Multihulls may find it tough

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34037, 29 December 1975, Page 3

Multihulls may find it tough

Trevor Peacock’s trimaran. Manu Puru, had maintained its lead in the Auckland-Lyttelton yacht race when the yachts were off Cape Tumagain. having | passed the half-way point early yesterday morning.

At the latest report yesterdav the field had covered about 70 more miles, and Manu Puru and another multihull. Searunner (Keith Robinson, Auckland) were about 410 miles from Auckland.

Although these two yachts were about 30 miles ahead of their nearest challengers, the monohulls, Seika and Imp, should have started to close; the gap. The winds yesterday were from the south, at 15 to 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots. The boats have been

sailing hard on the wind, and if the forecast is right, will continue so.

Early conditions suited the multihulls, but they will not find the expected 20 to 25 knot winds and rough seas quite as easy.

No reports have been received from Stormbringer of the previously third-placed Legato, which has probably maintained its position. Both are thought to have had radio trouble.

The fifth and sixth prices are filled by Skinflint (J. K. Henley, Auckland) and Carlos Neate’s Christchurch boat, Destiny, both are about 65 miles behind the leaders.

Seika (Ray Zander, Tauranga) just leads the handicap section of the 1.0. R. division from Imp (John Lidgard, Auckland), Destiny and Skinflint. Searunner leads the multihull division from Manu Puru with Legato probably a contender still.