New name for N.Z. round world yacht

Press, 11 September 1985, Page 60

New name for N.Z. round world yacht

One of the'two New Zealand yachts in the Whitbread Round the World race will take on a new look this week as decals change its name from Enterprise New Zealand to NZI Enterprise. Discounting any suggestion that a name change may be bad luck, the skipper, Digby Taylor, says the new name and sponsorship by the New Zealand Insurance group is just the extra incentive he and his crew need. “The substantial sponsorship that NZI are providing has come as a big boost to us. We’re on top of the world about it and are delighted to alter the name of the yacht,” he said at the marina in Gosport, Portsmouth. He and his 15 man crew are making final preparations there for the 45,000 km race, beginning on September 28. Enterprise arrived in Portsmouth on August 11, after an eventful voyage from Auckland, hitting a whale in the Atlantic, and spending some time on a reef in the Caribbean, but is

now in excellent shape for the race, Taylor said. “Our sailing time from New Zealand was only 57 days and that’s a good sign. Enterprise and the crew are in fine shape and we’ll have everything completed well in time for the start.” Taylor said that since arriving in Portsmouth, he had found that the other entrants all had their own problems. “You tend to think from back in New Zealand that you’re the only one having problems, but since coming here and hearing of everybody else’s, we don’t feel as bad. “We’re actually better off than some... “There’s Atlantic Privateer, said to be on the favourites. She’s been having mast problems. Simon Le Bon and Drum have certainly had theirs, while Peter Blake and Lion have had their keel worries.” Taylor said the other two Bruce Farr-designed yachts in the race (Enterprise is the third) needed bulbs fitted to their keels. ÜBS Switzerland still had no

bulb, while Atlantic Privater fitted one, only to find it unsuitable and remove it. Its crew was putting a shoe in the keel. Enterprise had had a bulb fitted in New Zealand, and the advantage of the long voyage here to test it, Taylor said. “We’re over our problems. It’s comparitively brilliant now, and we are going to start the race in the best possible shape. “I wouldn’J swap what we’ve got—boat, crew, sails, experience—for any other competitor in the race,” said the confident Taylor. Meanwhile, a few miles away at Hamble, Blake and his crew have completed all but a few of their final preparations. Like Taylor, Blake has had his yacht and its fittings completely overhauled, stripping down motors and gear and testing new sails. The keel received some attention, having lost “a little paint” from scraping the gravel bottom of the Solent.

There was still a new set of sails coming this week from New Zealand to test.