![]() ![]() ![]() This was to achieve greater stiffness and lighter weight. Iain Murray's thoroughness, preparation and attention to detail were evident when he dismissed polystyrene foam altogether as the core for his new Color 7 (1977-78) hull, electing to use a Nomex honeycomb paper core sandwiched by layers of Kevlar, rather than Klegecell. Russell Bowler's Benson & Hedges, which finished third in the championship, impressed the Australian teams with her hull construction, which pioneered a polystyrene core sandwiched by a thin fibreglass laminate that was reportedly one-third lighter than the New Zealand plywood boats.Ĭolor 7's team heads to the finish line and victory at the 1977 worlds - photo © Bob Ross With greater speed and direction, Color 7 established the decisive three-boat margin necessary to win the race and snatch the prestigious title. In dramatic style, Murray's Color 7 was the only boat in the fleet to set and carry a spinnaker on the run to the finish line. Murray and his team had to do something radically different or their chance of victory was gone.ĭue to the conditions, all leading teams elected to head in a south-easterly direction before gybing and running to the finish, but KB got carried a long way up to weather before she finally managed to grannie tack, and head for the finish line. It appeared that the title would belong to KB.Ĭolor 7 was more than five minutes behind KB at Rough Rock. KB rounded the buoy in a clear second place and the fleet only had a twomile run across the harbour back to the finish line off Orakei Wharf. The critical moment in the historical race, to determine the overall championship winner, came when the eight boats still left on the course reached the final rounding mark. Going into the race, David Porter's KB and Murray's Color 7 were level on 14 points, although KB held a two-point advantage after each team discarded its worst performance in the four races of the regatta sailed to that point. Iain had already achieved success with victories in both the 1973 Australian Cherub Championship and 1975-76 Interdominion 12ft skiff Championship, in boats he designed and built, so it was no surprise when his first 18ft skiff was also self-designed and built for the 1976-77 season.Ĭolor 7 in February 1980 - photo © Bob Ross Over the past two seasons, Iain has added two more JJ Giltinan titles to his record, as Team Manager for the Winning family's Andoo company 18ft skiff team. ![]() Thomas saw Iain's potential and the pair formed a sailing 'partnership' which amassed an incredible 13 JJ Giltinan World 18-footer Championship victories as well as an Open World Championship, 11 Australian championships and numerous other major championships in the class for Iain and the Seven Network. Iain's pathway to the 18s in the 1970s, as an Inter-dominion 12ft skiff champion, was standard for that time and coincided with the plans of keen sailor and General Manager of ATN Channel 7, Mr Ted Thomas, for his station to become involved in sailing. When Iain Murray graduated from the Cherub and 12ft skiff classes to join the 18 footer ranks as a 17-year-old in the 1976-77 season, with the sponsorship support of local TV station Channel 7 for his self-designed and built Color 7 skiff, nobody could have predicted the enormous influence he would have on the class, and the world of sailing, over the next 47 years - and still going strong. Color 7, with wings, in January 1982 © Bob Ross ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |