Conference unifix::sailing

1786.0. "Formula One Grand Prix." by CRATE::BARKER (Now @ NEW - 774-6243) Mon Sep 09 1991 12:48

	Yesterday on Channel 4 TV ( in England ) there was a one-hour
	program about the first round of the International Formula One
	Grand Prix series.

	The event was the first outing for the Formula One one-design 
	class, which looked a very exciting design, 52ft long, low freeboard,
	wide stern ( with double rudders ) designed by Bruce Nelson and
	Tony Castro. They sport a tall fractional rig with non-overlapping
	headsails and a masthead kite for the light winds. All boats are
	'identical' and sail with quite a small crew. 

	The circuit is big-money, fully professional, but so far there are
	only 4 boats. The first event was sailed in the Clyde Estuary
	(Scotland) and the American crew on "Stars & Stripes", skippered by
	John Bertrand, won the first two races. In the Third, Dennis Conner
	arrived, fresh from winning the Etchells worlds, and took over the
	helm from Bertrand, but he failed to get the hang of things and
	let Scottish Enterprise ( basically the Juno crew, with Mike McIntyre
	steering and Harold Cudmore calling the shots ) through to win.

	The other two boats are German owned, skippered by Georg Dietsch and
	Berend Beikeln ( of Diamond Sails fame ).

	There were only 3 boats in the second series which was held in Keil
	( Germany ) this weekend. Hopefully, things will pick up again for
	the next round.

	Chris