Rainbow II Likely To Be Over-all Winner

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31579, 17 January 1968, Page 16

Rainbow II Likely To Be Over-all Winner

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Rainbow II (C. Bouzaid), the first New Zealand over-all winner of the Sydney to Hobart classic, arrived home last evening to a tumultous welcome from thousands of cheering Aucklanders.

Crossing the finishing line for the Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s 1500-mile Hobart to Auckland race off Orakei Wharf, as potential over-all winner of this event also, the 36ft 6in Rainbow II was greeted by flares, fireworks, a brass band, and car horns.

One of the first sightings of Rainbow II came from the Magic Flute (A. B. Warwick) anchored off Camkells Bay. The crew of Magic Flute saw first one mast and then another about 6.50 p.m. for Satanita (D. R. Wilkie) was still having a battle royal with her New Zealand Southern Cross Cup teammate. On early estimates it was expected that Rainbow II would arrive at about 5 p.m. On closer sighting Satanita was found to be leading Rainbow II by some 350 yards—this after nearly 1500 miles racing in some of the most difficult seas in the world. On Monday evening Rainbow II had been reported about three miles astern of the 44ft Satanita when they were off the Cavalli Islands, about 115 miles back. At 7.10 p.m. yesterday the pair raced past the passenger liner Monteray and then lost sight of each other as darkness closed. At 8 p.m. Rainbow II put in her first board since being sighted only yards before the Rangitoto. Lighthouse and laid for the finish to go over the line with room to spare. Provisionally on handicap, Rainbow II is the leader with a corrected time of 7 days, 21 hours and 34 minutes. Satanita is provisionally second with a

corrected time of 8 days, 8 hours, 20 minutes and 42 seconds. Myth of Arran (D. Reid), which finished - yesterday at 11.55 a.m., has a corrected time of 8 days, 17 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds which places her third. Outside Chance Castanet (L. Carmichael), the third member of the New Zealand Southern Cross team which competed against the Australian States, is still iatling and should she reach the

finish around 8 a.m. today she will take the over all honours from Rainbow 11. However, officials of the Royal Akarana Club said last night .that they did not think this Rainbow II also took the over all honours in the last Whangarei to Noumea race and she became the first yacht to beat the famed French schooner. Pen Duick 111, the line honours winner of the Syd ney to Hobart race on handicap.