Exciting race for yacht winner

Press, 18 April 1978, Page 6

Exciting race for yacht winner

PA New Plymouth Pat Costello, the winner of this year’s trans Tasman yacht race, saw his boat Chubasco go over and the mast disappear into the sea during the last stages of the solo race, which finished at Mooloolara, Queensland, early jesterday morning. “I saw this steep 15ft to 20ft wave coming from a long way off and knew there was nothing I could do about it. “I gripped the yacht and looked up and thought what a great day it was, while the yacht popped back up and continued on its way. I was very impressed, actually.” Costello, a 31-year-old Wellington civil engineer, was thrilled to be the first over the line at .Mooloolara. but he said he particularly enjoyed the crossing from Port Taranaki because he had a constant tussle with Peter Mounsey (New South Wales), in Breakaway. “When everything was going well I saw a light close behind me at Cape Moreton. I put the spinnaker out and left it up until the last. It was rough going out there, with some [really big seas. However, the [winds stayed constant for long ; periods, and you could set a course. Chubasco crossed the finish line at 11.40 p.m. on Sunday I (Australian time, to slash the trans-Tasman race time. His [time was eight days. 11 hours 40 minutes five seconds. The previous record of nln,- days, five hours seven minutes nineteen seconds was set by Marvim Glenn, of the United States, who won the first event In 1970 in a trimaran. Costello drove his wooden sloop all the way to the line, frequently using the spinnaker, and beat lan Kiernan (New South Wales) In Marls by about Uhr 20mln. Mounsey finished at 3 p.m. yesterday. Mvstery surrounded the early

,leader, Auckland’s John McCartney in the catamaran Yentraccam. An unofficial report was received on Sunday night that lie would be arriving about mid night. Later, Mooloolara Yacht Club members went out to escort a yacht, which had apparently radioed in to say that it was nearing the finlsn line. No yacht arrived, and as yet no report has been received from the catamaran. At one stage, it was expected it would be a strong contender for a minor placing. McCartney's kitten. Solo, featured in “The Press” before the race, when it was learned that Solo would make the trip to Mooloolara. And on positions received last night. Fireball II appears to be out in front in a bid to take line honours in the roughest yet Whangarei to Noumea vacht race. The fleet, battling 50-kn.ot head winds, is widely spread and two boats are returning to New Zealand because of seasickness among crews. Five boats did not report by radio yesterday afternoon, but there are no fears for their safety.