Taylor plans crossing of Tasman Sea
PA Wellington Planning for the crossing of the Tasman Sea has begun to occupy the skipper, Digby Taylor, as N.Z.I. Enterprise continues to lead the fleet in the second leg of the Whitbread round-the-world yacht race. Early yesterday, Enterprise’s lead on the water, over Atlantic Privateer had been trimmed to 25 miles as the leading skippers faced the decision of when to move north to clear Tasmania on course to Auckland. “A great deal of time has been spent over the past few days in planning strategy for the Tasman Sea,” Taylor reported by radio telephone; Enterprise has begun to level off her slide south and the decision of the Atlantic Privateer skipper, Peter Kuttel, not to cover that move has enabled him to halve the advantage held by Enterprise in recent days. The American yacht also seized the handicap lead from Taylor early yesterday. Enterprise and Atlantic Privateer have opened up a big advantage over the rest of the fleet, with Enterprise now 149 miles ahead of the
third-placed ÜBS Switzerland. Taylor is especially keen to cancel out the 31-hour advantage taken by ÜBS Switzerland as it led the fleet into Cape Town. Lion New Zealand, which continues to be southernmost of the leading yachts, was fifth on the water early yesterday, 450 miles behind Enterprise, and tenth on handicap. The leading yachts are preparing for northwesterly winds of 35-40 knots which will speed their passage to Auckland. With a leg record still highly likely, the first yacht could tie up at Auckland as early as New Year’s Day. The onset of the winds will end a period of conditions unlike those normally associated with the southern ocean. “Conditions right now are just great,” said Taylor. “It has not been really cold, even though we are at 53 south as the wind has been coming from the north. There has even been a few days of clear blue skies.” Taylor said it had been warm enough for one of the Enterprise crew to have a cold water shower.
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Press, 24 December 1985, Page 30
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345Taylor plans crossing of Tasman Sea Press, 24 December 1985, Page 30
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