Yachting: Humble P-class launches stars of future

By Terry Maddaford

TAURANGA - The sleek America's Cup yachts and the humble P-class are worlds apart, yet when push comes to shove on the big boats, the skills learned and honed on the seven-foot tiddler can count for plenty.

Most of New Zealand's top yachties have cut their sailing teeth in the simple one-design P-class. Many, including Yachting New Zealand high-performance manager Peter Lester, have observed: "If you can sail a P-class, you can sail anything."

The Tanner and Tauranga Cups rolls of honour read like a Who's Who of New Zealand yachting.

From Tauranga's Jimmy Gilpin - still the only three-time winner (1951-52-53) of both trophies - to Mark Patterson, John Moyes, Murray Thom, Craig Gilberd, David Barnes, Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Craig Greenwood, Craig Monk, Jon Bilger, Dean Barker, Simon Cooke, Russell Bowler, Brian Jones, Geoff Senior and the sole female Tauranga Cup winner, Leslie Egnot in 1979, they are all there.

The 1999 contests, which start with the International Epiglass Tanner Cup invitation race tomorrow morning, will, no doubt, throw up another future champion.

Two to look out for are 14-year-olds Michael Bullot (Tanner/Tauranga Cups) and local girl Jessica Smyth (Tauranga Cup).

They come from strong family yachting backgrounds; both are heading into their second national P-class championships. This will be their swansong in the class before turning to the Starlings, even though both could have another year in P-class.

Both sailed Sunbursts for their schools in 1998 and both have put in the hours on Tauranga Harbour.

Bullot, heading into his fifth-form year at Westlake Boys' High, will represent North Harbour in the Tanner Cup and Murrays Bay Sailing Club in the Tauranga.

Smyth, from the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, is one of a dozen from the host club chasing the Cup, which has not been won by the club since Rob Denniston, who scored the Tanner-Tauranga Cup double in 1955-56.

Bullot won just about everything in 1998, including a handful of races on Tauranga Harbour.

"While the start is always the first priority, knowing the local conditions - especially the tides - is crucial," he said. "The person who reads them best from the start will have a big advantage. There is some pressure on me I suppose, but I try not to think about it.

"These are important regattas. When you look at the list of winners you realise just how hard it is going to be. Sure, one day I would like to sail in the Olympics or the America's Cup, but for now I'm thinking more about the races here."

Organisers know they have attracted the country's best young talent. Twelve will contest the Tanner Cup while 130 will line up on Wednesday for the first race in the Tauranga Cup.

Last year Smyth was 69th in the 132-strong Tauranga Cup fleet. She has her sights set higher this time.

"I think I can do better. I was fourth, and first girl, in the Bay of Plenty Tanner Cup trials," she said. At 60kg, she is heavier than many of her opponents and if the wind blows she knows that will be an advantage.

"Winds of 18 knots would be great for me. The smaller sailors find it more difficult to get up if they capsize. You always hope to do well. You can see the recognition girls have got through good results."