Young yachtsmen reveal promise

Press, 20 January 1979, Page 12

Young yachtsmen reveal promise

The very commendable performances given by young Canterbury representatives in major yachting events over the last few weeks bodes well for the competitive future of the sport in this province. Peter Kempkers undoubtedly provided the highlight with his third placing in the world youth monotype championship at Perth late last year, but happenings in waters closer to home have also been most encouraging. A 15-year-old Christchurch Girls’ High School student, Leslie Egnot, became the first female skipper to win the Tauranga Cup, the national inter-club P class prize. Her success at Dunedin, was the first by a Canterbury entrant since Tom Stevens had his name inscribed on the Tanner Cup —the inter - provincial

trophy—in 1971. If Canterbury did not regain possession of the New Zealand J.C. title, the administrators who have worked diligently to raise the standard of age-group yachting at least had the comfort of knowing that it was kept in Wellington only by the very efficient pairing" of Glen Sowry and Gavin Pope. Barry Willcox and Gregor Bowater were the runners-up for the second consecutive summer, and third position overall was shared by Michael Macdonald and Robert McGregor, and Kevin Jamie and Peter Clarke. Another promising helmsman, Stewart Coates, aged 16, has also enjoyed a notable season. He won the provincial Starling trials and will be Canterbury’s leading challenger for honours at the national

contest in Auckland at Easter. But Coates displayed versatility, too, when he achieved line honours in all five heats of the South Island 3.7 m championship at Pigeon Bay to head off Ross Smith (Timaru) and the equal third placegetters, Graham Saddleton (Auckland) and Tom Arthur (Pleasant Point), on the points table. Much emphasis has been placed on yachting development in Canterbury for a number of years and there are clear indications that rewards are already being reaped.