Australia’s blue-water Sydney to Hobart classic this year is to see the domination of eight-time line honors winner Wild Oats challenged by a Scandinavian dark horse and a South Korean debut among more Asian entries.
Four supermaxis are to tackle the gruelling 628 nautical mile (1,163km) race among a field of 93, organizers said yesterday, with local hero Wild Oats the favorite.
Skipper Mark Richards can not forget last year’s shock retirement with a split mast and said improvements had been made.
Photo: AFP
“We’ve learned a lot from last year,” he said at the official launch for the Dec. 26 race.
“Our preparation this year has been fantastic,” including thousands of kilometers of sailing and some “tweaking,” he said.
Richards has removed the yacht’s horizontal hydrofoil, explaining that a new 11m-long forward section of the hull negated the need for it. It also makes the vessel 300kg lighter.
Wild Oats XI, which is to start in its 12th Sydney to Hobart, “is still a great machine,” he added.
Finn Ludde Ingvall took line honors in 2000 and 2004 and he is back for this year with Nicorette completely redesigned and renamed CQS.
The 90-foot maxi has grown into a 100-foot supermaxi in a bid to rival the world’s fastest yachts, with legendary New Zealand skipper Chris Dixon at the helm.
Ingvall, who lives in Sydney, rates Wild Oats “the best yacht in the world,” despite its early retirement last year, which allowed US supermaxi Comanche to win in 2 days, 8 hours, 58 minutes, 30 seconds.
“It’s not the same boat,” Ingvall told reporters about CQS. “From the mast forward, it’s new and from the steering backwards it’s new. She’s a very radical thing, incorporating a lot of ideas.”
“We should be good in light airs,” he said. “In some conditions we will be up there but we are focusing on taking the boat to the finish line.”
That’s the ambition of most entrants for the 72nd version of the race from Sydney down Australia’s east coast and across the wild Bass Strait to Hobart.
Another rebadged supermaxi is Scallywag, now owned by Hong Kong businessman Seng Huang Lee, which came second in line honors last year as Ragamuffin.
Supermaxi Perpetual Loyal is also back for another tilt after pulling out of the previous two races with damage.
Among 12 international entries, the Korea Ocean Sailing Club has chartered a 52-footer and named it Sonic for the nation’s first Sydney to Hobart outing.
Team Korea is mostly from Seoul and Busan with experience from the America’s Cup, while skipper Kwangmin “Andrew” Rho contested last year’s race aboard Flying Fish Arctos, organizers said.
China has two entries, with Qing Dong back with Ark323 and a new crew after a stormy debut ended in early retirement for the country’s first ever entry last year.
“We did not expect 50-knot winds,” Qing said of the savage southerlies that blasted the race last year, with dozens of boats pulling out. “This year we are going to be better.”
Overall handicap honors went to Australia’s Balance in December last year, with the TP52 competing again, hoping for a second successive crown.
“We will be doing our damnedest to get there in one piece,” owner Paul Clitheroe said.
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