Half-ton series cancelled

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 20

Half-ton series cancelled

PA Auckland The national half-ton yachting series, due to start on March 4, has been cancelled because of lack of interest, according to the vice commodore of the Panmure Yacht Club (John Snell). He said that only two entries had been received — Tony Bouzaid’s Waverider and Roy Dickson’s Instinct. These had been withdrawn on Wednesday night when it had become apparent that the five-race contest would be a waste of time and effort. This big setback in offshore racing conies at a time when New Zealand holds both the world one-ton and i half-ton titles and is preparing to defend both as well ]as challenge for the world ■ quarter-ton cup. It coincides with growing concern that the constantly changing international offshore rule, which dictates design trends, is slowlv strangling the life out of the sport. Mr Snell said that yacht owners could not keep up with the design pace. They found themselves with boats [ which were obsolete less than a year after they had been designed and built at ever increasing costs.