AURORA SAILING CLUB

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 December 1940, Page 10

AURORA SAILING CLUB

TAURANGA ELIMINATION TRIALS W. BEAN LEADING The Aurora Sailing Club had a very busy week-end running off the first i series of races for the Tauranga class trials which are being conducted for the purpose of selecting a skipper to represent Nelson at the New Zealand championships to be held in the New Year. SATURDAY’S RACE The result of Saturday afternoon's race was a win for R. Westrupp in M.C. Six boats faced the starter.— Scoot (G. Nalder), Skipper (W. Bean), Cygnet (D. Field), M.C. (R. Westrupp), Jaffa (R. Potton), Kia Ora (I. McConchie). Scoot was in the best position at the start where Kia Ora did not cross through the starting line and was recalled thus losing valuable time. After several split tacks R. Westrupp (M.C.) soon worked out a comfortable lead and he was never challenged. McConchie, sailing a great race, soon worked up from last to fourth place. At the top buoy the order was R. Westrupp. D. Field, W. Bean and I. McConchie, with G. Nalder and R. Potton further back. The order remained the same at the finishing line McConchie having a great struggle with W. Bean for third place. Points allotted under the New Zealand contest system were: R. Westrupp (M.C.) 100; D. Field (Cygnet), 66.6; W. Bean (Kipper), 50; I. McConchie (Kia Ora), 40; G. Nalder (Scoot), 33.3; R. Potton (Jaffa), 28.57. HANDICAP CLASS TE RURU GAINS LEG-IN FOR AURORA CUP A. McLean and W. Dobson, sailing a perfect race throughout, brought Te Ruru home a winner after a very close finish with Jean, sailed by K. Weldon, E. Irvine and A. Jenkins in the first race by the Handicap Class for the Aurora Cup. Tainui (J. Chapman and J. Forsyth), gained a nice start and le‘d Jean across the line by ten yards with Td Ruru to leeward. At the wharf Tainui still led Jean and Te Ruru by just a few seconds. Te Ruru was pointing very high and was being well sailed. Tainui and Jean decided to use the eastern shore and were badly knocked off by a slight variable wind. Te Ruru soon came about on to starboard tack and headed Tainui and Jean around the first mark by 20 seconds. Spinnakers were rather slow in being broken out, Tainui having hers out first. At the completion of the first round Te Ruru led Tainui and Jean. On the run down for the second time Jean passed Tainui and closed up a little on Te Ruru, who dropped her spinnaker but quickly recovered it, still managing to hold her lead on Jean. In the third round Jean, which was having her first official race this season, tried hard to catch Te Ruru, but was unsuccessful. Tainui was third. Both A. McLean and W. Dobson are ex-Tauranga class skippers and Te Ruru is the first boat of the larger class that they have sailed. The win was very popular. When the handicaps were deducted Te Ruru did not require any of her 11 minutes. IDLEALONGS Two boats, Slipper and Colleen, which have not been seen for some months have now taken the water. Slipper has just been acquired by Reg Kyle and should do well against other Idlealongs, while F. Greenem’s Colleen, with her new sails, should also find racing to her liking. The club would very much like to see these two boats racing in the H class as they would swell the fields and make the racing L.r more interesting. Another boat that has still to make her first appearance on the line is Calamity Jane, which has been recently purchased by A. Ricketts. Rascal and Marita, whose crews will shortly be home on leave will no doubt make their .debut and likewise Mayfair, whose final finishing off is almost completed. FURTHER TRIALS Further trials were held for the Tauranga class during Sunday, R. Potton (M.C.) winning the morning race after leading all the way, and W. Bean the afternoon race. There was a complete change over of boats for the morning race. M.C., getting a very nice start, soon worked out a good lead and was never challenged until almost the finish, when W. Bean made a great effort, closing the distance rapidly, and was just beaten by a matter of seconds. G. Nalder was third followed by R. Westrupp, I. McConchie and D. Field. Points at the conclusion of the second race were allotted and the placings were: R. Westrupp, 140; R. Potton, 128.5; W. Bean, 116.66; D. Field, 95.23; G. Nalder, 83.33; I. McConchie, 73.33. In the afternoon conditions were ideal. A moderate northerly breeze was blowing. The course for this race was altered to a triangular one and W. Bean (Deryn) sailed a fine race to win by 59 seconds from I. McConchie (Cygnet). M.C. (D. Field) took the lead at the start from W. Bean (Deryn) with G. Nalder (Kia Ora), I. McConchie, R. Westrupp and R. Potton in that order. All skippers used the tide to great advantage. On reaching the northern mark W. Bean overhauled G. Field and led down the harbour. On the completion of the first round the boats closely bunched and at this stage the race was anybody’s. On the next beat to windward W. Bean soon worked out a good lead and held this throughout. G. Nalder was most unfortunate to drop from second place to fourth owing to misjudging the tide. I. McConchie passed D. Field who in turn passed G. Nalder. R. Westrupp followed, and R. Potton was well back last. Points at the close of racing were: W. Bean, 216.6; R. Westrupp, 173.3; R. Potton, 157.14; D Field, 145.23; I. McConchie, 139.9; G. Nalder, 123.3. BOATS ALLOTTED FOR NEXT RACE The allotting of boats for next Saturday’s trial will be as follows:—R. Potton (Kipper), G. Nalder (M.C.), I. McConchie (Deryn), W. Bean (Scoot), D. Field (Kia Ora), R. Westrupp (Cygnet) The thanks of the club are due to Mrs Weldon senior and junior, and to Mrs E Irvine, who kindly arranged the refreshments during the week-end. SOCIAL ON THURSDAY The club intends to hold a special social function to Mr A. K. Griffith, president of the club, on Thursday evening when every member is requested to attend.