Late start by N.Z. yachtsman

Press, 25 September 1982, Page 17

Late start by N.Z. yachtsman

More than a week late and 1400 km miles behind his fellow competitors, a New Zealander, Greg Cole, has joined the 15 yachtsmen from eight countries competing in the 8.0. C. Challenge, the biggest single-handed around-the-world yacht race. Cole, aged 26, sailing his South African-built 13.4 m cat rig, Datsun Skyline, set sail from Newport, Rhode Island, on September 9, almost 12 days after the official start of the race, which began on August 28. He is the third New Zealander to enter the race. Richard Mcßride, aged-38, of Christchurch, sailing his 13.4 m schooner City of Dunnedin, is placed with the rest of the fleet about 9000 km from Cape Town, the first port of call in the race. A former Dunedin yachtsman, Paul Rodgers, sailing the 17.07 m schooner Spirit of Pentax, was two days ago reported to be lying second in the race, 1600 km behind a Frenchman, Philippe Jeantot.

Cole’s yacht, considered to be the most technically innovative of all boats entered in the race, developed mast problems en route to the start, delaying his arrival in Newport by more than two weeks.

On arrival, Cole and Rich-

ard Glanville. the boat’s designer and builder, worked to repair the roller-bearing at the base of the mast and ready the boat to join the rest of the fleet. Cole’s departure was further delayed upon discovery that he needed new satellite navigation equipment. The Satnav unit arrived from New York last Wednesday afternoon, and was installed that night. Despite the fact that he is well behind the rest of the fleet, Cole was anxious to start. “There is a lot of time and ocean between now and next May to make up for my delayed start,” he said. “I guess this makes it all the more a challenge, doesn't it?” The 8.0. C. Challenge, the first single-handed, around-the-world race to begin and end in a United States port, drew 16 skippers from eight countries to the starting line. Of those 16, two competitors, the Americans, David White and Thomas Lindholm, have been forced to withdraw from the race because of structural and rigging problems respectively. The 48,000-mile voyage includes stopovers in Cape Town, Sydney, and Rio de Janeiro. The fleet is expected to return to Rhode Island in April, 1983..