Headlines from the past is a recurring feature looking back at stories we've covered over the past 40+ years.
While many people spend the first few weeks of 2004 recovering from the holiday season or pursuing newfound commitments to fitness or sobriety, a Coquitlam father and his son were preparing to live their dream of participating in the 2,400-km Victoria-Maui yacht race.
Mike and Andy Neitzel were spending long hours at Reed Point Marina in Port Moody making sure their 51-foot. ketch, Born Free, had all the spit, polish and equipment necessary to endure the 12-day voyage that would begin in the summer.
Time was of the essence, as Andy Neitzel had to return to medical school at the University of Saskatchewan by mid-January. After that, Mike would have to do all the work on his own.
“We trust each other and work well together,” said the elder Neitzel.
The duo weren’t nautical neophytes, though.
The entire Neitzel family had crossed the Pacific together twice before.
But Mike and Andy would tackle the race as its only duo, competing against boats with crews of six to 10 sailors.
Their challenge was further heightened as Mike, a documentary filmmaker, has only one hand, following an accident. He also planned to film their adventure for a television show.
Andy, who planned to catch their dinner daily with a 300-pound test line, was nonplussed about the task ahead of them.
“The greatest challenge will be getting enough sleep,” he said.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
