Dickson leads yachting

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 30

Dickson leads yachting

PA Auckland Chris Dickson, three times a world youth yachting champion, leads after two races in the world 470 championship off East Coast Bays. Dickson and his forward hand, Joe Allen, who showed only moderate form in the recent national championships and international regatta, finished second yesterday behind Jonas Haggbom and Gunnar Johansson (Sweden). A seventh placing in the 61-boat fleet yesterday gave Dickson the lead in the contest. “Chris is all keyed up, confident and taking a conservative approach to the international class in the field,” said Allen, after yesterday’s race. “There are still four races to go,” said Dickson. “We’ve had good starts and a lot of bad legs, but we have been right up with the leaders.” Four New Zealand crews are in the top 10 placings over all. Peter Evans and Sean Reeves, of New Zealand, were more at home yesterday in the south-westerly gusting to 20 knots, finishing third after a twelfth in the first race to be second over all. Murray Jones and Earl Berry (N.Z.) won yesterday’s race after finishing twentieth on Saturday to be in fifth place. Points: Dickson 16, 1; Evans 23.7, 2; Haggbom, T. Peponnet, 24, equal 3; Jones 26, 5.