N.Z. yacht pipped

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 6

N.Z. yacht pipped

NZPA staff correspondent < London 1 The British yacht Indulgence ] istrengthened its Half Ton Cup challenge yesterday when it won ■ the third race of the five-race series, beating New Zealand’s j [ Waverider into third place after a dramatic finisn. Defending the cup for New 1 : Zealand, the Laurie Davidson! [designed centre-boarder, skip-i ipered by Tony Bouzaid, shrugged! aside a bad start in the 155!: nautical-mile offshore race on Sunday, to be leading the 50-boati Meet a mile from the finish line' yesterday. But with victory in sight. Waverider hit a strong; localised tidal rip and was caught: in a light wind patch, and could

only watch as two Biitis’h entries, Indulgence and Smokey Bear, passed by. Tiie win increases the over-all lead held by Indulgence, but Waverider is still clinging to second place ovei-all with 165.25 points to the British yachts 174.25. Smokey Bear is now thud with 161.5 points. j The fleet has a rest day today before the last of the three 22 j nautical-mile Olympic stxle in(shore races tomorrow. The final — and possibly decisive — race starts on Thursday. ;A 300 nautical-mile offshore race, it carries twice as many points as the short inshore races and (could be vital if no clear winner has emerged before then.