Secret speed pods unveiled

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 29

Secret speed pods unveiled

PA Seoul New Zealand’s gold medal canoeists unveiled their secret weapon yesterday — deflector windshields. The white curved fibre-glass shields, styled somewhat like those used on racing cars in the 19505, deflect the wind from in front of the paddler to cut down speed loss. The pods are the brainchild of the triple medallist, lan Ferguson, who worked up his idea with a Napier aerodynamic engineer, Richard Karn, a consultant for Michael Fay’s America’s Cup challenges. But the New Zealand, canoeists still do not have permission to use the innovative designs in the 'Olympic competition beginning on Monday. They failed the first test when the canoes went before scrutineers yesterday, the officials deciding they were not competent to say if they could be used. The scrutineers have passed the issue on to a special rules panel which may yet again refer it to the board of the International Canoe Federation which is meeting in Seoul. “There was no question it was going to be difficult particularly because they are being seen for the first time at an Olympics,” said the canoe team manager, Bill Garlick.

“But we are a little surprised they have gone down the referral route (to higher authorities) as the scrutineers have the authority to make a decision.” The pods have not yet been race tested to see if they give any extra speed, although Ferguson, Paul MacDonald and other members of the canoe team did try them out in New Zealand and have been training with them for the last two weeks on a lake at Chung Pyung north-east of Seoul. “We are just confident they are not slower,” Ferguson said yesterday when asked if they gave extra speed.

Day 7