N.Z. Admiral’s Cup bid

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 20

N.Z. Admiral’s Cup bid

PA Auckland i New Zealand will challenge for. ocean racing’s most prestigious trophy, the Admiral’s Cup, in Britain in August, 1981. • The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will support the challenge, which it believes will' be in the best interests of yachting and a boost for; New Zealand’s boat-building industry. The squadron has investigated probable interest in a challenge, and can see at least eight top-class Admiral’s Cuppers being built for trials, probably in February and March next year. The squadron commodore, Mr Bob Stanton, said: “The general committee decision was unanimous. We’ll support a challenge. “This will now crystallise everyone’s thinking. It’s a go.” • The Admiral’s Cup is regarded as the world championship of ocean racing. It

is a five-race biennial series held at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, and attracts the very latest and best in design and hardware. r . „

The 1979 series, won by Australia after a tragic, storm-lashed Fastnet race, attracted 66 boats in teams of three from 22 countries. New ' Zealand has challenged once before for the cup, in 1975, when the team of Gerontius, Inca, and Barnacle Bill finished fifth .in a fleet of 57 • boats from’., 19 nations. - On that occasion the New Zealand crews were fully competitive but their boats were outdated.

v For the 1981 challenge, it will have the latest and best with Kiwi ; designers Ron Holland, Bruce ' Farr, and Lawrie Davidson ail associated: with potential challengers. These three are recognised as leaders in .' the ocean-racing design world. ’Mr ■ Stanton said that everybody knew about the depressed state of ocean racing and the boat-building in-

dustry in New Zealand. “Because of this', we feel a vigorous challenge b” us will do a great deal for both, and provide us with the opportunity to export and demonstrate New Zealand technology,” he said. The well-known skippers already firm in their intention to build Admiral’s Cuppers are the former world One Ton champion, Stu Bretnall, ex-Inca ownerskipper Evan Julian, and former Monique owner-skip-per, Jim Dowell. But there are several others, such as Graeme Woodroofe, Tony Bouzaid, and Wellington’s Brian Millar, waiting in the wings and, similarly, other wouldbe owners waiting for a challenge to be announced before making their decision to build.

A squadron meeting recently to assess ' Aerest disclosed that as many as 10 or 12 boats, some already under construction, could make the trials.