Ebert wins Zephyr yachting title

Press, 22 February 1982, Page 6

Ebert wins Zephyr yachting title

Consistent placings in the top third of the fleet enabled Austin Ebert, of the Christchurch Yacht Club, to win the South Island Zephyr class championship at the Estuary during the week-end. Ebert clinched overall victory when he was the runnerup to Sandra Hines in the final heat yesterday afternoon. The easterly winds gusting to 30 knots took their toll, and only two other skippers completed the course. After having been second to Richard Roberton in the first race on Saturday morning, Ebert had placings of seventh and fifth. Individually, they might have appeared somewhat modest, but most of his leading rivals suffered gear damage at least once during the series. The experienced Don Le Page had the misfortune to break his mast after, capsizing in the opening event, and although he gained line honours on Saturday afternoon he had to be content with fourth on the eventual points table. Jim Park, the winner of the third heat yesterday morning, was second overall, with Ken , Maynard third. Miss Hines was fifth behind Le Page, ' with Bob Park sixth. ,

It was a particularly con. mendable effort by Jim Park. Although building a Zephyr, he had not previously sailed one until Saturday. His only experience before the first heat was guiding his borrowed craft about 40 metres to the start line. Meanwhile, at Charteris Bay 85 crews were battling the strong winds in the four classes of the South Island age-group championships. The overall titles were won by Grant Wright (Optimists), Mark Milburn (Starlings), Michelle Baker (P class) and Michael and David Pearson (Flying Ants). Results.— Optimists - 8-9 years: B. Church 1, G. Webley, G. Pender, C. Simpson equal 2. 10-11 years: K. Winters 1, G. Forsyth 2, M. Howell 3. 12-13 vears: G. Wright 1, B. Allan 2, C. Riley 3. 14-15 years: W. Nicholle 1. Overall: Wright 1, Allan 2. Starlings - 13-14 years:’ S. Mockett 1, A. Hobden 2, T. Carr 3. 15-16 years: M. Milbum 1. P. Mardon 2. L. Soper 3.17-18 years: D. Kennett .1. S. Milburn 2. Overall: M. Milburn 1, Mockett 2, Mardon 3. Flying Ants: M. and D. Pearson 1, R. Beaumeister and R. McAlvey 2, N. Millington and D. Lovell 3. P class — 10-11 years: S. Reay 1. B. Taylor 2, J. Garrick 3. 12-13 years: T. Allan 1. A. Young 2, T. Studholme 3. 14-15 years: M. Baker 1, R. Sharland 2, M. Miller 3. Overall: Baker 1. Allan 2.