Party Time in limelight

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 31

Party Time in limelight

The Banks Peninsula Cruising Club held its annual Lyttelton — Motunau — Lyttelton race last Saturday. Nine boats competed in what turned out to be the most exhilorating off-shore race the club has experienced for many years. The race started in a 15knot, north-easterly, freshening to 30 knots at the Motunun end of the course. The first boat around the mark at Motunau was the big Davidson boat, Archon, owned by A and W Archer, followed closely by Southern Fun (McMillin Group), with Party Time about smin further back. Southern Fun soon took the lead from Archon which blew its spinnaker out shortly after rounding the Motunau mark. Southern Fun held the lead until three miles off Godley Head, when it was run down by Party Time, which was reaching speeds of 21 knots at times.

Party Time took line honours from Southern Fun by 6 min, followed by Archon 29

min later. ’ Granny Apple (B. Wall and M. Field) caused some concern when it put out a Mayday call three hours into the race. The boat had ruptured a through hull fitting, and the crew was unaware that the vessel was filling fast. When the problem was discovered, the water in the cabin was knee-deep and the call was cancelled.

The top second division boat, Bacchus 11 (R. Allan and M. Hore) was on hand at the time and was able to stand by to assist Granny apple with the problem. The crew was able to. locate the trouble spot and make repairs. Granny Apple was subsequently disqualified and will not receive any starting points because it did not complete safety formalities before starting a category three race.

Line honours and fastest: Party Time (I. Page, G. Suckling and J. Turnbull). Handicap Party Time .1, Bootlegger (B. Dacombe) 2, Southern Fun 3.