Yachting: 'Rusty' Dickson sounds warning

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Chris Dickson had two good days at the office yesterday. In the morning he was in his shore office looking after his business interests. In the afternoon he was out on the water winning four from four on the second day of the Steinlager Lion 7 matchracing championships.

"Yes," he said after making land just before the gathering gloom plunged the Waitemata Harbour course into darkness, "it was a good day in both offices."

The veteran among the 16 sailors in the series, Dickson ended his first round-robin a clear leader over fellow Kiwi Gavin Brady, with Frenchman Bertrand Pace another win back.

The first morning group spent hours bobbing up and down going nowhere.

After just one of their four scheduled races, they were called ashore, but not before Dean Barker had downed Phil Douglas to retain his unbeaten record and a clear lead over first-day co-leader Andy Green, of Britain, who was beaten by New Zealander Cameron Appleton.

Green and Appleton have three wins from four races to trail Barker by a point.

When the wind did pick up a little and settled from the west after swinging around the compass all morning - but never above 10 knots - the second group were able to sail their four races.

Dickson hit his straps immediately. He beat Pace by over half-a-minute and then saw off first-day pacesetter Brady, Peter Holmberg and finally Lars Nordbjerg by 48s.

"In three of our four races we nailed the start," said Dickson. "The last race was the toughest. We were dead equal at the windward mark but then we had a way better spinnaker hoist and got clear."

Despite his six from seven record after two days, Dickson admits he is a bit rusty in his on-board skills and the matchracing rules.

"We did not put a [protest] flag up all day. We concentrated on getting a good start and then sailing a smart, fast race. And not get penalised. The whole crew did a fantastic job."

And if the wind picks up today, no one will be happier than Dickson and his crew of Harry Dodson, Jeremy Lomas, Craig Saterthwaite and Kevin Batten.

"We have a strong, heavy crew," said Dickson. "We would be more comfortable in heavier conditions than some of the others."

And as a warning to those hoping to keep Dickson out of Friday's semifinals, the 1985 and 1989 champion, said: "We are not a polished act. We will get better."

Australian Peter Gilmour, who won two from four yesterday, is one of four skippers on three wins. He lost to Dickson but was not surprised with the ease with which Dickson had switched from the Olympic class Tornado catamaran to matchracing in the MRX.

"I'm not surprised at all," said Gilmour. "When he left matchracing I regarded him as the toughest I sailed against."

Organisers hope to sail the remaining three races for group two from 10 am today. They will then sail as many races as possible in the second round-robin, in which four crews from each group will swap sides, to ensure the semifinalists are found by tomorrow night.