YACHTING: 'Sheep' open way for Sandall to take win

ANENDRA SINGH
It was a case of the blind leading the blind, resulting in 67 very unhappy sailors in the third race at the Starling National Championship in New Plymouth last night.
In what could be a contender for a Minties Moment advertisement on telly, Tauranga sailor Peter Burley bolted to a lead from the starting hooter but took the wrong turn at the first marker at the New Plymouth Yachting Club course.
Caught up in the heat of the race, 66 other sailors from the field of 70 split into a green and blue fleet followed suit. The traditional 140 field was split and the other lot competed in the red and yellow fleet, after Wednesday's inclement weather scuttled the best-laid plans for racing.
Napier Sailing Club racing secretary, Graeme Robinson who is on the five-person jury panel, said Burley took the left turn rather than the right but three sailors did not follow like sheep.
"We had a major protest hearing last night and the verdict was that the three sailors who followed the course correctly were awarded first, second and third placings while the others were recorded as 'did not finish'," Robinson said.
The disgruntled sailors collectively complained that the race should not be recognised because the majority of boats had not finished the race.
"If three runners in a marathon go on the right track then they are awarded the medals regardless of where the others go, don't they? It is unfortunate for those sailors but it is reality," Robinson said.
It was a bittersweet race for the Napier club's sailors with favourite James Sandall finally finding the 15 to 20-knot winds in the afternoon to his liking and finishing in first place.
The day started slowly for the Napier Boys' High School student with 10th and 15th placings in the first two races.
Lindisfarne College student Ben Goodwin had a sixth and seventh finish in his races and was leading Sandall but a couple of capsizes left him in 15th position.
Goodwin's mother, Caroline, Josh Weeks and his mother, Susie, were all in Burley's fleet, taking the wrong turn but not fishing the race.
"In the morning the swells were five metres high but by the afternoon the 10 to 12-knot winds were reaching about 15 to 20 knots and those swells were like the height of two-storey buildings," Robinson said.
Looking at the forecast, he predicted the Starling championship might be one or two races shy come the final day on Saturday. Robinson said if Sandall played his cards right today he would make the top 70 cut for the gold fleet.
"It's not over for those who took the wrong turn today either. They have a chance tomorrow to avoid the silver fleet because the two worse results will be discarded anyway."