AMERICA’S CUP BID

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 6

AMERICA’S CUP BID

Aust. Research At University

Scientists at the University of Sydney are searching for Australia’s 12-metre challenger for the 1967 America’s Cup.

They aim to produce an ocean racer capable of breaking America’a 113-year grip on the prized yachting trophy. Hulls are being tested in a 186ft4ong tank specially equipped to measure the drag at different speeds, heel angles and side forces. Two syndicates, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, are each building a cup challenger. Crews will have plenty of opportunity to gain experience in handling, as Gretel, Australia’s 1962 cup challenger, and Vim, the American trial yacht, are on hand for training. The Melbourne syndicate started building its challenger, the Dame Pattie—named after the wife of the former Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies—last year. The Sydney syndicate hopes to start building soon. Its design team is headed by a leading Sydney boat builder, Trygve Halvorsen, and Alan Payne, the designer of Gretel. If the building ef Deme Pattie is on schedule, she will be launched in September end will begin preHminary triala next January. The yacht win arrive in Newport, Rhode Island, in June for her final trials before the challenge series in September.

Assistance is being given to both syndicates by the five major companies in the weaving industry, which are pooling their reeeureoa to dentop an isnprovel aail aioth,