1.
REAR V.."GRETEL" SETTING UP SAIL
0.08

2.
SV "GRETEL" SETTING SAILS
0.12

3.
SV "GRETEL" UNDER SAIL
0.16

4.
LV DITTO
0.25

5.
LV THE "VIM" UNDER SAIL
0.29

6.
GV DITTO
0.33

7.
CU SPINNAKER OF THE "VIM"
0.37

8.
GV TWO BOATS SIDE BY SIDE
0.42

9.
GV "GRETEL" PASSING THE "VIM"
0.47

10.
GV "GRETEL"
0.53

11.
LV DITTO
0.57

12.
GV "GRETEL" WITH "VIM" IN B/G., BOOM BREAKS ON "GRETEL"
1.05

13.
FV SPINNAKER BEING LET GO
1.13

14.
CU PAN..CREW PULL IN SAILS ON BOARD "GRETEL"
1.21

15.
GV PAN..FROM MOTOR LAUNCH TO "GRETEL" NOW UNDER TOW
1.32

16.
GV DITTO
1.35

17.
SCU CREW ON BOARD "GRETEL"
1.40

18.
GV DITTO
1.44



Initials DR/S/MGT/ES


EDITORS: SEE ALSO PROD NO 4203/62

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: YACHT "GRETEL", AUSTRALIAN CHALLENGER FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP, ON HER FIRST OUTING SINCE HER ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES, HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO HARBOUR AT NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, JULY 24, WHEN HER BOOM CRACKED AFTER SHE HAD BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT ONE AND A HALF HOURS.

AFTER SHE RETURNED TO HARBOUR, HER BOOM AS REPLACED WITH A SPARE AND SOON "GRETEL" WAS OUT AGAIN, SAILING IN A FRESHENING BREEZE.

THE MISHAP OCCURRED AS THE 12-METRE YACHT WAS SAILING ABOUT FIVE MILES OFF SHORE WITH THE AMERICAN YACHT "VIM". THE CRACK IN THE BOOM DEVELOPED ABOUT EIGHT FEET FROM THE GOOSENECK FITTING WHICH ATTACHES THE BOOM TO THE MAST. AT THIS POINT THE BOOM HAS ONLY A SINGLE THICKNESS OF METAL, INSTEAD OF THE DOUBLE LAYER USED AT BOTH ENDS.

NOBODY WAS HURT OR KNOCKED OVERBOARD IN THE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN A MILD BREEZE OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS.