C.). 1:48.30, 1; Ladybird (C. Wells, C.Y.C.), 1:58.28, 2; Patu (K. Wright. M.P.Y.C,). 3:3.52. 1; Tallyho (P. Davey, C.Y.C.), 2:3.42, 4; Vitesse (B. Willcox. M.P.Y.C.), X-4.30, 6.