Taylor gives his position

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 48

Taylor gives his position

NZPA staff correspondent London The NZI Enterprise skipper, Digby Taylor had to radio his position in the Whitbread round the world race at the week-end after a satellite system failed to pick him up for several days. The Argos system which links with beacons aboard the 15 racing yachts had been unable to locate Enteprise since Wednesday. Taylor, aged 43, called race headquarters by radio telephone at the week-end

and said his boat’s beacon was unimpeded. Headquarters said he should keep a listening watch and communicate' with them twice a week. Earlier he said he would not be able to communicate because of a lack of battery power due to an malfunctioning alternator. - With two weeks gone in the race the fleet is now in the Doldrums. ÜBS Switzerland, the leader, was 500 km north of the equator, and likely to be amid squalls and heavy rain.

Lion New Zealand was reported second on the water behind ÜBS, and Enterprise third. ÜBS had fallen back on handicap with the smaller boats coming through. Positions on handicap:— Philips Innovator (Netherlands), 1; L’Esprit a’Equipe (France), 2; Fazer Finland, 3; Fortuna Lights (Spain), 4; ÜBS Switzerland, 5; Rucanor Tristan (Belgium), 6; Lion New Zealand, 7; Equity and Law (Netherlands), 8; Shadow of Switzerland, 9; NZI Enterprise, 10; Portatan (US), 11; Drum (GB), 12; Cote d’Or (Belgium), 13; SAS Baia Viking (Denmark). 14; Norsk Data GB, 15.