Mixed fortunes in yachting

Press, 29 November 1977, Page 36

Mixed fortunes in yachting

■ Canterbury crews exi perienced contrasting conditions and mixed fortunes in South Island yachting championships held at Lake Brunner and Timaru during the week-end. Winds were extremely light on the lake, and the leading Tornado catamaran pairing of Bret de Thier and Steve Moffatt took time to adjust. They finished second to the Nelson helmsman. Bud Nalder, twice before winning the last two heats to share the title. Chris Hensley regained the A-class catamaran title that he had held on three previous occasions, topping the points table ahead of Brian Moore (West ’Coast), Gavin Walter (Canterbury)

and Sedger Dickey (Canterbury). They shared the line honours over the four races. While the Nelson contingent, headed by David Partington, dominated the Paper Tiger section, Canterbury skippers fared best in the new classes. Kelvin Shacklock was the Cresta Cat winner, and Mark Tentori was first among the Happy Cat entrants. At Timaru, the seasoned Otago R-class competitor, Jim Mears, was the only finisher in all three heats of the South Island series to recapture the championship for his province. Canterbury crews were next, headed by Richard Ineson and Garry England and lan Jackson and Peter Hoskin.