CRUZ CONTROL CREW BAIL WITH BUCKETS.

by Ian Grant on 30 Dec 2000 Maynard Smith's Cruz Control crew hove to and bailed with buckets for more than two hours before they claimed the Performance Handicap class line honours title in the Telstra Sydney-Hobart race this morning.

Cruz Control a comfortable Santa Cruz 52 sprung a leak in the anchor well which flooded the hull to the extent the floor boards were awash.

At the time Cruz Control was 50 miles into Bass Strait making steady progress under reefed sails in 30 knots of cold southerly winds.

'It was an alarming situation rectified with ten of the crew bailing in a bucket brigade while I stood at the helm'.

'There was no panic everyone was calm although they suffered with sea sickness but never stopped bailing'. Skipper Maynard Smith said.

' The crew were just great, happy and prepared to work as a team which has contributed to a memorable result'.

'They understood the demands and it was their combined effort with the tactics applied by Kingsley Piesse which achieved the result'. Said skipper Smith.

Cruz Control despite being hove to made up time in the tough slog down the East Coast of Tasmania late yesterday and overnight to beat larger rivals to the finish.

'Full credit to the crew they were just so positive in conditions which were nasty, certainly the worst I have experienced'. Added skipper Smith .