Rowing: Cheating fears arise as crews prepare for marathon race

LONDON - New Zealand rowers in the Trans-Atlantic Challenge fear some of their rivals have the potential to cheat by using boat hatches as a type of sail.

They have talked to the organisers of the 4667 km race, which starts from the Canary Islands on Monday, asking for design changes to prevent unfair wind assistance on the journey to Barbados.

In the 1997 race, won by New Zealanders Rob Hamill and the late Phil Stubbs, the two-crew boats had hatches that slid open only.

This time, hatches that can be lifted up are allowed.

The New Zealanders, who are already worried about a hand injury to Hamill that may keep him out of the race, noted that some crews had the ability to latch their hatches vertically open.

Steph Brown, of the Telecom Challenge women's crew, said that made her uncomfortable, because a sail that size could generate power equivalent to having an additional rower.

"Some teams have made their hatches much larger, like twice the size, in order to get into their cabins easier," she said.

"If they opened horizontally it would not be a problem, but they open vertically.

"They have then cut off part of the cabin roof, which is illegal, so that they can open them right up.

"What you get are two very effective sails, one on the front cabin and one on the back. Some teams have even used ties to secure them in that upright position.

"The whole thing makes us very uncomfortable. We are not saying they will use them, but how do we know they won't?"

New Zealand's two-boat team have asked that a simple door-stop be put on all vertical hatches to prevent them opening above the height of the cabin roof.

The New Zealand team's two boats had suffered minor damage when being shipped from London to Tenerife.

Steve Westlake, who will be Hamill's rowing partner if the 1997 winner is fit, said the damage had delayed the team's ability to get the boats out on the water by two days.

"With everyone pitching in, we have managed to get it all sorted and ready to go. We will be out rowing tomorrow."

Orthopaedic specialists have told Hamill he may be able to row in the race, even with a broken hand.

He broke a knuckle in his right hand last week, when he intervened in a domestic dispute in Tenerife.

However, the team said yesterday that two specialists felt there was a possibility Hamill would still be able to row. He would be in pain for two to three weeks because the bone would be only 50 per cent healed at the start of the race.

"We have made the call that Rob will have to complete three continuous days of training," team spokesman Rob Nichol said.

Hamill will also have to prove he can perform all the necessary duties on the boat, including safety procedures.

Auckland policeman Matt Goodman is on stand-by to take Hamill's place.

In the women's crew, Brown will partner Jude Ellis.

Thirty-five teams from 13 countries have entered the race.

- NZPA