Many young yachting trialists

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 20

Many young yachting trialists

Ninety-nine of New Zealand’s finest young yachtsmen will be taking part in the national youth trials at Auckland later this month. The two-man section begins on April 22, a week after the singlehanded division. Canterbury clubs will be adequately represented, although a majority of the southern skippers is likely to concede considerable experience to northern rivals. Peter Kempkers, who was twenty-sixth over-all and a most creditable third in the heat of the world O.K. dinghy championship at Auckland in February, should fare best of the six Canterbury entrants in the monotype series. He will be accompanied by his Mount Pleasant club-mate, Warren Trethcwey, and Paul Davey (Christchurch), Michael Andrews (Canterbury) and two members of the Timaru club. Kempkers has proved himself as a very capable O.K. helmsman, but is less seasoned in the Laser class, which has been chosen for the trials.

Familiarity with Lasers should be to the benefit of Paul Page, of Auckland, who was the runner-up to Paul Meo (Wellington) in the national contest at Nelson. Others in the 61-man fleet w'ho should be prominent include David Barnes (Wellington) and Guy Mannering (Napier), who both sailed in the O.K. world championship, and Jim Swanson (Picton), Gavin Auld (Wellington) and Grant Cootes (Otago). Barnes is especially effective in light airs, although he also might need time to adjust to a Laser. Barry Willcox and lan Britton (Pleasant Point), Richard Mander and Robert McGregor (Mount Pleasant) and Garth Le Roy and Andrew Rae (Timaru) will carry Canterbury’s colours in the twoman 470-class event.

However, favouritism will rest between two North Island crews that filled consistently high placings in the New Zealand 470 series at Lyttelton. Mark Thompson and Barry Snow (Auckland) suffered from gear break-

age, but were in the first five in three of the heats, and Paul Francis and David Mac Kay (New Plymouth) were fourth in the final standings. Each contest will consist of six races, with all performances to count on the points table. The racing will be preceded by coaching courses to be conducted by the national youth coach, Mr Harold Bennett, assisted by Mark Paterson, who was fifth in the 470 section of tli* 1976 Olympic regatta, Barry Thom, who been second in world Laser and O.K. championships. The winner of each division qualifies for the world youth series in France, beginning about mid-August. The list of candidates suggests that this country will continue to match the best of the junior yachtsmen from overseas nations. .