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Sydney to Hobart looking like another 2-yacht race
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Defending champion Wild Oats XI and American entry Comanche are again expected to fight out line honors in this year鈥檚 Sydney to Hobart race, after last year鈥檚 finish when the Australian yacht beat her 100-foot rival by 55 minutes to claim an unprecedented eighth title.
Fellow super maxis Ragamuffin 100 and Perpetual Loyal should also contend to be the first boat to reach Hobart in Tasmania, as will another American vessel, Rambler 88.
The 628-nautical-mile race begins early this afternoon in Sydney Harbour and is expected to end two to three days later in Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania.
In between, the 109 yachts, including 27 foreign entries, will sail down the south coast of New South Wales state and across the often treacherous Bass Strait. Forecast southerly winds of up to 35 knots (65 kilometers per hour) and thunderstorms could create a blustery first night.
The foreign contingent includes 12 yachts from the Clipper Round the World race, which features the Sydney to Hobart as part of its eight-leg, 16-race program.
Last year, Comanche, a wide-bodied yacht which prefers stronger winds, led the fleet out of the harbor and for much of the early part of the race.
But light winds hit the fleet in Bass Strait, allowing Wild Oats to take a big lead which the American boat nearly overcame when the winds picked up again before the finish.
Comanche has one big-name addition to its crew: America鈥檚 Cup-winning skipper and Sydney-born Jimmy Spithill, who hasn鈥檛 raced on the yacht.
鈥淟ast year we had a few issues with a few bits and pieces which weren鈥檛 repaired until Christmas Day,鈥 skipper Mark Richards said. 鈥淪o we were out there checking a few things on Christmas Day. It鈥檚 a bit more relaxed this year. Whether it鈥檚 a good sign or a bad sign, I鈥檓 not quite sure.鈥
The German crew of Haspa Hamburg, which celebrated Christmas on the docks at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, was encouraged by the predicted tough conditions on the first night, followed by lighter winds for the remainder of the race.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some strong headwinds on the first night which this boat really loves, and then we鈥檝e got no wind, which is pretty good for half of the crew because they are more or less dinghy sailors,鈥 skipper Johan Schultz said.
鈥淭hey are used to sailing with no wind. So half the crew likes the storm, the other likes the calm. So everybody鈥檚 happy.鈥
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