Full One Ton Cup Fleet Now Likely

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32274, 17 April 1970, Page 15

Full One Ton Cup Fleet Now Likely

‘The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND.

New Zealand seems sure to attract the hoped-for entry of at least 12 yachts for the One Ton Gup yachting contest early next year. Nine certain entries have arrived, three each from West Germany, Australia and New Zealand, the defender.

“Switzerland hopes to send two yachts, and there is great interest building up in the other countries,” Mr B. M. Marler, chairman of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s One Ton Cup committee, said yesterday.

“We might get a betiter line on the entrants when a mini-One Ton Cup event is sailed at Heligoland in August,” Mr Marler added.

So far, there had been no move to send a New Zealander to Heligoland to build up interest in the big event in the Hauraki Gulf next year, but Mr Marler said that his committee was keen to find out who would be competing there. As a bonus, the One Ton Cup would act as a boost to New Zealand tourism.

“I received word yesterday that a party of 25 Australian tourists would be coming for a yachting tour holiday in time for the contest,” 'Mr Marler said.

“Also, a British travel

agency representative was in Auckland recently and she is planning to organise a special tour of three months taking in the Anniversrry Regatta, the R.N.Z.Y.S. centennial and the One Ton Cup contest.

“This kind of overseas interest is building up excitement for the series. We are now sending 150 special One Ton Cup newsletters overseas.”

In the meantime, preparations for the contest are going along smoothly, said. Mr Marler. The O.T.C. committee will soon hold a meeting with representatives of the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Auckland Harbour Board, the Auckland City Council and the Tourist and Publicity department to work out arrangements for the event. On the sailing front, the committee will also discuss plans for the courses with the Olympic Yacht Club to make sure that the contest courses are up to Olympic requirements.

Entries for the contest close in September, said Mr Marler, and official entry (forms will be sent out soon.