messing about in boats

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 10

messing about in boats

WELL DONE Congratulations to G. and C. Cooke for winning their second Leander Trophy. They ended the series with three wins and two second placings in the five race-contest. There have not been many yachtsmen who have won this contest more than once and they were of the calibre of skippers like W. Nicholson, P. G. Mander and G. S. Mander of Christchurch and G. Gibbs of Wellington. The “R” class is popular and well developed because of its sound administration and attractive qualities as a racing yacht. EARLY BIRD

A young man from Rotorua arrived in Christchurch on the fifth of January in preparation for an event which takes place in mid-February. The subject in question is the quest for the New Zealand Olympic Finn championship and sponsored trip to the Pan-Pacific Finn cup at Sydney. The young man, now busily engaged in getting as much practice as possible in before the contest starts, is J. Farmer who took two fourth placings in Finn racing at the Charteris Bay regatta last weekend. With another four weeks of hard racing ahead of him before the series starts, he jhould be in fine form for the championship proper.

GOOD VENUE Comment on the first South Island Javelin class championship held at Picton just after New Year has been favourable. According to a local yachtsman who was helping run this series it was a most successful event and thought so by both competitors and officials. Apparently the success was due to sound planning before the event which eliminated misunderstandings and misinterpretations: a factor which often is missing in some championship events. There have been prejudices against Picton as a championship venue for National or New Zealand events but after the Javelin and R class series this season, these can safely be dispelled providing racing is staged in Queen Charlotte Sound. TherOfficials of the Queen Charlotte

Yacht Club did a fine job in organising these events and considering that they do not have a large population to call on for club members. BALED—OUT At Charteris Bay on Saturday afternoon the sole occupant of a runabout while starting the motor was ejected into the water while the speedboat made off at a high port towards Quail Island. Perhaps nothing would have mattered if the intervening stretch of water had been clear but it was not, it was cluttered with dozens of yachts all intent on racing from one mark to the next. Apparently this motor had some consideration because it calmly threaded its way through the fleet without running down anyone until at last the owner, whc had been vainly trying to row after it. was set aboard from a pursuing craft.