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------------Cape-to-Rio Race----------

celebrate lead ~;;...

Rio De Janeiro

From DALE GRANGER ~rd the SAS Drakensberg .

CHAMPAGNE corks popped aboard Broom­stick yesterday as the SA Navy yacht was the first to cross the Greenwich meridian in the Rothm~n's Cape-to-Rio race.

her handicap class lead, but has dropped two places on position since the third day to sixth.

Still leading the class on position was Parandah, but dropped two places on handicap to fourth. '

Frank Maunder's Intec claimed third handicap position yesterday in the <;lass. . ·

}kipper Commander Hanno Teuteberg has re­ported few problems since blasting out from Cape Town with the spinaker billowing, but for others the toll of ocean racing was beginning to tell.

Tales of broken booms, rudders and blown spin­nakers dominated yesterday's early morning radio position report to the naval escort ship the SAS Drakensberg.

Reed's Harbour Island was placed third on posi­tioo in his class yesterday and 23rd on handicap in his class, but he would not be drawn into race predictions. "It's difficult. The front-runners are going very fast," he said.

Harbour Island skipper and doyen of SA yachting Bertie Reed said the number of structural failures had been exceptionally high and conditions had been unusually windy. ·

Among those affecting running repairs are Brazi­lian entry BCN/Carrefour, in 32nd actual place in the field , sailed under a jury rig for about eight hours after the ir boom broke.

Glamour battle. Navy racer Syfrets Voortrekker 2, 10th overall,

skippered by Gus Mostert, was sailing with three reefs in the main and a No 3 headsail after a below­hull mast plate tore loose.

In the glamour battle for line honours on the fourth day, the multi-million racing maxi Broom­stick has logged a phenomenal run of 1 073 miles to lead the fleet in tremendous downwind weather.

Always a favourite for line honours, Teuteberg's scratch-boat has been fitted with the latest comput­er satellite equipment, kevlar sails and has Dutch expert weather router Marcel von Triest on board.

Watch captain Rick Nankin told the Cape Times yesterday: "We've reached" speeds of 23 knots and it's been a fantastic sail so far.

"The 'b.oat is very quick on all points of sail and today we've been doing 12/13 knots in 15- to 20-knot winds."

In the .first 24 \hours of the race Broomstick flew away and logged 320 miles, foll-0wed by consecutive 24-hour spells of just under 300 miles.

The only upset for the maxi was a blown spinaker, which has provided Nankin, a sailmaker by profes­sion, some lateral thinking tasks with the sowing machine onboard. "l don't have a clue how to use this thing," he confessed.

Tenacious Challenger Should Broomstick continue her breathtaking

run, the race record of 17 days, six hours, set in the 1976 race by the American maxi Ondine, could be on the line.

But Padda Kuttel's tenacious Namsea Challenger

MAYORAL YACHT ... Blue Route Mall, with mayor Mr Frank van der Velde knots u11der jury rig. A replacement rudder and a new spinnaker pole-whicl airfreighted to Namibia today. The yacht is expected to reach Luderitz late tm assured yesterday that the " minor" mayoral chain, which is safe aboard the S R40 000 and would probably arrive in Rio ~fore the mayor because f t

'Noisy' cat hits 23 knots

. Staff Reporter THE speed of the 13-metre superlight cata­maran Searose Kwik-fit has given Springb ok skipper Chris King a few

· heart-stopp,ipg m<1meots "rig po'W rea-ching

and fast downwind spells.

The controversial catamaran has a massive rig specifically designed to propel her faster than the expensive maxis.

"When the wind blows it is unbelievably scary and noisy. It feels as if the whole boat could fall apart," King said.

"We've already blown one spinnaker and reached spe.eds of 23 knots . If we get the breeze we will win the race."

Taylor finds his sea legs and sings

Staff Reporter FOLK singer and self-eoDfessed sailing novice Nick 1).Jlor f9Q.d his .sea legs on the high se•IJ for the firs im ~rday - - and celebrated the break­through by composing a sailing song.

"I've been learning a lot and also feeding the fish since leaving Cape Town on Saturday," Taylor said. "But today I found my sea legs and now I'm feeling fine."

Taylor is aboard the Ukelele Lady. In the radio room on board the guardship SAS

Drakensberg, Taylor's latest composition, a rendi­tion entitled "I've been sailing the spinnaker all night long", was broadcast to the fleet.

"We had a great run last night. The wind was 25 knots from astern - we were surfing at 11 knots. I haven't been getting much sleep but I'm very happy and I'm beginning to see what it's all about."

Ukelele Lady yesterday finally managed to shake off the 13m Chantecler, skippered by Joseph de Kock, but the battle between the yachts ended with a jammed rudder cable for Ukelele Lady.

'Minor' mayoral chain . for Rio Staff Reporter

THE mayoral chain aboard the SAS Drakensberg was one of two - the "minor", less expen­sive one - and was insured for a whopping R40 000, a Cape Town City Council spokesman said yesterday.

that the chain would be leaving the council's offices, no addi­tional insurance had to be paid.

Be said the " major" and "minor" chains were jointly in· sured for about R350 000.

Mr Gys Bofrneyr said it had not l!een necessary for the mayor to get council permission to leave his post.

Van der Velde did not require prior permission for his ab­sence.

" If Mr Van der Velde was ab­sent from his post for more than three monthly council meet­ings a year he would forfeit his position, but an official leave application will be put forward on Mr Van der Velde's behalf at the next council meeting."

Mr Ted Doman said although insurers had to be informed

After reports yesterday that councillors "grumbled" about mayor Mr Frank van der Velde's sudden departure on the Cape­to-Rio race, acting town clerk

"Mr Van der Velde was in­vited (on the race) at very short notice, and had informed exco chairman Mr Louis Kreiner of his intention to go.

"Although leave has to be granted by the full council, Mr ,