Moffat Cup Races

When it comes to running a national contest, Gisborne bears a high name among delegates from other parts of the country, no matter what the occasion. The organisation and running of the recent Moffat Cup races won high praise for the Gisborne Yacht Club, handling its first national yachting contest. And the weather turned on a variety of conditions running from almost flat calm to a near gale, so that the country's top Idle-Along men were very thoroughly put through their paces out in the bay, with a spanking southerly to start and end the series.

The big winds brought out a marked superiority in the Wellington and Poverty Bay entries. The last race, sailed in deteriorating weather, was a fitting climax, with the home boat, Finito (A. G. Bonica and T. Husband) coming in second to the Cup winner, Replica (Brian Cooper, Ramsay MacDonald and Alan Zorn).

Otago's entry silhouetted against the sun in the sunny calm of the third race.

Tony Bonica tops a swell in the final race

The winners from Wellington: Brian Cooper (skipper), Ramsay MacDonald and Alan Zorn.

The winners, Wellington, immediately after winning the last race.

Three sails and two heads... Otago wasn't sailing under water when this pic was taken..... they were just down in a trough.

Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Auckland rounding the buoy in the third race.

With spinnakers out, Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington head across the bay.

A sight to thrill any yachtsman--entrants in the New Zealand Idle-Along Championship sailing across the historic waters of Poverty Bay in one of the race series.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 69 : March 24, 1960

Moffat Cup Races