N.Z. protests at S.A. entry in yacht race

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 10

N.Z. protests at S.A. entry in yacht race

NZPA London The New Zealand crew defending the international Half Ton Cup at Poole has protested at the entry of three South African boats to the big off-shore yachting contest. I The New Zealand manager (Mr Bernie Pettit) lodged a pro-test with the Royal Yachting Association over the South African entry, citing “political ramifications” and the Commonwealth Glen- ! eagles Agreement discouragi ing sporting contacts, with [South Africa. The protest was accepted

i by the Royal Yachting As-’ sociation and South Africa [ ■ will not contest the team , 1 prize, although the three: > yachts will continue to coni’ test the Half-Ton Cup as in- > dividuals. ;[ Mr Pettit said the entry of the New Zealand r defender Waverider had been t approved by the New Zealand - Yachting Federation without 2 realising that South African ? crews had also entered. The i Waverider crew had only be- - come aware of the South - African entry after their i arrival at Poole. “We realised this could [ 1 have major political ramifi-'

: cations and as manager 1 [wrote to the R.Y.A. (the [governing body of British [yachting) pointing out this was likely to cause major problems for New Zealand. Mr Pettit said he had also [said that Britain was a cosignatory to the Gleneagles Agreement "and that we were concerned this situation had developed.” A third Commonwealth nation, Canada, is also among the 16 nations competing. “Under the circumstances I felt I had no option but to [lodge an official protest with ■ the R.Y.A.,” he said.