Change of wind puts N.Z. yachts ahead

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32802, 30 December 1971, Page 18

Change of wind puts N.Z. yachts ahead

(From

PAUL CAVANAGH,

N.Z.P.A. stag correspondent)

f, SYDNEY. New Zealand went to the front in the Southern Cross Cup yachting contest in a sensational late report last night from the Sydney-to-Hobart race fleet.

The report from the race organisers at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia put B. Wilson’s Pathfinder at the head of the fleet on corrected times, with J. Lidgard’s Runaway third and C. Bouzaid’s Wai-aniwa sixth.

The British yachts, which had led on handicap for almost the entire race, had dropped back, with Cervantes second, Morning Cloud fifth and Prospect of Whitby tenth. The New South Wales boats, which were earlier in the day vying with New Zealand for second place in the cup contest, had also dropped away, and were ninth, thir-

teenth and twenty-first on corrected times. The reason for the change in fortunes was a fall off in wind. As it dropped from the west and south-westerly gusts of about five knots used by the yachts in the afternoon, positions changed rapidly according to which yachts were able to use the breeze best.

cross Storm Bay, and sail up the Derwent River—a distance of 46 miles—to reach the finishing line. But with no wind, there was no knowing how long it was going to take her. She has, however, missed breaking the race record. Race officials calculated last night that as the handicap position stood then, New Zealand had 364 Southern Cross Cup points, Britain 353 and New South Wales 305.

The Auckland cutter Buccaneer (T. Clarke) remained in third place on line honours ratings. She was only one mile from the second yacht, the 73ft American yawl Ondine, but Kialoa 11, also of the United States, was another 31 miles ahead. Kialoa’s position last night was reported as just northeast of Tasman Island at the entrance to Storm Bay. She had to round the island.

But in the prevailing conditions, things could just as easily swing away from the New Zealanders during the night The platings of the New Zealanders, showing line honours and handicap positions, were:

Buccaneer, 3rd and 66th; Whispers H (G. Stagg, Wellington), 11th and 24th; Pathfinder, 20th and Ist; Runaway, 21st and 3rd; Satanita (R. Wilkie, Auckland), 22nd and 22nd; Wai-aniwa, 24th and 6th; Skinflint (K. Hanley, Auckland), 30th and 15th; Savant (K. Cox, Wellington), 31st and 37th; Cassandra (E. Howe, Auckland), 76th and 76th.