Cowan, Mclntosh take J.C. trials

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

Cowan, Mclntosh take J.C. trials

B. Cowan and M. Mclntosh, the most improved crew in the class, will lead the four-boat Canterbury team at the New Zealand J. C. yachting championship in Auckland early next month.

A win and a second placing in the final provincial trials at Lyttelton on Saturday enabled Cowan and M. Mclntosh to slip ahead of the more highly-rated E. L. Snowden and P. Mclntosh on the aggregate. Neither Cowan nor M. McIntosh made a marked impact during their junior P-class days, and last season they were only a very moderate third in the Canterbury J.C. contest. But their advancement this summer has been considerable; they won two of the six trial heats and were missing from the top three only in the opening race on November 22. Snowden and P. Mclntosh were the other pair to take line hours twice; the margin separating them from Cowan and M. Mclntosh was a mere 2.3 points.

GEAR TROUBLE The prospects of Snowden and P. Mclntosh retaining the lead they held from the first day sagged when they had gear trouble on Saturday morning. They slipped to fourth while Cowan and M. Mclntosh led throughout. Although Snowden and P. McIntosh managed to pass their rivals by using a spinnaker in the fresh easterly conditions during the afternoon heat, Cowan and M. Mclntosh had only to retain second berth to top the points table. Third position in the team will be filled by Miss M. Stemmer and P. Hobson. S. Mander and T. Simmance nudged out G. Parratt and G. Nelson from fourth, the latter pair suffering from having to count one of their two “did not finish” results. Miss R. Shields and G. Stevenson saved their best display until the last heat, when they were headed only by Snowden and P. Mclntosh and Cowan and M. Mclntosh.

TWO OVERBOARD Some of the attention being taken in the J.C. trials was diverted when a Trailer Sailer, taking part in the first squadron event to be started from the Canterbury Yacht Club, got into trouble in the strong wind and lost two members of its crew overboard. Other Trailer Sailer skippers withdrew from the race to assist. Fortunately, the boat did not capsize and there were no serious repercussions; but it is certain that one helmsman will not leave his life-jacket stored below decks—and might even

have abandoned his yachtsman’s gumboots — when he makes his next appearance on the harbour. Because of the rescue efforts of other competitors, the race, the second heat of the Obom Trophy, will be resailed at a later date.

Results:— J.C. TRIALS Fifth heat: Tahuti (B. Cowan and M. Mclntosh, Canterbury Y.C.) 1, GesclUwindigkeit (Miss M. Stemmer and P. Hobson, Christchurch Y.C.) 3, Rana (S Mander and T. Simmance, Canterbury Y.C.) 3.

Sixth heat: Sagitta (E. L. Snowden and P. Mclntosh, Mt Pleasant Y.C.) 1, Tahuti 2, Rock ’n’ Robin (Miss R. Shields and G. Stevenson, Canterbury Y.C.) 3. Final points (best five placing*): Tahuti, 11.7, 1; Sagitta, 14, 2; Geschiwlndlgkelt. 24.4, 3; Rana, 82.7 4; Tramp (G. Parratt and G. Nelson, Canterbury Y.C.), 38.7,