Favourites sail clear in first 470 race

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 3

Favourites sail clear in first 470 race

The favourites, Terry and Peter Nichol as of Auckland, won the opening race of the 470 Class Mahan Marine 2001 Wet Suit national yachting championship, on Lyttelton Harbour yesterday. The second race was won by the Canterbury crew, Mark Milbum and Simon Mander, who dominated from the start. The opening race, with 19 starters, was sailed in 10 knot southerly winds with Nichol as being first round the top mark narrowly ahead of Jon Bilger (Auckland), and Milburn. At the wing mark, Nicholas still held an advantage

over Bilger, and Leslie and Jenny Engot (Canterbury), who finished ninth in the world championships in France last year. By the bottom mark, Nicholas had opened up a 15 lead on Bilger, and at the end of the windward — leeward leg was out to 20s. Nicholas then went further ahead and was not threatened on the final triangle. He went on to win by 28s from Bilger with Milbum a further 10s back. For the second delayed race, the course was moved because of windshift and was sailed in north-easterly conditions.

Milburn, who got away to a good start, was first round the top mark and opened up a lead of 5s over Mark Shapland and Steven Bull, of Auckland, with Bilger further back. By the bottom Mark, Bilger had moved to second and picked up 2s to be 3s down on Milbum. On the windward-leeward leg, Milbum opened up a 50s lead to the windward mark, but had it chopped to 30s at the leeward mark. At the top mark for the second time, Milburn increased his lead to 80s and by the bottom mark was up Imin 40s on Nicholas who had moved up to second

place, ahead of Bilger. In the final beat up to the finish Milbum kept a loose cover on the fleet, and went on to win by 46s from Nicholas with Bilger 3min 13s further back in third place. Results.— Race one (19 boats): T. and P. Nicholas (Auckland) 1; J. Bilger and P. McNeil (Auckland) 2; M. Milburn and S. Mander (Canterbury) 3; L. and J. Egnot (Canterbury) 4; S. Bull and M. Shapland (Canterbury) 5; J. Stewart and J. Brandt '(Auckland) 6. Race two: Milbum 1; Nicholas 2; Bilger 3; Egnot 4; Bull 5; W. Avery and A. Griffiths (Auckland) 6.