Yacht claims redress

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 80

Yacht claims redress

NZPA-AAP Suva The Auckland-Suva yacht race ended yesterday with victory in one main section going to a boat which stopped to help one of two rivals which struck a reef. David Nathan’s Foreign Exchange, from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, was declared winner on cor-

rected time of the over-all performance handicap racing-factor division. Early last Friday, Foreign Exchange went to the assistance of the race leader, Party Pro, sailed by Greg Elliott, of the Ponsonby Cruising Club, which rammed into Astrolabe Reef north-east of Kadavu Island. ‘ Elliott and his seven-man crew later were rescued by a helicopter from the Royal Australian Navy flagship HMAS Stalwart, which was visiting Kadavu.

After finishing the race, Nathan claimed redress for his stop to help Elliott, and the race committee deducted one hour from his elapsed time. This enabled Foreign Exchange to defeat Big Ruby, sailed by Laurie Newhook, of the R.N.Z.Y.S., by about 48 minutes for over-all PHRF honours. The end of the race came at 4.38 a.m. A- zv* ill a

. yesterday when Tinker, one of the smallest yachts in the event, crossed the line in twenty-fourth and last place, skippered by John Muir, of Royal Akarana. The second boat to run foul of Astrolabe Reef was Kirsten J, a twohander sailed by ; Kerry Dobbs and s Graham Metge. Kirsten J sailed over the reef hard by the solo light during a heavy rain squall early on Monday. -