Canty Export second

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 4

Canty Export second

PA Auckland The yachting team to represent New Zealand in the Admiral’s Cup in Cowes in July will be announced on Wednesday afternoon and, judging on yesterday’s two final evaluation races, the team will be Exador, Canterbury Export and Epic Lass. Yesterday’s races — the seventh and eighth in the Epiglass Admiral’s Cup evaluation trials — were added to the original sailing schedule so that the three selectors could watch the South Island entry, Canterbury Export, demonstrate her capabilities in fresh weather conditions. A proven light weather "flyer,” a reputation earned in the earlier races, many observers were uncertain about her abilities to handle fresh weather. She put paid to even the most confirmed doubter at the week-end. In winds gusting up to 22 knots, she handled the conditions superbly, yesterday to take a second and third in

two Olympic-style races around a triangular course off East Coast Bays, and a second in a 15-miler yesterday. That record looks like reserving a spot for Canterbury Export in the line-up at Cowes. The best performed boat in the final three races was Exador. Tension at the start of yesterday afternoon’s race caused the Bruce Farr flyer to jump the gun and forced her recall. She did, and lost a lot of ground. But by half way she had caught and passed Canterbury Export, a lead she maintained to the finish. The victory was a repeat of her placing on Saturday, and gave her five wins in nine starts, a record which indicated she is one of the fastest 40-footers in international yacht racing today. Points table: Exador 38, Canterbury Export 31, Epic Lass 30, Swuzzle Bubble V 26, Barn-Storm 10.