Chichester home

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 14

Chichester home

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright)

PLYMOUTH, July 3.

Sir Francis Chichester slipped unnoticed into Plymouth harbour early today, aboard his damaged yacht Gipsy Moth V. He made the voyage home, after retiring because of his health, from the singlehanded transatlantic yacht race, with his son Giles, and three Royal Navy men aboard his ketch.

They had boarded her early on Saturday, to help Sir Francis Chichester to handle the craft, which was damaged in a collision with a French weather ship trying to help the ailing veteran yachtsman. COLAS IN LEAD

The Frenchman, Alain Colas, was reported to be surging through rough seas today in his “floating tennis court,” the monster trimaran Pen Duick IV, well ahead of the fleet of yachts in the race, the Associated Press reports. Race headquarters in London say that he was last reported about 220 miles in front of his nearest known challenger, British Steel, helmed by a British bank manager, Brian Cooke. But there are strong expectations that Jean-Yves Terlain, the mysteriously silent Frenchman who has not been heard from or seen, I since the race began in Ply-

mouth on June 17, will snatch victory from his compatriot.

Some experts believe that Terlain may be in the lead in his streamlined 128-ft schooner Vendredi 13, rated easily the fastest boat in the gruelling race. > Other experts have voiced fears that Terlain may have had difficulty handling the huge boat by himself, and there are lingering fears that the young Frenchman may have been dismasted or swamped. There have already been several casualties in the race. The latest was the Dutchman, Gerard Dijastra, who, in his 71-foot ketch, Second Life, was one of the favourites. One of his masts snapped off in a force 9 gale 650 miles east of St John’s, Newfoundland, yesterday. He will be towed to Halifax.

Altogether 10 boats have dropped out. Of the 48 left, about one-third have not been heard from, or sighted; but, since many have no radios, officials are not unduly worried.