Two Enterprise crewmen leave

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 6

Two Enterprise crewmen leave

PA Auckland A crewman from the crippled NZI Enterprise will be replaced in what' the syndicate chairman, Mr Max Jones, calls a “crew decision.” A second crewman, the sparmaker, Steve Wilson, is pulling out for business reasons.

Mr Jones said yesterday he did not discount the possibility of further withdrawals.

He said the replacement of the crewman had nothing to do with the snapping of the yacht’s mast on Wednesday. The move was sought by the crew and he did not wish to blacken anyone’s name.

Ten of the 16 crew flew into Auckland, yesterday from the ' Chatham Islands, where the Enterprise awaits a new mast and rigging. Her $500,000

mast broke in three places when the racer ( was 800 km south-east of

the Chathams. Mr Jones said he was thrilled with the attitude of the whole crew, although there had been “real depression” when Enterprise arrived in the Chathams, on Saturday. He hopes to arrange replacements for the two crew today. There was no shortage of candidates.

The broken gear from the Enterprise has been taken to a Whenuapai boatyard and the replacement mast is expected to arrive from Cape Town tonight. The syndicate hopes to have the repairs made by the week-end, with ‘•the mast flown back to the Chathams and the Enterprise on its way by Monday or Tuesday.