Betreff: RegattaNews Press Info
Datum: 13. Dec 2003 09:42
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney/ Hobart, AUS
Light Winds Test Skippers' Patience
With the countdown to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race looming, international and local skippers have been looking to this weekend's Rolex Trophy Series as a last chance to fine tune their boats and crew under the full pressure of competition, and to benchmark themselves against their rivals.
But on Saturday, day one of the three day eight race series, the wind gods were anything but helpful.
On a blazing hot morning the fleet bobbed around and in flat seas waiting for some breeze, any breeze at all, to get going. Eventually, an hour and a half later than the scheduled start time a light breeze from the northeast kicked up just enough to allow the fleet to race over a shortened course.
As a somewhat strung out fleet charged toward the line Matt Allen's Ichi Ban, Grant Wharington's Skandia and George Snow's Brindabella headed for the leeward end, with Ichi Ban ultimately enjoying an almost perfect start.
At the 1st mark the 52-footer Ichi Ban was less than a minute behind the 98-foot super maxi Skandia, and that was the way it stayed for the whole race, Skandia crossing the line eventually just 3 minutes 45 seconds in front. The time difference was not enough for the maxi, with Ichi Ban taking first place in both the IMS and IRC divisions.
As the rest of the fleet struggled home in a dying breeze Ichi Ban appeared to have demonstrated the cardinal lesson of the day. In these light breezes over a shortened course a good start was everything.
The fleet certainly appeared to heed that lesson for the start of the second race.
As Skandia raced towards the windward end of the start line she found herself in a knot of yachts, with no one willing to give an inch. In a chaotic start, boats were called back to restart or wheeled around in a penalty 360 degree turn as Skandia charged away.
At the leeward end Ichi Ban and George Snow's Brindabella seemed to have all the space in the world, but then disaster struck. Both were recalled for false starts, and in the light wind, the long sail back to restart robbed them of time they could never hope to recover.
This time Skandia would cross the finish line first, and far enough ahead of Andrew Short Marine (Andrew Short) and Ichi Ban to win the IRC division on corrected time as well, with Yendys (Geoff Ross) winning the IMS division on corrected time.
Yendys won the IMS division again in race three, and with a 4th placing in race one, this was enough to put her at the top of the division's point score, with 164 points. Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer) with 2 seconds and a third enjoyed another day of consistent, high quality racing to finish the day just3 points adrift, on 161, with Ichi Ban in third place in the division on 158 points.
In the IRC division though Ichi Ban leads Skandia, with just 3 points separating the two yachts, 162 to 159.
A few miles to the north the Farr 40 Division of the Rolex trophy Series were having their own private tussle, but the wind was no more co-operative.
In race one Kokomo (Lang Walker) lead home Weapon (Robert Skinner) and Panther (Steve O'Rourke), but could not repeat the feat in the second race, trailing Team Shockwave (Neville Crichton) and Rapscallion (Dick Voorderhake) across the line for a 3rd place.
By then race officials figured enough was enough and abandoned the third race, leaving Kokomo leading the series from Team Shockwave and Weapon at the end of this abbreviated day.
So with the Boxing Day start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart less than two weeks away what came out of a trying day?
Ichi Ban has confirmed that she is properly tipped as an excellent chance for an outright win in the big race. The boat is quick and Matt Allen and his crew are sailing her intelligently and skilfully. Geoff Ross will be equally pleased with his new Yendys, and today will give him plenty of confidence. But both will know that not much of the Hobart will be sailed in winds this light. They will be hoping for more wind and a more definitive match up tomorrow.
As for Skandia, Grant Wharington's brand new super maxi, when the wind did pick up a bit during this fluky day the big boat did show that she has genuine speed.
That's all anyone wants come Sunday.
Further Information: Rolex Media Centre + 612 9327 5867
Email: RSHYRMedia@bigpond.com.au
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