Super-maxi Nicorette was grinding its way to a hard-fought victory in its first ever Sydney to Hobart yacht race yesterday after raging seas forced out defending champion Skandia and joint favorite Konica Minolta.
With its main rivals out of the way, Nicorette opened up a 50 nautical mile lead over the chasing pack and was expected to take line honors at Hobart's Constitution Dock early today.
The super-maxi, launched only three weeks ago, spent the final stages of the race hugging the coast of the island state of Tasmania in an attempt to avoid the battering that has forced 51 of the 116 boats which began the 627 nautical mile bluewater classic on Sunday to retire.
The fleet took its worst pounding since 1998, when six sailors died and seven boats were lost, as gale force winds, thunderstorms and lightning hammered the boats.
Skandia sent out a distress call late on Monday when it was about 65 nautical miles east-northeast of the northeastern tip of Tasmania.
Seven hours later, the Australian super-maxi's 16 crew members abandoned ship in inflatable life-rafts because the yacht's canting keel had jammed to starboard and they were unable to steer a boat listing dangerously in 7m swells.
The crew was picked up by a police launch after two hours. Race officials said it was not clear whether the damage was caused by Skandia's collision with a 300kg sunfish shortly after it entered the notorious Bass Strait on Monday.
The crew emerged from the ordeal unhurt but Skandia skipper Grant Wharington's hopes of becoming the first back-to-back winner for 21 years were dashed in what he described as a "terrible blow."
Race control said a tug would attempt to recover the stricken yacht early today.
Skandia's arch-rival Konica Minolta retired after a massive wave split open the New Zealand yacht's cabin and damaged the keel support structure, leaving the keel in danger of shearing away from the boat entirely.
"We barrelled off the top of a gi-normous wave and crashed down the other side of it," Konica Minolta skipper Stewart Thwaites said by phone.
"This wave was twice as big as any others we've seen during this race. It was a pretty hairy night overall," he says.
The withdrawal of joint favorites Skandia and Konica Minolta scuppered prospects of a repeat of last year's duel-to-the-finish, when the Australian yacht beat its trans-Tasman rival into Hobart by only 14 minutes after the pair remained within sight of each other for most of the race.
Nicorette was launched earlier this month after skipper Ludde Ingvall, who won line honors with Nicorette's namesake in 2000, had the boat built in just six months in Sydney this year, an unusually short construction period for the hi-tech super-maxis.
While rivals said the 30m was untested and predicted, question marks over its performance in a race ranked as one of the world's top three bluewater classics, it appears set to be the only super-maxi to make it to Hobart.
Ingvall said the conditions meant he was just "trying to take it easy and not break anything.
"Just one bad wave can finish the race for anyone, whether the boat is old or new," he said. "It's not the way you want to win a race."
Race control said several yachts were sheltering in Twofold Bay on Tasmania's east coast waiting for a break in gale force winds.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely