Yachtswoman fifth

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 22

Yachtswoman fifth

(N.Z. Press Assn — Copyright?

MOOLOOLABA, (Queensland). Miss A. Wilde, a 28-year-old self-confessed “women’s libber” from Christchurch, completed her first journey out of New Zealand yesterday when she became the fifth finisher in the Tasman single - handed yacht race. Miss Wilde built her 33-foot yacht, the Valya, with a friend, Anthony Lealand, over six years. Now, she plans to stay in Australia a few weeks — then sail the yacht back to Christchurch alone again, unless Mr Lealand, a university technician in Christchurch, ■ can find time to make the return trip with her. Miss Wilde said that the trip was fairly rough for the first part, “but I missed the worst of a depression and the winds were never over 30 knots. “I was just starting to enjoy myself properly when I arrived (at 3 a.m. yesterday).” She said she was “fairly apprehensive” before setting out, but she encountered no major problems during her 14j days at sea. SERIOUS CRUISING The crossing was a little faster than she had anticipated because of good weather in the latter part of the race. Miss Wilde finished fifth, four days behind the winner of line honours, B. Belcher (New Zealand). “I could have done better if I had been tougher and had had a little more experience,” said Miss Wilde. "However, the voyage did wonders for my astral navigation. I had some doubts at first, and my dead-reckon-

ing was out a little, but after taking a noon sun reading I was okay. “The only thing I didn’t like was the broken sleep, and having to get up every hour and a half or so to check the course.” Miss Wilde, who said she supported women’s liberation and was against marriage, said she and Mr Lealand would work on the yacht over the next year to prepare her for “serious cruising in the future.” APPENDIX WORRY A Brisbane yachtsman, I. Mcßride, sailed five days of the Tasman race while suffering from appendicitis.

Tennis Jugoslavia has withdrawn from the Federation Cup women’s tennis competition in Naples today. It was believed that this was to avoid meeting | South Africa in the second round.

Mcßride, who finished yesterday afternoon, made the diagnosis himself — he is a veterinarian. He said that he had shown all the signs of appendicitis, including a high temperature and pains in the lower right of his stomach. However, he took some antibiotics and to his great relief, the pains went away. He says he will probably have a medical examination now he is back on land. He was met at Mooloolaba by his wife and their daughter, aged 8J months. He had never sailed before going to New Zealand two years ago, but finished a creditable sixth in the race. Another three yachts are still at sea, although one, sailed by an amputee New Zealander, J. Jury, is reported nearing the coast