Aust, leads 12s yachting

Press, 11 January 1986, Page 3

Aust, leads 12s yachting

PA Auckland Australian 12-fodters took the fourth heat of the Interdominion series in Auckland by the throat yesterday. They grabbed first, second and fourth places in

a rumbustious tour round the buoys in 25-knot winds. It was an occasion of celebration in more ways than one for the heat winner Zapspar. The skipper, Larry Cargill, with 12 years in the two-man class and three Inter-dominion competitions to his credit, won a heat outright for the first time. Until yesterday Cargill had always been the bridesmaid, though his consistent run of second platings won him the Australian trials in October. However, he and forward hand, Michael Rennie, grabbed the bride’s bouquet with a changing start, and when the breeze lightened to 12 knots their lead was uncatchable. In the first three races of the seven-heat series at least 10 boats have finished with no more than 10' minutes between them, but yesterday the lead was established by 15 minutes. The win, with three races left to sail, has given Cargill and Rennie the series lead, but only 0.6 of a point. After yesterday’s heat Dimension Sailcloth, raced by Auckland’s Tim Bartlett and Malcolm Dawson, can drop their worst performance and, provided they resume their high placing run, look to be invincible.

“This has been the closest contest imaginable,” said Cargill. "There are just so many variables in the 12s. “Bartlett will be hard to beat but we’ve got our fingers crossed. We just have to go out and consolidate.

The first New Zealand yacht home was Fyran Boats (Graeme Laurie and Ken Fyfe). Third yesterday put them in fourth place over all.

For Bartlett, who looked set to retain the Intei’dominion title, a series of disasters yesterday gave him only eighth position in the heat.

First his spinnaker seemed too big for the breeze. Next a capsize cost, him seven places, while after making it. back to fourth, gear failure finally made him settle for eighth. It was Bartlett’s worst performance in 21 starts and three Inter-dominion contests. “The luck of the dice wasn’t with him,” said Cargill. “He could have just about wrapped the series up. But his placing has opened the competition again.

“Bartlett is still predicted to win but he has no chance of another discard. It makes the whole thing interesting,” said Cargill.