Top skippers vying for cup
Stiff competition is expected when two of Canterbury’s top P class skippers clash in the Taqner Cup trials which start on Lyttelton Harbour this week-end.
The Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club helmsman, Alister Rowlands, and Neil Briggs, who will be sailing under the Charteris Bay Yacht Club insignia, will both be out to win the top spot to represent Canterbury at the national championships in Nelson from January 2 to 10. Rowlands, on the helm of Barnacle, will be looking to continue his successes of last season, when he finished thirtyfifth out of a fleet of 127 yachts, in the Taiyanga
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Cup, in Auckland.
He also finished runnerup in the prestigious Graham Mander P class Trophy to Griff Simpson who has moved out of the class and into a Starling yacht. Recently he won the pre-Tanner Cup regatta in Nelson, taking all four races in the event. Rowlands, aged -14, has improved immensely in the erratic weather this season, and has become stronger in the heavy conditions. His main strength and ability is sailing up wind. However Briggs, who is
BRYCE SIMS
a well-equipped, all weather skipper, is in top form after fine wins in the winter yachting series, and has not been beaten in his class in club races this season. He also finished first in the secondary schools regatta ahead of Rowlands, and notched up a win in the opening race of the Estuary pennants. Briggs, and Rowlands’ main opposition should come from the C.Y.M.B.C. skipper, Milton Bloomfield, who prefers the light airs for sailing but is also capable of turning in a good performance in rougher conditions.
Bloomfield kicked off the season with a win in the age-group regatta at Stewarts Gully, and fin-
ished third in the preTanner Cup trials. Last year he picked up a third in the Estuary pennants. Another skipper who could be a threat is Richard May, who will be wanting heavy conditions for his fibreglass yacht Two of last season’s leading optimist helmsmen, Aaron Goodmanson and Mathew Stechman, will be out to make a good showing, and with the experience of sailing on home waters, should prove worthy representatives from the Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club.
About 26 yachts are expected to race in the trials which are held over two week-ends.
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Press, 20 November 1987, Page 26
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389Top skippers vying for cup Press, 20 November 1987, Page 26
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