AMERICA’S CUP

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32391, 2 September 1970, Page 18

AMERICA’S CUP

(Special Crspdt N.Z.PA.) NEWPORT. Australia's challenger, Gretel 11, was made a 6-1 chance yesterday to win the 1970 America’s Cup. Yachtsmen who have seen the United States trials and Gretel Il’s win over France in the elimination series, say that the defender, Intrepid, must be a “hot” favourite for the challenge, starting on September 15. They point out that Intrepid has had 27 hard match races during the various United States trials and Gretel II had had only four against France.

While Gretel II has shown herself speedy into the wind, she lagged behind France on the downwind sections and her crew work has beeen less than satisfactory compared with America’s sleek sail changing.

Gretel II will take on France again in a race over a full, 24.3-mile America’s Cup course, probably this week-end. The race is at the request of the president of the French syndicate, Baron Marcel Bich, who was still angry yesterday over the fourth and last race of the Gretel 11-France series which, he claimed, should have been postponed because of fog.

Offices at the Christchurch Criminal Investigation Branch yesterday afternoon had enough stock to run a second-hand dealers' shop. Spread through the building were the articles recovered from two raids. In one office was a collection of power tools, minis-

tures of vintage cars, rugs, blankets, electrical equipment, an old push lawnmower and a jerrycan. Detectives made the haul on Monday night and since then have been talking to a number of youths. The value of the property recovered is at least $lOOO

and it is thought much of it was taken in recent burglaries in Christchurch. In another room was a large amount of property, including a television set, but this property is believed to have been stolen In the North Island by another group.