TV Launch Capsizes Yacht Race Leader

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30063, 22 February 1963, Page 10

TV Launch Capsizes Yacht Race Leader

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 21. The International 18-footer yachting contest took a surprise turn on the Waitemata today when Schemer, the leading Australian yacht, was capsized in a collision with a launch belonging to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Schemer was well in the lead a>t the time of the collision but after, capsizing was unable to take any further part in the race. Schemer had won the first two races in the five-heat contest, and was thus a firm favourite to retain the J. J. Giltinan Trophy tor Australia. Immediately after the col-

lision, the 26-year-old skipper of Schemer, K. Beashel. of Sydney, clambered aboard the Air Force launch and remonstrated with the skipper. He then dived overboard to join his crew, who were clipging to the capsized yacht. The Air Force launch carried a television cameraman, and for this reason had manoeuvred close to Schemer as she approached Orakei wharf with about two-thirds of the race completed. The launch hit Schemer just forward of the mast, and did little damage, apart from putting her out of the race. The owner of Schemer, Mr Ben Walsh, said that as far as the race was concerned, there was no action that could be taken. He said that Schemer still led the series on points. However, the manager of the Australian team. Mr A. Beashel, who is the father of Schemer’s skipper, said that he would ask the Air Force to make a full inquiry into the collision. An Air Force spokesman said this evening that an inquiry would be held tomorrow.