SYDYEY-TO-HOBART Apollo leads record fleet

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 18

SYDYEY-TO-HOBART Apollo leads record fleet

i.v.Z. Press issociation—Copyright' SYDNEY. The Sydney-based sloop Apollo, representing I long kong in the Southern Cross Cup series, held a twomile lead in the Sydney-to-I lohart ocean racing classic late last night.

, Astern of Apollo, sailed by P. .lolly, was the newly-built 72ft conIcrete yacht Heisal (A. Fisher), having its first sail outside Sydney Heads.

East of the two leaders was the Western Australian Siska (R. Tasker), closely followed by the 1970 winner. Pacha (Sir Robert CrichtonBrown).

The leading yachts were about 20 miles out to sea and about 50 miles south of Sydney.

A 33-foot South Australian yacht. Morning Mischief (R. Cavill), was leading on handicap from the One Ton boat Ceil 111, sailed by W. Turnbull, of Hong Kong. The British representative. Prospect of Whitby, sailed by the team captain, A. Slater, was lying seventh on corrected time.

The outanding New Zealand entry. Quicksilver (B. Wilson), was in eighth place, with the United States representative, Improbable (D. Allen), tenth.

The race started at midday (Sydney time) with a record fleet of 93 boats, beating the previous best of 79 in 1972. The feature of the first five miles was the duel between the sister ships. Pacha and the British representative. Quaillo 111 (D. Parr), with Quaillo gaining the upper hand to be the first yacht through the heads, followed by Pacha. The Sydney-to-Hobart race is the last event in the Southern Cross series. The defending champion, New Zealand, on 274 points, has a clear lead from Britain (217), followed by Hong Kong (215) and New South Wales (201).