Sailor seeking record becalmed off N.Z.

Press, 27 December 1979, Page 2

Sailor seeking record becalmed off N.Z.

PA Wellington A lone yachtsman, David Scott Cowper, spent Christmas Das sunbathing about 500 kilometres from the New Zealand coast, edging towards a new round-the-world single-handed sailing record However, progress in the la : two days has been slow as his 12.2-metre aluminium sloop Oceanbound has almost been becalmed. This was the message yesterday from radio operas s at Apollo Bay. near Melbourne who have been making twice-daily contact with Mr Cowper, as he tackled the Tasman leg of his voyage.

Mr Cowper, from Newcastle upon Tyne. England, is attempting to break the record of the New Zealander, Naomi James, of 272 dass including stops He is! reckoned to be about 10’ da\' ahead of schedule. Mr Cowper's wife and small son. aged 17 months. I are waiting for his arrival at.' Wellington. That should be sometime today, according to Msj Rosemary Browne, who took the radio message from Mr; Cowper at Apollo Bay on! Tuesday evening. He said he had spent a pleasant Christmas Day sun-{ bathing because there was. only a very soft south-west I wind. The day before he had actually been becalmed,” she' said.

It is thought that Oceanbound’s position was about 39 degrees 40 minutes south. 170 degrees east, which would put the yacht about 500 km due east of Wanganui.