7 Color wins series

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 4

7 Color wins series

PA Auckland In one of the more astonishing. death-or-glory escapades which mark 18-footer yachting. lan Murray and his young Sydney crew in 7 Color won the world 18-footer contest on the last leg of the last race off Auckland yesterday. Bx the middle of yesterday’s storm-tossed afternoon and with one down-wind leg to sail it seemed that only the doughty Dave Porter in KB. could win the contest. Porter was tucked neat lx in behind another Sydney x*achl. Miles Furniture, sailing majestically alone at the front, but inevitably to be disqualified for not answering her recall when she was oxer the line at the st? r t. I This also affected Sitr®»Ti

I Cruises and Travelodge N.Z. and lithe race controllers ruled against i their protests later last evening, i Porter, who had sailed masterfully to win the fourth race on I Saturday, only needed second 1 place to win. Like the rest of I the fleet which had been battered by the blustery 20-knot ; northerly and awkward seas, i Porter took the last down-wind t leg cautiously bv sailing it as a * dog-leg toward Bean Rock and i then, still spinnakerldss, home. The New Zealand challenge i faltered on Saturdax when Txavelodge broke her mast while . flying along in fourth place on . the first run. Benson and Hedges - kept the home flag fluttering , valiantly with a very solid third > on Saturday but yesterdav broke her mast and limned home ■ There was a final flutter for

i New Zealand as John La*het, brought Heliaby s in seventh go . Saturdax and. with an eminently -i solid piece of seamanship, fifth t, yesterday. I> Final points, with the worst f performances deducted, were 7 j Color Gain Murray N.SW.*. 7 2. t I. 4. I—7J points. J: KB -D.'- e . Porter, N.S.W.), 2. 9. 2. 1. I I 82, 2; Benson and Hedges i (Russell Bow’ler, N.Z, . 8, ]. 6 3 I dnf—l7J, 3; Anaett D; . e Griffith, N S.W.), 6. 5. :: fl di f i 20, 4: Rank Xerox (Wayne fm.ev 1 k 1 dtsq . .3 •21 'i ► Travelodge N S.W. <John Win1 s♦“•«’ '■ *• <• »• > ,j .* ; NS W.. 23. 7. Travelog I x.Z. iTerrv McDelb 2<-.. R: Vllr. XZ . Jnhn La.he., •X.ZJ, 29, equal 9.