Around the World of Sailing

12 December 2001

Short Tack: Peter Blake's 1st Whitbread Campaign
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/de/1212/st.htm

Peter Blake competed as crew in the initial two Whitbread
Around the World Race's. After the 1977-78 race he issued
'A Kiwi Competitors Plea'. In it he called for a New Zealand
campaign. By the 1981-82 race his please had been answered.
Below the entire text of the opening of Blake's first major
sailing campaign is reproduced.

The rules read 'Cape Horn to Port'. Ever since my early
yachting days racing a P class with the Takepuna boating
club one of my aims has been to round cape Horn under sail.
It has taken me over 100,000 miles of ocean racing and
cruising to achieve, but what a highlight! After the
frustrations of the first leg of the 77/78 Whitbread Round
the World Race from Portsmouth to Cape Town, the speeds and
severe cold of the run to Auckland, the intensity and sheer
pleasure of the New Zealand hospitality, and then the
icebergs, hail and snow of 63 degrees south in the Southern
Pacific Ocean, to approach and round Cape Horn under full
sail aboard the 77 foot sloop Heath's Condor meant a great
deal to me, seeming to justify everything.

The Royal Naval Sailing Association, which set up this race,
talks about running another Round the World in 1981. We
must have an entry of New Zealand design and construction,
crewed solely by Kiwis. The time to begin such a project is
now. Let's show the rest of the world what we really can do
in the longest and toughest ocean race in the world.

Peter Blake

From then on, Blake was certainly involved in helping New
Zealand show what they really could do in races all over the
planet.

Short Tack: Sailor of the Year Voting
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/de/1212/st.htm

Voting for the 2001 Sailors of the Year has concluded.
Winners of the male and female sailors of the year and
the drawing for a 2002 Ultimate Sailing Calendar, will
be announced in the December 19th edition of Around the
World of Sailing. Thanks to all those who participated
and good luck in the drawing.

Short Tack: Featured Brokerage
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/de/1212/st.htm
This week's highlighted boat is a 1974 C&C 27. C&C's have
always been noted for their quality as the teak cabin sole
shows.

Unusually for a mid 70's boat this 27 footer has halyards
led back to the cabin top. Additionally there is an
autopilot for easy short handed sailing.

Specifications:
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/view_more_boat.cgi?company=torresen&url=&boat_id=906689&align=left&units=Feet&page=broker&currency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=33264&mls_true=