XN000022-1977-02-14 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1977

HK-BUILT YACHT TO COMPETE FOR ADMIRAL'S CUP

OCEAN RACING YACHT LAUNCHED BY MRS. BRAY

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HONG KONG'S CHALLENGE FOR THE WORLD PREMIER OCEAN RACING EVENT, THE +ADMIRAL'S CUP+, MOVED A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TO-DAY WITH THE LAUNCHING OF THE YACHT +VANGUARD+.

MRS, BRAY, WIFE OF MR. DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, OFFICIATED AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY AT THE SUPERCRAFT YARD,

HONG KONG MADE ITS FIRST BID IN 1975 WITH A THREE YACHT TEAM WHICH DEFEATED ELEVEN OUT OF EIGHTEEN COMPETING COUNTRIES. IN 1977 A STRONG CHALLENGE IS BEING MOUNTED BY FOUR CONTENDERS WHO WILL COMPETE FOR PLACES IN THE TEAM OF THREE.

+VANGUARD+ IS THE ONLY ADMIRAL'S CUP YACHT BEING BUILT IN HONG KONG. DESIGNED BY ED DUBOIS THE BOAT IS 42 FT. LONG AND RATES AS A TWO TONNER. THE FIBRE GLASS HULL WAS SUPERVISED BY KEN RAYBOULD TO ENSURE THAT IT COMBINED THE LIGHTEST POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION CONSISTENT WITH ADEQUATE STRENGTH.

HER CREW OF NINE WILL BE SKIPPERED BY MR. BILL TURNBULL WHO WAS ONE OF HONG KONG'S 1975 ADMIRAL'S CUP SKIPPERS AND WHO WON THE SYDNEY HOBART RACE IN 1973. ALL ARE HONG KONG MEN EXCEPT JOHN OAKLEY OF MILLER AND WHITWORTH LTD. WHO WILL PROVIDE THE U.K. BACKUP FOR THE BOAT.

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