1.
GV People on quay-side and flags flying (2 shots)
0.10

2.
SCU Sir Alex Rose talking to official
0.13

3.
SV Starting cannon firing Pan to Yachts under sail
0.29

4.
GV Pan Yachts underway (3 shots)
0.53

5.
LV Boatload of onlookers
0.56

6.
GV Yachts surrounded by small pleasure boats underway
1.22


PEOPLE ON QUAYSIDE AND FLAGS WAVING: SIR ALEC ROSE TALKING TO OFFICIAL; STARTING CANNON FIRING PAN TO YACHTS UNDER SAIL: BOATLOAD OF ONLOOKERS: YACHTS SURROUNDED BY SMALL PLEASURE BOATS AS THEY SAIL OFF.




Initials AE/6.06 AE/5.28



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Britain's solo round-the-world yachtsman Sir Alec Rose fired a 100-years-old cannon at Portsmouth, on Saturday (September 8) - and the eight nations round-the-world race was on.

Eighteen yacht slipped away from the starting line on their 28,000 mile (45,000 kms) voyage which will probably last until April 1974.

At stake - a challenge trophy; a silver globe on which the continents have been traced out in gold. There is no cash prize.

The competition is between five boats from Britain, four from Francs; three from Italy, two each from Poland and Germany and one entry each from South Africa, Sweden and Mexico.

The race is in four stages: Portsmouth - cape Town; Caps Town to Sydney; Sydney - Rio de Janeiro; and Rio - Portsmouth.