Catamarans may

go into yacht class at Tahiti

Staged for the first time as an

optional Games event, yachting

attracted entries from P-NG, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Cale donia and Alan Grey from Wes tern Samoa.

P-NG was the superior, pushed all the way by the French.

New Guinea were best on the tri angular 12-mile course in Fairfax Harbour when winds were strong— as they were for most of the races.

Moresby’s Geoff Dabb, in Circle, went extremely well in the seven races.

Gusty winds and local water suited Geoff and he took an early lead, los ing only three points in four heats.

New Caledonia, the only team to bring its own boats and sails, couldn’t adapt to the Fireball class yachts.

French Polynesia, despite numerous capsizes, caused the NG team an ulcer or two and Alan Burgaud, in Aureole, got off to a great start when he beat Dabb by over three minutes in the first heat, sailed in moderate conditions.

Strong winds

For following heats the winds strengthened and Dabb forged ahead, but it was not the end of the game for the Frenchmen by any means.

Fiji’s Bill Gardiner in Shambles was also well in the hunt, as was the other NG entry, Keith Rodda in Fiery Fred.

Papua Yacht Club was the head quarters and judges were Australian.

The Games Council have decided to include yachting as an optional sport at Tahiti where the French are cer tain to make a better showing.

Another class as well as Fireballs, which all territories agreed were a suitable craft because of their sim plicity and cheap price, could be featured in Tahiti—possibly cata marans.

Organisers want the sport to appeal to the wider cross-section of the Islanders and the catamarans may be just the answer, with their great speeds and easy handling.