TASMAN RACE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 14 November 1930, Page 13

TASMAN RACE.

MR STACEY'S WITHDItAWAE,

SURPRISE IN AUSTRALIA,

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SYDNEY, November 6.

A cable message from New Zealand, received last Saturday, to the effect that Mr A.F. Stacey, of Christchujch, who bad agreed to enter a boat for a trans-Tasman race with the Melbourne yacht, Olmara, had been unable to secure a suitable craft, has created great consternation in the Oimara camp. It is doubtful now whether the race, that was planned to commence 'on Boxing Pay. will take plaee this season. "It is an extraordinary situation," said Mr J, Bennett, owner of the Oimara, "Neither Mf Stacey's representative nor I had a word from Mr Sfcaoey about the withdrawal of hia-entry. I had an interview to-day with Mr Stacey's representative, and he was quite in the dark. He told me that arrangements wore progressing satisfactorily when he left New Zealand. The erew had been selected, and the field from which the boat would be chosen had been narrowed down to two or three. Now we hear that he has been unable to obtain a suitable craft. I do. not understand the position, and I have sent a cable for more definite information. I will not accept as correet the news of Mr Stacey 's withdrawal until I receive confirmation of it." It is stated in Melbourne that the situation is all the more inexplicable since Mr Stacey cabled to the secretary of the Australia to New Zealand Yacht Bace Committee (Mr B. J. Lou-' don), on October 15th, stating that he had had great difficulty in securing a suitable boat, but that he had closed with an offer. • All the other details, ; according to Mr Stacey, had been fixed, j It was proposed that the yachts in the j race, should leave QueenseHff on Boxing Day for Wilson's promontory, and then stride for Nelson. On a suggestion made by Mr Stacey's representative It was agreed to alter the destination to Lyttclton. Although the entries for the race have closed, it is not certain that there will not be at least one entry .front Australia. If there is no race it is on the cards that the Oimara will make the run to New Zealand without an opponent. Mr Bennell is quite prepared 4o alter the date of the roee to suit New Zealand opinion, and if it is thought that February would bo a better date for a raee across the Tasman, he is quite prepared to fix a date in that month.