Yachts on their way

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 19

Yachts on their way

NZPA Mar del Plata A fleet of 24 yachts crossed the starting line off the granite promontory known as Cape Corrientes on Saturday to behind the last leg of the 27.000 nautical mile Whitbread Round the World race. The 6500-rqile final leg from the Argentinian resort town to Portsmouth, England, will take the fleet across two oceans, the North and South Atlantic, as well as Doldrums in between. The nautical marathon started last August 29 when 29 yachts sailed from Portsmouth to Cape Town. South Africa, for the first leg. From there, the fleet had two legs across the Southern Ocean. The first, from Cape Town to

Auckland was severe, with con stant storms and bitter cold. The second, which was unusually mild, brought the fleet around Cape Horn, at the tip of South America, and then 1200 miles north to Mar del Plata. Two French yachts, both sponsored by wineries, dominated the handicap race. Charles Heidsieck 111. a 65ft sloop skippered by Alain Gabbey, leads Kriter IX, a 62ft sloop skippered by Andre Viant, by 11% hours on corrected time after three legs. This leg will see the renewal of the duel between the Dutch yacht and Ceramco new Zealand, which has seen the New Zealand boat beaten to the line on the last two legs by only hours.