Southerly Hits Akaroa Race Fleet

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 10

Southerly Hits Akaroa Race Fleet

A cold, hard southerly, with wind exceeding 40 knots, produced testing conditions for sailing during the later stages of the Ocean Yacht race from Lyttelton to Akaroa yesterday.

The race began at 8.30 r m. from Lyttelton heads and in westerlv conditions. The leading yachts made record times as far as East head an were off Le Bons Bay by about 1130 a.m. The southerly hit the fleet about 1.30 p in. and a hard I fight followed off a dangerous lee shore in which excellent seamanship was displayed by all contestants. Only four yachts had arrived at Akaroa by about 10 p.m. Fastest time and line honours and the Admiral BurgessWatson trophy went to Tucana (L. Baschop, C. A. Dickey, C. Buist, W. Morgan, M. Clements) which arrived at Aka10a soon before 6 p.m. Wairiki (A. Archer) was second. Melita (S. F. Corrick) was third and Pastime (A. W. Wright and F. Adams) was fourth.

The veteran keeler, Pastime, led the fleet from East head and at Pompey's Pillar Melita, Wairiki, Gazelle and Tucans were close astern of Pastime, with Serica about a mile behind the leaders.

Pastime maintained the lead until a topsail halliard broke

I off Akaroa heads which probably cost her the race In spite of foul-weather clothing crew members in most yachts were severely at fected by the abrupt change to near freezing conditions with driving sleet and hail. The southerly forced some (entrants to turn for shelter.