Newspaper Taxi on launching day - Westhaven, Auckland |
The most obvious difference from Candu II was that Newspaper Taxi was a centreboarder. The advantages of this concept had been demonstrated by Resolute Salmon in the 1976 One Ton Cup, and Fun had provided more evidence of this at the Quarter Ton Cup as well. The centreboard weighed only 92kg, and the boat otherwise relied on internal ballast and crew weight for stability.
The engine was also designed for rating advantage - the 12hp diesel was positioned for'ard of the mast and slightly to port so that the shaft could clear the centrecase.
While Whiting chased everything possible regarding hull shape and appendages, Murray Ross pursued rig developments and new handling techniques and gear, with the same careful attention to detail that Ross had employed so successfully on the Quarter Tonner Magic Bus.
Showing her windward form in light airs, Half Ton Championship, Auckland 1977 (J Malitte) |
A clear lead at the wing mark in the NZ 1977 series (J Green) |
While Newspaper Taxi had been designed and built with the 1977 Half Ton Cup in mind (Sydney), the Whiting/Ross team elected to contest the One Ton Cup to be held in Auckland in November 1977. Newspaper Taxi was sold to an Australian yachtsman and finished in 10th place in the Half Ton Cup, behind near sistership Magic Dragon, with placings of 10/11/8/8/DNF.
Newspaper Taxi undergoing a self-righting test ahead of the 1977 Half Ton Cup in Sydney (photo Facebook) |
Unfortunately, Newspaper Taxi later sank during the 1995 edition of the Three Peaks Race (Launceton, Tasmania, to Hobart), after losing her rudder off Cape Tourville on the outside of Freycinet Peninsula. According to the owner at that time (see comments below), the rudder stock snapped at the weld point above the hull line and tore the stern tube out. The crew took to a liferaft and were later rescued by the tanker Island Gas which had been diverted to the scene, and Newspaper Taxi now lies at a depth of 60m.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am based in NZ and I was wondering if anybody know the boat history past 1977? If she still floats it would be cool to see her back in Auckland.
Hi Niko, I think she lost her rudder and sunk somewhere in Australia. Her Quarter Ton predecessor Magic Bus is currently being restored in Auckland.
ReplyDeleteosted November 22, 2016
ReplyDeleteNewspaper Taxi was a 1/2 tonner and 30 feet.
Sunk of Eddystone Point after hitting the rocks there during a Three Peaks race.
Newspaper Taxi sank off Cape Tourville on the outside of Freycinet Penninsula in the 1995 Three Peaks race. No rocks involved. The rudder stock snapped at a weld point above the hull line and tore the stern tube out at 12:05am. It is 60m under at 42 08 148 23. I was her final owner and onboard at the time. We were pick up out of the raft by Island Gas about 2:00am.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification, I have updated the article. Glad to hear the rescue was so quick.
Delete