Allen tipped to win catamaran title

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 22

Allen tipped to win catamaran title

By

BRYCE SIMS

Close racing is expected this week-end with two yachting championships at stake. The Catamaran Squadron is holding tornado, paper tiger and A class Canterbury championships, and the Laser class will be contesting the South Island title. All events will be raced on Lyttelton harbour. In the International A class catamarans, Ross Allen in Horizontal Departure, is the favourite to take the title. The current South Island champion has performed well throughout the season, but should get stiff competition from Gavin Walter in Hurdling Purple, the current Canterbury champion. Walter has had considerable international sailing experience and finished fifteenth in the A class catamaran world champion ships sailed in New Jersey last year, and in 1984 finished in twelfth place at the world championships held in Wellington. Two outsiders who could push their way into contention for the event are Rob Densen in a new fast boat, and Barry Toomey, one of the most competitive sailors in the class. Toomey, who has sold his boat, is sailing in a

borrowed catamaran which has a competitive rig and on the day could cause an upset. In the Paper Tiger championships Craig Keenan in Greased Lightnin and Craig Smith in Summerlove are the joint favourites to fight out the Canterbury title.

Keenan is a former member of the New Zealand team, and was runner-up to Smith in last year’s Canterbury championships. Another catamaran skipper who could spring into contention is Brian Douglas skippering Garfield. He has just fitted a new mylar sail and has got his boat well tuned.

Also run in conjunction with the other championships are the Olympic class Tornado Canterbury championships, which are raced over an 11-race series. The hot favourites in their class for the title, are Des Bryson and Tony Women in Stray Cat, who got together last January and finished third at the national championships in Napier. Bryson, who is one of the most experienced sailors in Canterbury in the Tornado class, has sailed with considerable success in France and North America. Bryson and Women’s main opposition should

come from Murray and Christine Philpott, who have had an up and down season in their new catamaran.

The Philpotts finished third in the 1985 Olympic sail held at Auckland, and sixth at the national championships held in Napier this year.

The two outsiders for the event, Steve Martin and Tui Scott, are an unknown quantity and with a new boat -being launched just before the regatta should perform well.

Both crew have been together for 14 months, and finished fifth in the Olympic regatta in Auckland last year. The pair intend to travel and compete on the European circuit at the end of the season.

The Laser squadron is expected to have a fleet of 15 boats for its South Island championships which is being held in conjunction with the Catamarans.

The joint favourites for the event are Steven Mockett of Canterbury, and Aaron Young, of Timaru.

Both yachtsman competed well in the national Laser youth trials at Plimmmerton last May. Young has had a good season for his Timaru club, and has been putting more effort into his preparation.