TDN Solo Tasman Yacht Race stops taking entries

by Event Media on 7 Jul 2006 Organisers of the 2007 Taranaki Daily News Solo Tasman Yacht Race have stopped taking entries for the 1250 mile event.

'We’re restricted by a shortage of small craft facilities at Port Taranaki,' organising committee chairman, Wayne Sattler, said. 'The port company has guaranteed us 10 moorings and we can scrounge up a few more so we have limited entries to 15 boats – with a small standby list to take the place of any cancellations. We’ve reached that number already so we’ve been forced to stop taking entries.'

The New Plymouth Yacht Club almost canned the race last year, citing lack of facilities and interest, but a public meeting voted unanimously to keep it going and a new committee was appointed to run it.

'It just goes to show – there are still plenty of sailors out there ready to give it a go,' Wayne said.

The race has been run every four years since 1970 between New Plymouth and Mooloolaba. It attracted fleets of 15 yachts in 1978 and 1986. 'One great thing about next year’s race is that the fleet are generally cruising orientated boats in the 30 – 50 foot range – so it’ll be quite competitive,' he added.

Further details are available from: www.solo-Tasman.com.