Yachting’s youth on trial tomorrow

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 19

Yachting’s youth on trial tomorrow

The youth of Canterbury yachting will share the waters of Lyttelton harbour with the seasoned Javelin class crews when the provincial trials begin tomorrow morning. While the Javelin yachtsmen decide 'their’ Sanders Cup nomination over a sixheat series, the junior P class and Starling skippers will be just as competitive in their considerably smaller' craft.

The top P class prize is the right to carry Canterbury’s insignia in the national Tanner Cup contest at Murray’s Bay, Auckland, in early January. The winner will undoubtedly be joined by several others in the Tauranga Cup (inter-club) championship, also at Murrays Bay.

However, because the New Zealand Starling championship is not being held in conjunction-with the Tanner and Tauranga cups it is not yet clear whether Canterbury will be represented. The Starling event is not until Easter, at Kohimarama, another Auckland club.

Participation at Tanner Cup level has. been the first major recognition accorded many helmsmen who were to achieve subsequent fame at world youth and senior contests.

Recent performances would suggest that Tim Allan (Charteris Bay) must be regarded as a firm contender for Canterbury selection. ;)

But the P class racing has been keenly contested and he is likely to be extended by Jennie Egnot (Christchurch), Tim Chapman (Stewart’s Gully), Ben Allan (Charteris Bay), Emma Milburn (Mount Pleasant), Michael Nesbit (Charteris Bay) and Tim 1 Studholme (Charteris Bay).

Weather conditions invari-

ably play a part in deciding the outcome of junior events. The less experienced entrants can keep in reasonablecontact with the leaders in lighter airs, but struggle when the winds freshen.

The Starling trials also promise to be close, particularly as Craig Rosevear, who was the runner-up in the last national championship, and some of the other more seasoned sailors have transferred to the senior Laser class.

One of the logical favourites, Greg Corston (Mount Pleasant), will not be competing. Entries closed while his boat was still under repair. The main contender will be Stephen Mockett (Canterbury), who was Canterbury’s 1981-82 Tanner Cup representative. Mockett sailed in last summer’s national Starling series and was a very creditable eleventh, second only to Rosevear of the Canterbury contingent. Another who reached the Starling division with a proud Optimist and P class record is Lee Ann Soper (Charteris Bay), and she has the determination and ability to add further successes.

Among those who have had a comparatively long term in Starlings are John Douglas (Mount Pleasant), and Tony Carr (Charteris Bay). Many promising newcomers have quickly adapted to the class, and John Kennett (Pleasant Point), Paid Seiwood (Stewart’s Gully) and a former Optimist champion, Kirsten Nicholl, are capable of causing upsets. There will be two trials tomorrow and another two on Sunday. The final two races are scheduled, for December 4, with the next day held in reserve in case of postponements: JOHN COFFEY