N.Z. helmsmen lead

Press, 12 February 1979, Page 6

N.Z. helmsmen lead

PA Auckland Frustrations were the standing orders for the first two days racing In the world Contender yachting championship dominated by Kiwi helmsmen. On Saturday many of the helmsmen in the Cossack toiletries-sponsored contest delayed their departure from the start at Takapuna Beach.

While there was plenty of wind on shore, the helmsmen did not. want any undue strain on gear, but a falling wind out in the Rangitoto meant that many craft did not make the start in time.

A .protest. against the committee starting the race while many entrants twere still struggling to make the line was lodged bv an expatriate New Zealander, Tony Smith, who is sailing for England in th© contest, but was yesterday turned down.

New Zealand helmsmen picked the changes and took (he first four placings. Peter Newlands. who last week won the inter-dominion title in the same waters, was followed home by Bob Willis. Dick featt, and Lindsay Kennedy. Newlands was in splendid form after rounding the windward mark for the third time, about

40sec behind Willis and then making up over a minute on th* triangle back to the fialsh’. The win, along with a fourth placing on Saturday gave Newlands a share of the contest lead with Kennedy, who won on Saturday.

Batt is third, followed by Richard Gladwell who. after a splendid second on Saturday could not pick the right places to be yesterday and slumped to an unaccustomed seventeenth place. Brian Bennett completes the New Zealand dominance of th* contest so far. ■ /

The best of the overseas heimsmen are the English representatives Geoff Whitfield and Tony Smith. Results:

Race one (Saturday): .L. Kennedy (N.Z.) 1, R. Gladwell' (N.Z.) 2, R. Drury (Aust.) 3, P Newlands (N.Z.) 4. G. Whitfield (England) 5, D. Batt (N.Z.) 6, B. Bennett (N.Z.) 7, D. Larter (Aus.), 8, C. Cameron (Aust.) 9, M. Baker (Aust.) 10.

Race two (Sunday): Newlands 1. R. Willis (N.Z.) 2, Batt 3. Kennedy 4, A. Smith (England) 5, L. Gallagher (N.Z.) 6. Bennett 7, C. Pardy (Aust.) 8, G. Smith (England) 9. Baker 10, R. Burfdin (Aust.) 11, S. Richards (Aust.) 12, G. Dalton (N.Z.) 13. Whitfield 14, C. Smith (Aust.) 15.