Peter Lester to clash with old yachting rival

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 32

Peter Lester to clash with old yachting rival

By

JOHN COFFEY

The principal figures in one of the most pulsating duels in New Zealand yachting, Peter Lester and Michael Nissen, will cross tacks on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf again later this summer.

Their previous meeting was at the same venue nearly three years ago, when Lester became only the second New Zealander to win the world O.K. dinghy championship. But if Lester on that occasion topped the progress points table throughout the contest, he was ever-mindful of the presence of Nissen, a 27-year-old West German.

Since that series both of i these outstanding helmsmen have taken the logical step up to the Finn class in bids to earn Olympic Games representation for their respec-i tive countries. A world title, the Finn Gold Cup, will be at stake once more when Lester and Nissen take their piaces in a high-quality fleet off Takapuna in February. It is possible that they will meet when the Pacific Finn Cup, which is also being sponsored by Peter Stuyvesant, is decided over the same course just before the world championship. 1 Both contests are particu-’ 'arly vital for Lester, for they will also serve at the Olympic trials in the Finn’ class. Such is Nissen’s dedica-’ tion to perfecting his yacht-| ing skills that he works as a sailmaker even though he has a masters degree in economics. One of the most lasting memories of the 1977 world O.K. series was the manners in which Nissen sought to place pressure on Lester,!

who is his junior by three years, as he gradually: whittled away the points ad-| vantage gained by the former Lyttelton watersider. Fluctuating winds and a strong tide caused problems in starting the sixth heat, and it was eventually delayed a day after 10 general recalls. For more than i three hours Nissen was never more than a boat ’length or two behind Lester, a relentless shadowing exercise which must have rattled Lester’s nerves. Nissen was to make a attempt to snatch over-all victory' in the final race, but Lester was not to be overtaken, and another New Zealander, Barry Thom, just managed to nudge Nissen out of second placing. The other West German ’entrant in the Finn Gold

Cup is Thomas Jungblut, a former world O.K. dinghy ’title-holder. He, too, has prei vious knowledge of conditions on the gulf, having been the runner-up in the 11970 world O.K. event at I Auckland. An expatriot New Zealander, Graeme Deegan, has already arrived in Auckland to prepare for the Pacific and world championships. Now living in England, where he has benefited from regular competition with the accomplished European skippers, Deegan must be regarded as a strong contender for Games selection.

Last summer Deegan took an opportunity to measure his form against the best of the resident New Zealanders. His visit was fruitful, for he headed off Lester and the three-times Olympic repre-j sentative, Jonty Farmer, ini the national contest. Among the other recent entries received were those I of Lawrence Lemieux and Rob Woodbury, the topranked Finn helmsmen in Canada. The reigning world champion. Cam Lewis (United States), is expected to arrive in Auckland shortly to acclimatise himself. Lewis will use the Pacific series as his final build-up to the defence of his title. Squads from Australia, the ’Netherlands, Belgium, Great (Britain, Finland and Sweden have also confirmed their ’nominations.