‘Hurdle race’ on the sea

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 48

‘Hurdle race’ on the sea

( From

ROBERT HORROCKS.

X.Z.P.A. staff

COWES. New Zealand's outside chance of success in this year's Admiral's Cup yachting series depends on the misfortune of boats from other countries in the final event, the GO5-mile Fastnet, starting from Cowes today. Great Britain, which IcadsiEastnet scoring 171 points, the series with 98 points team margins of 40 and 50 more than fourth-placed even 100, are n< 1 a New Zealand, cannot under they might at first appeal

any circumstances consider! its position unassailable The Fastnet carries threesevenths of the total points in the Admiral’s Cup. and; the complete failure of one; boat in any leading team would spell disaster. GOOD PROSPECTS But the prospects of a British success, particularly' if the weather remains fine 1 [and calm, look good. The New Zealand boats, Gerontius, Inca and Barnacle Bill, have performed credi-[ tably in the conditions so far, but they would still like] to see heavier weather and a| chance to test their sailing! hardiness against some of; the very lightly rigged yachts that have done sol well in the Solent sailing. i They would also like to! have tested a theory that; the crack British two ionner. Yeoman XX, is uncontrollable in strong winds. N.Z. PROTEST The German yacht Rubin has been disqualified from the 34-mile in-shore race on Wednesday after the hearing of a protest lodged by the crew of the New Zealand yacht Gerontius. The two boats came into I’ contact shortly before the! finish.

The disqualification means that Germany, the title- j holder, drops from second [ place over-all to third —] and comes a little closer to New Zealand. The leading points scorers in the amended list are: Britain 542, United States 495, West Germany 491, New Zealand 444, Ireland 422, Switzerland and Australia 403. Basically the contest is between the top three, and New Zealand comes into a group which includes Ireland, Switzerland and Australia, which must be given a slim hope of pulling off a remarkable victory. Racing so far has showed just how unpredictable yachting can be, and with the first yacht home in the

I WO ROUTES The Fastnet is one of the i classic events of ocean rac(ing. It covers a course from [Cowes to the Fastnet Rock at [the south-east tip of Ireland • and back to the finish at Plymouth. ' The westward course, of [605 miles, allows yachts to pass either side of the Scilly ' Isles on the way out but returning they must go on the [ south side. On neither occaI sion may they sail inside ;outlying islets and rocks. If the 630-mile eastward [course is selected, and oh- | servers at Cowes believe I this could be the case under ; present weather conditions, the same rules apply, except at the start the yachts will • head eastwards along the • Solent and loop around the [lsle of Wight. STEEPLE-CHASE [ The Fastnet has been desicribed as a gigantic steeple chase, with headlands and foul tides instead of hurdles It is not unknown for yacht to sail the race well, bn then be held by the tides w thin a short distance of th' finish and have to helpless ; watch other boats catch :■• [even overtake them