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The two dominant yachts of the 1973 One Ton Cup, Ydra (to leeward) and Ganbare |
Ganbare during the US trials |

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Ydra in light airs during the 1973 One Ton Cup |
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Ganbare in fresh reaching conditions during the 1973 One Ton Cup |
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Australia's Bonita working upwind in fresh conditions in the second Olympic race (Bonita finished 17th overall) |
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The Carter 37 Hann sailed by Bouzaid for NZ |
Both campaigns from downunder were hampered by problems common to charter-efforts - a lack of time. Bouzaid has tried, unsuccessfully, to raise the funds to send Wai Aniwa to Sardinia to defend the Cup, and so the charter was the best that could be done in the circumstances. So although both Bouzaid and Fischer had formidable backgrounds in One Ton Cup campaigns, neither could get their boats going to their full potential. In the end Bouzaid and his crew came out top over Fischer, with a creditable third place, just 1.5 points behind Ydra, mostly due to good placings in the longer races, with Fischer finishing in fifth place.
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The appeal for funds for Wai Aniwa's defence of the One Ton Cup was unsuccessful. She is seen here testing sails on Auckland Harbour in preparation for Sardinia. |
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Ted Hood's Robin, seen here during the US trials series |
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Robin during the 1973 One Ton Cup |
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Cockpit view (above) and foredeck (below) of Robin, as photographed by Steve Kelley in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1974 |
The performance of the S&S yachts in the fleet was remarkable, but for all the wrong reasons. Under all the conditions experienced in Sardina, none of the S&S boats showed any speed to match the top five (other than Winsome V's effort in the second Olympic race). Ted Turner's Lightnin' made the US team after winning the Miami leg of the US trials, but had tended to make a great deal of leeway in the SORC series and modifications had been made to her keel. Olin Stephens acknowledged that he was designing his yachts too big - but even though his latest design, Ojala II, was a step down in size from Ted Turner's Lightnin' (6th), Thunder, and Winsome V, she finished behind all three of her bigger sisters in 14th place (who finished 6th, 7th and 9th respectively).
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Ydra heads downwind ahead of Italy's Sumbra and France's Drac |
Footnote: Ydra is current understood to be located in northern Germany - if anyone knows of her actual whereabouts one of the followers of this blog would be very grateful! Leave a comment or send an email to rb_sailing@outlook.com.
Great history here! My father bought "Hann" in the late 1970's and owned her until 2004. When we purchased her she was named "WIndquest" and we obviously never changed it. She was a great boat and we raced her extensively in local races in the Newport, RI USA area; with decent success I might add. We sold her around 2004 due to failing health of my Father to a gentleman from Florida USA.
ReplyDeleteMy father was always curious about the boats history but knew nothing other than hearsay. I wish he was still around to tell him his boat was actually raced for the cup he'd be tickled!