Yachts

And see the big boats fly . . .

At least nine maxi-yachts worth over $6 million will fight out the sixth biennial Burns Philp South Pacific Maxi Championships. To be held off Sydney from mid-Decem ber, the four-race series will see the first clash between Syd Fischer’s 25-metre Ragamuffin and Rod Muir’s 22-m Windward Passage.

Windward Passage, which ar rived in Sydney on October 20 from the USA, is a legend in international ocean racing circles.

Although older than Ragamuffin her previous owners have spent millions of dollars keeping her com petitive.

Property magnate and driving force behind the east coast Amer ica’s Cup syndicate Syd Fischer will

be looking to steer Ragamuffin to her second win in the Bums Philp series. Under her former name Bumblebee IV she was the 1979 champion.

Jack Rooklyn will also be looking for another win. He won the inau gural 1975 championship in Bally hoo, and this year he and his son Warwick will be aboard the Ben Lexcen-designed 23-m Apollo.

Queensland is expected to have two entries with The Office and Spirit of Queensland, while Victoria will be represented by Gary Gra ham’s 18-m Quasimodo and West ern Australia by Bob Williams’

Freight Train.

Expected entries are shown in the accompanying table.

Burns Philp South Pacific Maxi Champions of past years are: 1975, Ballyhoo; 1977, Kialoa; 1979, Bumblebee IV; 1981, Helsal II of Our Town Newcastle; 1983, Nirvana.

We regret that due to repeated delays in Sydney’s mails owing to a mailsorters’ dispute, we are unable this month to offer our regular coverage of yacht movements. We hope to resume this regular PIM feature in our January issue. Editor.

Above: The 1983 Burns Philp South Pacific Maxi Champion Nirvana, owned by New York television producer Marvin Green.

Left: The Ben Lexcen-designed Apollo, owned by Jack Rooklyn of New South Wales, is a contender for this year’s title. Jack Rooklyn won the inaugural championship in 1975 with Ballyhoo. With him in the crew of Apollo this year will be his son Warwick.

Loa

(metres) Designer Owner State Apollo 22.8 Lexcen J. Rooklyn

Nsw

Bewinched 18.9 Frers W. Ferris

Nsw

Freight Train 18.9 Frers R. Williams WA The Office 20.1 Adams A. Bloore Qld Quasimodo 18.2 Ing G. Graham Vic Rampant 21.3 Lauanos A. Tucker