Yachts dismasted at start of race

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 26

Yachts dismasted at start of race

NZPA Sydney A sudden howling squall put paid to the start of the Victorian Flying Dutchman Yachting Championship yesterday in which the New Zealand crew of Brian Cavaye and Milton Pope were competing. “A big Melbourne storm blew up right at the start of the first race . bringing 60km/h winds,” said Mr Pope from Melbourne. “Three of the yachts had their masts , broken, three others had them bent and on one the rigging just disappeared,” he said. “But we come from Wellington. It was just a breeze.” He said the New Zealanders found themselves on the start line with no other boats near when the storm bl '‘One P ’ of - the Victorian boats - emerged, out of the gloom scurrying for the shore »o w<* thought w* had

.better do likewise. If anybody had remained out there he would have been blown away," he said. The race was abandoned officially and now the first two races of the championships, a preliminary to the Australian championships which will start on January 2, will be held today. .. . Both championships are being sailed in Sort Phillip Bay off the Mbrdialloc Sailing Club. Mr Pope said *the main competition for New Zealand was likely to come from a Japanese crew and the Australians lan Brown and Glen Burke in Champagne. ; Brown and Burke were chosen for the Moscow Olympics, but the sailing teams representing Australia did not compete. in early.groundwork for the Flying Dutchman world championships, -'which will be held at f Melbourne in 1982< •. ■ ■