Auckland crew clinches series

Press, 10 February 1979, Page 60

Auckland crew clinches series

£ By JOHN COFFEY Life on Lyttelton harbour became literally a matter of survival for Mark Paterson and Murray Ross (Auckland) yesterday before they clinched victory in the Sanders Cup ipter-provincial Javelin class yachting cham[pionship. A victory in the first of the two heats sailed yesterday left Paterson and Ross sufficiently clear of their nearest rivals, Garth Cheyne and Murray Gibbons (Wellington), to require only a finishing position in the final heat to claim the prized trophy. That assignment, in itself, was perhaps not a difficult one for two yachtsmen with Olympic Games experience. But the strong southwesterly winds had already taken such a toll that the original fleet of eight boats had been reduced to three, and Paterson and Ross were lumbered with a withdrawal as their discarded perform-

ance. But there was no cause; for concern as the Auckland representatives came home a sound second behind Cheyne and Gibbons and ahead of the only other survivors, Peter Milliken and Brent Cowan (Canterbury). Paterson and Ross conceded six points on the Olympic low-scoring system, their counting placings being four wins and two seconds. j The runners-up, Cheyne and Gibbons (14.7 points) had two firsts, three sec-! onds, a third and a discarded 1 fourth. Milliken and Cowan moved past Doug Mcßeath and David Zorn (Hawke’s (Bay) into third position. Throughout the contest Paterson and Ross promised to live up to the favouritism that had inevitably been bestowed on them. Paterson’s tactical skill at the helm was always evident, and Ross was as much at home on the trapeze of Dancing ‘Queen as any circus per-

former. Only the possibility .of having to count their t withdrawal clouded their prospects. Ironically, there was in- ' sufficient breeze for the sixth race to be held in the ! morning as scheduled. After 1 the entrants had drifted ’ round for about an hour, the ■ programme was reorganised so that the two events were , held back-to-back in the ; afternoon. , The greatest misfortune was that suffered by Milliken and Cowan. The Canter- ; bury combination was more than 2min clear of the remnants of the fleet rounding the wing before the shackle ( which holds up the mainsail broke, and Milliken and 1 Cowan were out of a race that they had firmly in their [grasp. Cheyne and Gibbons lost ' their chance of putting ' greater pressure on Paterson ■ and Ross when they cap- ; sized and then became be-! calmed as the wind fluc- ’ tuated. They had to work

with a will to regain second, !Bmin behind Paterson and Ross. There was never more than 20sec between the Wellington. Auckland and Canterbury contenders in the last heat until Cheyne and Gibbons broke away on the second beat. Paterson and Ross shook off Milliken and Cowan, and the positions were never in doubt over ithe closing stages. | Results.— i Race seven: Auckland (M. Paterson and M. Ross). 1:52.14, 1; ['Wellington (G. Cheyne and M. Gibbons), 2:0.15, 2; Manawatu (M. Clark and R. Tillman), 2:3.50. 3. Only three finished. : Resail of race six: Wellington. 1:30.35, 1; Auckland. 1:32.10, 2; . Canterbury (P. Milliken and B. ■ Cowan I, 1:39.17, 3. Only three 1 started. Final points (best six placings): . Auckland, 6,1; Wellington, 14.7, . 2; Canterbury. 38.1, 3; Hawke's ’ Bay (D. Mcßeath and D. Zorn), I 39.7, 4; Manawatu, 67.7. 5: Otago [ (A. Todd and J. Monson), 68.4, , 6; South Auckland (R. Armstrong and R. Holdershaxv), 76.4, > 7; Southland (P. and K. Heads), • 79.7, 8.