TWO-SECONDS WIN FOR IMPUDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 23

TWO-SECONDS WIN FOR IMPUDENCE

CLOSE FINISH IN R.P.N.Y.C. RACE

One of the finest duels seen on Wellington Harbour for many years was fought out last Saturday between Lavina and Impudence. One old yachtsman watching the first round from Oriental. Bay was so thrilled that lie chartered a.taxi to ,take .him up Mount Victoria for a grandstand .view, of the second round. His enthusiasm was rewarded, because the second round was.an eveir.better display of racing tactics than the first. -k- ' .-'.-.'

From the start,, with. spinnakers set to leeward, Impudence went.into the lead ' to. establish a clear margin at Jerningham Beacon, but once on the wind the Lavina soon picked her up. Lt was one thing to catch the-Impudence, but another- to get past. Eventually close to Coromandel, Jackie Coleman sailed the Lavina clean through the lee of the Impudence to round the buoy a.few yards, ahead, but the Impudence returned the compliment by sailing through the Lavina's lee off the wind and gybed round the buoy at the end of the first round a boat's length ahead. The second round saw a battle royal, with bluff tacks, safe leeward berths, counter bluffs, and everything else in the bag of, racing tricks exploited. ~

For the .whole extent of the windward leg the • two boats sailed board for- board,, so close'together that the crew of the Lavina were drenched by the Impudence's lee bow wave. . For most of the way the Impudence maintained her position on the Lavina's weather; at times by-bluffs and.superior, sailing,-the Lavina broke. through, only to have the Impudence re-estab-lish',- her i position again, until ultimately they founded Coromandel Buoy dead level, bu>t. still with the Impudence holding the weather position. Once -round-: the buoy a luffing match started with the Lavina trying hard to get' on , the Impudence's weather quarter. ' Eventually Lavina broke out her spinnaker and squared 'off for the line, followed immediately by the .Impuaence,- and'then with spinnakers set,' another luffing match started to be continued at intervals all down the run, varied 'by attempts by the Lavina to breakthrough to leeward;' but. the Impudence managed to withstand every challenge' and* crossed the line' to win by a bare' two seconds. '

Jackie Ooleman sailed' a magnificent race In the 'Lavinal' but it appeared that the crew work on • the Impudence was-slightly better, probably due, to1 a certain'extent,- to the fact that