Enterprise disqualified?

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 32

Enterprise disqualified?

A former crew member of the crippled yacht NZI Enterprise believes that the yacht is no longer in contention for over-all honours in the Whitbread round-the-world race. “I think the rules mean that Enterprise is disqualified from the leg, which mean it is out for over-all honours,” said David West from Nelson yesterday. "I think you are allowed to use the motor in an emergency to get out of difficulty, but once they started motoring towards the Chathams that disqualified them. “It’s almost identical to the situation Atlantic Privateer got into when she had to motor into Cape

Town at the end of the first leg. She is no# out of the running for over-all honours.”

Mr West said that the outside assistance Enterprise will get at the Chathams would also disqualify it. “Once you leave harbour you are supposed to be on your own. Enterprise’s fourth place in the first leg and second in the second leg still stand, of course. ■'

“She could go for honours in the fourth leg, but it would be difficult The break in Uruguay is - a bit shorter than it was here. They/; are due to start again at the beginning of April, so she would only

have a month and a bit to get there.” Mr West has been involved with the boat since building on it began in October, 1984. He sailed aboard her on the delivery trip to England and was cook aboard her for the first two legs of the race. In Auckland, however, Enterprise’s skipper, Digby Taylor, abruptly replaced him. Mr West says he has never received a satisfactory explanation for this. “No-one ever complained about my cooking,” he said. Mr West said that the crew would be shattered by the accident * “I feel very for

the crew. They are basically in it to win. They are not there just to go sailing. ■ “Some of them might actually get off the boat when she arrives in the Chathams. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few did. There’s not much in it for them now.” Mr West thought that Enterprise might continue to England partly to preserve the contract with her main sponsor, the New Zealand Insurance Company. The contract included a guarantee from the skipper that the vessel would finish the race, presumably to get the maximum advertising benefit from it.