Welcome to the new look...
AsianYachting New Year
- January 2007
News and Views
Thai
yachting legend Bill Gasson is eager for all keelboats, large multi's,
beach cats and dinghy class owners to mark the first week of May (3rd
to 7th) down on the calendar and urges all sailors to make a big effort
to attend the Top
of the Gulf Regatta at Ocean Marina (Conveniently located
south of Pattaya and the new Bangkok International airport). Also on offer
are invitations for sports boat enthusiasts to contest the prestigious
Coronation
Cup, held annually on identical Platu 25 keelboats to commemorate
the Coronation of His Majesty the King of Thailand. Boats are available
for charter and as this event has one of the best locations, with good
winds, just minutes to seaward of the marina - It should not be missed.
This outing can also serve as a good workout for racing teams going onto
the season ending Koh
Samui Regatta latter in May and early June. More info at:
http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com
or E-mail: info@topofthegulfregatta.com
for more news on other Ocean Marina sailing events.
Distribution: Emailed to over 2700 recipients on all points of the compass. Known to be read by sailors from as far north as Iceland to the extremes of the Southern Ocean. Also has been found hidden away (For future consumption) on a diverse range of computers extending across the European business elite to visiting royalty at posh oriental Clubs in the far east.
AsianYachting.com is now a major yachting news provider
in Asia which averages over 3000 views per day.
CONTENTS
1.
Editorial - AsianYachting
blog
can now be found at: http://asian-yachting.blogspot.com/
2
. Austral
- Asian News - AY
Grand Prix Skipper
and Yacht Championships
plus all the news from Asia
Up next - Singapore
Straits in Jan and the Royal
Langkawi Int Regatta in February
3 . International News - Super-Zero
class criteria
Up next - Skandia
Geelong Week and
London
Boat Show
4 . World Speed Records - Tony
Bullimore and Doha 2006
ready to depart? Follow their progress
at...
5
"Unluckiest sailors of the month"
- Dedicated
to the Sydney-Hobart 06 racers.
Goto Archived AY News & Views and Race Reports 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 98-99
1.
EDITORIAL
Ever since 1998, when six sailors died in freak storms and a further 55 were rescued on the annual gale-swept, 628-nautical-mile, Sydney to Hobart race, has earned itself a reputation of being one of the toughest races in the world, just to finish and proving very elusive to owners willing to go all out and seriously try to win the overall IRC honours. As the Syd-Hob yacht tracker and web site were not available to Asian viewers due to a break in the underwater Taiwanese - US telecom lines and severe flooding in the southern states of West Malaysia and neighboring Sumatra, a Full Report has been compiled from various news services and posted, not surprisingly to regular readers in the "Unluckiest Sailors of the month" awards. Which for space reasons has been dropped to the bottom of this edition. (See Photo Edition as it is dedicated to the Hobart racers and many thanks go to all the yachting journo's and photographers (To many to mention here) that have generously made their images and articles available to be used online).
From
a marketering point of view, it never seizes to amaze me, how the sheer
amount of carnage and crew injuries during this race is enough to warrant
International TV News and Sports channels to air the footage of the airlifts
and keep us informed on Wild Oats progress. Thank god for satellite
com's was heard by at least one visiting sailing junkie looking for a
fix over the break.
After a little diverting and some repair work normal service seemed to have returned by the finish of the race, although maybe a bit slower, but a least the amount of spam mail was reduced to a trickle for a while. Now that can't be to bad a thing, especially if it becomes permanent. Therefore in case of further interruptions we kick of this New Year edition with news from the Austral-Asian region and what's coming up in SE Asian waters during Jan and Feb.
We thought it only appropriate to tackle the New Year resolution list
with vengeance and are presently experimenting with an AsianYachting
blog
that can be found at: http://asian-yachting.blogspot.com/
The AsianYachting.com
website has been pumping out the yachting news from Asia for almost 8
years now, so with over 2700 on the Circulation list, we felt it's time
to offer our subscriber base an opportunity to post some comments or feedback
from their experiences on the Asian regatta scene.
Allot of competitor/organiser
complaints have recently been heard, so we felt it time that perhaps some
issues could also be aired on this blog. Persons contemplating opening
their own blog can conveniently choose to open a Goggle account and create
their own free blog site when replying on the AY
blog. Feel free to post any no holds barred comments but
as under age people maybe reading, the use of profanities or swear words
is prohibited and my only ask is that this policy be strictly adhered
to. Give us a little time to come to grips with the new system and over
the next few months we will let you know how the rapid advances in ICT
technology, that the new year brings, will be incorporated into future
AY
News distribution and new improvements to our event media
coverage.
Welcome to 2007 - Which by the way is "Visit Malaysia Year"
Capt Marty Rijkuris
2.
Austral
- Asian News
2.1 The 2006-07
Regatta Season continues...
The organisers of the 2007
Andaman Sea Rally regrettably informs us on the website,
of the cancellation of this years Rally. While there was a strong level
of interest, the numbers of vessels who had financially committed to take
part was too few to run the event effectively, leaving no alternative
but to cancel. Serious racers don't have to worry as the 13th
Singapore Straits Regatta
and the conclusion of the three nations S.E.A.
Perpetual Cup Series
comes up in Singapore from 17th
to 20th January. Closely followed by the 5th
Royal Langkawi Int Regatta in Malaysia over the
4th to 9th February
- Rumor has it that Ray Roberts has loaded his DK46 Quantum Racing
onto a ship bound for Asia to defend the title they so handsomely won
last year. Other racing yachts known to be lurking around Malaysian and
Singaporean marinas, usually kept in race ready condition just might spoil
the party and make a surprise appearance.
Cruisers and Phuket based racers will have to wait till Chinese New Year
(Feb 16
- 20) for
the 10th QBE Insurance
Phang Nga
Bay Regatta but a word of advice, you want to get in quick
- As organizers are limiting the number of entries in this popular regatta
to 45 yachts, which will be accepted on a first-come first served basis,
with entries only considered confirmed once payment has been made. Well
it must be a hard life trying to interweave all the yacht racing activities
into an already tight work schedule but it is good
to see some re-grouping going on in the background amongst former pioneers
on the Asian scene.
2.2
2006-07 AY Grand
Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships
After three AY
Championship events were
racing class skippers and yachts accumulate points based on their placing's
at eight selected events (Malaysia 2, Hong Kong 2, Thailand 2, Singapore
and the Philippines 1 a piece) that fairly grades the Skippers ability
to successfully run a racing campaign in Asian waters each season. Defending
champion Neil Pryde and Hi Fi have taken the lead with six points
from Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Mandrake with three points. Paul
Winkelmann TP52 Island Fling and Toby O'Connell's win on the
DK 46 Dhevatara Drumstick puts them in a three way tie with Mandrake
for second place. The next outing were skippers and yachts can improve
their rankings is the Singapore
Straits in January followed by the Royal
Langkawi Int Regatta in February. To check the present rankings
and how your favorite team is scoring during the 2006-07
Season goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/AYGP06-07.htm
2.3
Looking for a tropical retirement home in
SE Asia?
Few
real estate companies in Asia enjoy the success of public-listed Bangkok-based
luxury property developer Raimon
Land. The company
has positioned itself as the developer of choice for buyers and investors
who seek the best in lifestyle developments and an
excellent track record of delivering quality residential projects.
From Bangkok and Pattaya to Phuket the company has projects in all the
most sought-after areas
which proudly achieves high yield holiday rentals through their professional
management team. One aspect
that separates Raimon Land from its competitors is the company’s
clear commitment to lifestyle events and have
made a strong commitment to the yachting scene in Thailand by sponsoring
the Top
of the Gulf Regatta, Evason
Phuket
Race Week and the prestigious Phuket
King's
Cup Regatta More
at: www.raimonland.com
or goto AY
Real-Estate page...
2.4
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston finally arrives in Fremantle
British solo sailing legend Sir Robin crossed the finish line of the VELUX
5 OCEANS in Fremantle (Western Australia) at 20:57.15 local time (11:57.15
GMT). Knox-Johnston completed the first leg onboard SAGA INSURANCE after
67 days, 0 hrs, 57 mins and 15 secs alone at sea. He left Bilbao with
the rest of the fleet on the 22nd of Oct, and has experienced a rollercoaster
ride over the 12,000 miles separating the Spanish Basque Country from
Fremantle in Western Australia. After a treacherous and challenging first
leg, which saw two of the British favourites retire, the iconic solo skippers
epic journey was plagued by endless damage, malfunctioning technology,
poor weather and even stray fishing nets, recounts his harrowing journey
before enjoying a cold beer with friends and well wishers in Fremantle.
For more info and listen to the audio please visit http://www.velux5oceans.com
Since preparing the above article: Graham Dalton, the experienced Kiwi solo sailor crossed the finish line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS in Fremantle (Western Australia) at 11:34 local time (02:34 GMT). Dalton completed the first leg onboard A SOUTHERN MAN AGD, the only Open 50 in the race, after 71 days, 15 hrs and 34 mins at sea, to notch up fourth place.
Basque
skipper marks the end of an amazing first leg...
At 03:22 local time (18:22 UTC), Unai Basurko crossed the finish line
in Fremantle (Western Australia) and marked the end of an epic first leg
of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. After 72 days, 7 hrs and 22 mins alone at sea,
PAKEA finally completed an amazing leg of ocean racing that
certainly lived up to the title of The Ultimate Solo Challenge. Basurko,
33, was met by friends and family from his home town of Bilbao, where
the race started back on October 22, 2006. The young skipper with a brand
new Open 60 yacht is taking part in his first competitive solo circumnavigation
and learning constantly about his boat and the harsh realities of ocean
racing. Despite numerous problems to PAKEA and unfavorable weather
patterns, the result which places him fifth overall in the race, is an
important achievement for the Basque hero.
2.5 Brunei Bay Radio HF radio services in SE Asia, Western
Pacific & Eastern Indian Ocean.
Ever heard of HF/SSB radio E-mail or SailMail? Well if you live on a remote
tropical Island or operate vessels away from cell phone range you can
still receive e-mails and voice services at isolated locations on land
or sea by HF/SSB radio from Brunei Bay Radio. They also operate a regular
voice broadcast schedule of SE Asian regional marine weather, METAREA
forecasts/warnings, Maritime Safety Information (MSI) warnings and operate
the regional gateway for the popular SailMail - low cost HF radio e-mail
- service for cruising yachts. Brunei Bay Radio has just announced the
start of a new HF/SSB radio e-mail service suited to charter yachts, live
aboard dive boats, yachting event organizers and isolated island resorts
that require more connection time, file transfers and other features.
This service has been established to assist the region's growing marine
tourism industry with a reliable e-mail service for about 25% of the cost
of "low-cost" satellite services. For more info and how to sign
up contact Allan Riches http://www.bruneibay.net/bbradio
Email: allanr@bruneibay.net
Phone: 673 2 221685 Fax: 673 2 221687
2.6
CYCA ANNOUNCES 2005-06
OCEAN RACER OF THE YEAR
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, acknowledges those who have achieved
excellence in the 2005-06 offshore season and at the awards night, Ray
Roberts was named CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year. Sydney based Roberts has
enjoyed a stellar 12 months during the Ocean Racer of the Year qualifying
period with his DK46, also called Quantum Racing. Beginning with
a sixth on IRC at last year’s Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race
Week, he followed this up with a win at the Kings Cup in Thailand, first
in division in the 2005 Rolex Trophy Rating Series and fifth in division
and ninth overall in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart.
In
January Quantum Racing went on to claim second in the Royal Yacht
Club of Tasmania’s Sailing South Week followed by a win in the Scotchman’s
Hill Series at Skandia Geelong Week. He returned to Asia to contest the
Langkawi Regatta, which he won, and finished the qualifying period off
with a second overall on IRC handicap and first in division in this year’s
Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Based on results so far for the 2006-07
qualifying period, Roberts could potentially follow in the footsteps of
the CYCA’s Ocean Racer of the Year for the past two seasons with
a back-to-back win. So far this year he and his crew have taken out the
IRC overall trophy in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race and scored IRC wins at
Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. On Sunday 17th Dec Roberts finished
first in division in the Rolex Trophy Rating Series and looked in top
form heading into the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart with his chartered canting
keeled Cookson 50 now re-named Quantum Racing.
2.7
Quantum Fusion
M just keeps getting better!
Quantum Sail Design Group designs, engineers and manufactures
sails for racers and cruisers who demand the highest levels of quality
and performance. They are leaders in the sail making industry by offering
top quality products supported by a high level of personalized customer
service, recognized expertise, professionalism and a passion for developing
the sport of sailing. Quantum sails are available at more than 55 lofts
located throughout the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Europe, South Africa,
South America, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
So now, more than ever, you can count on Fusion M delivering great boat-speed
and reliability. Goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/QuantumSails.htm
2.8
Tsunami detection
buoy for Indian Ocean
NOAA joined the government of Thailand in launching the first Deep-ocean
Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami, or DART, buoy station in the Indian
Ocean to assist in detecting tsunamis. Following a ceremony in Phuket,
Thailand, where the 2004 Boxing Day event caused the most extensive tsunami
damage in Thailand, the MV SEAFDEC set sail on Friday 15th Dec to deploy
the buoy about mid-way between Thailand and Sri Lanka. NOAA scientists
and engineers are onboard to provide technical assistance during the launch
operations. With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development,
NOAA built and provided the DART station on behalf of the U.S. government.
The buoy will be maintained by the Thai Meteorological Department and
National Disaster Warning Center. The station's data will be available
to all nations through the World Meteorological Organization Global Telecommunications
System and will be part of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
The Thai buoy is the first of 22 tsunameters planned for the Indian Ocean's
regional tsunami warning system. NOAA will provide a second DART buoy
farther to the south in the spring of 2007. This is part of an end-to-end
warning system that includes tide gauges, communications upgrades, modeling,
and dissemination systems for five countries—Indonesia, India, Maldives,
Sri Lanka and Thailand. Find out more at http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/
2.9
New Farr 11 (35ft) with canting keel and canard technology
Farr Yacht Design announced that they are in construction on the Farr
11, which is a 35 ft canting keel racing boat. "Design #613"
has a 45-degree canting keel, twin asymmetric canards and twin retractable
rudders on a hull with high form stability. The rig is a transplant from
skiff rig development with a large square-headed main on a highly swept
spreader, no backstay rig. The boat is being built by Premier Composite
Technologies in Dubai who have received ongoing orders. Hull #1 is due
to launch in Dubai in February 2007 More at: http://www.premiercompositetechnologies.com
2.10
Sunsail Asia
opening up new destinations...
Sunsail is the biggest charter
yacht company operating in the
world today. Sunsail Asia
have spent many years leading the way in opening up new Asian destinations
and proud to give you a chance to discover some of the most intriguing
and unspoiled countries in the South East Asian region. So do it soon!
After a very successful 2006 season they are always expanding both Flotilla
holidays and Bareboat Charter
yacht fleets and ask interested clients to check out their weekly RYA
Courses or latch onto one of their great value MileCatcher
Voyages by Calling +66 76 239057 Fax: +66 76 238940 Email:
sales@sunsailasia.com or visit
http://www.sunsailasia.com
2.11
2006 - ISAF Year In Review
Over the course of December www.sailing.org
looked back at the year in sailing, reliving the highs and the lows, the
passion and the competition, the speed and the thrills and celebrating
another fantastic twelve months on the water.
Part 1: January To March http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=19819
2006 began with the deck of sailing cards firmly shuffled and everyone
eager to see how changes made over the past few months would pan out on
the water. There was not long to wait, as the Olympic Classes were soon
launching into their Medal Race in Melbourne and Miami, the World Match
Racing Tour got underway in Brazil and ABN AMRO put the hammer down as
the Volvo Ocean Race hit the Southern Ocean.
Part 2: April To May http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=19853
April and May brought with them the opening raft of flying champagne corks
as the first of the year’s major titles were decided. Amongst the
podium toppers were an awesome ABN AMRO ONE in the Volvo Ocean Race, Australia
at the ISAF World Sailing Games and comeback queen Dorte JENSEN (DEN)
at the Women’s Match Worlds.
Part
3: June to July http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j8qFh??A?&format=popup
With the start of the European summer, the sailing season hit full throttle
as World Champions were crowned, records tumbled and sailing’s next
generation grabbed the limelight at the Youth Worlds. Amongst all the
European success, Mike SANDERSON (NZL) and Peter GILMOUR (AUS) took to
the top step of the podium to celebrate dominant victories.
Part 4: August to September http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=19919
The Olympic Classes hogged the limelight during August and September,
with the Olympic Test Event giving Qingdao its first run out and a series
of World Championships following. France scored double match racing success
at the ISAF Nations Cup and there were major successes in the disabled
sailing world.
Part 5: October to December http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=19934
During the final months of 2006 sailing’s big issues went under
the microscope in Helsinki, Finland at the ISAF Annual Conference, whilst
the stars of the sport were honoured at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of
the Year Awards. On the water there was plenty of action too with a record
breaking Route du Rhum, a boat breaking VELUX 5 OCEANS and Kiwi success
at the Star Worlds.
2006 - ISAF Year In Pictures http://www.sailing.org/isafcal/photos/Photo%20Gallery%20Online/06_YIP/index.htm
2.12
Welcome to ISAF's Centenary Year!
2007 marks the Centenary year of the International Sailing Federation
(ISAF), the world governing body for the sport of sailing. In celebration
of reaching this milestone in ISAF's history, the year will be marked
by events around the world, on and off the water that celebrate sailing
and 100 years of ISAF. ISAF President Goran PETERSSON (SWE) commented,
'The ISAF Centenary provides not only a platform to celebrate the 100
year anniversary of ISAF, but offers a unique opportunity to promote the
sport around the world. The ISAF is looking forward to working with the
MNA's and Classes, and through them involving clubs and event organizers
to share the sport and maximise the awareness of the wonderful sport of
sailing. ISAF is also receiving a great contribution from sponsors and
supporters around the world, to ensure 2007 will be a year with a lasting
legacy". More on this subject and where to enjoy the celebrations
at: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=19940
2.13
Featured AY Yacht Brokerage
- Helsal
II
LOA: 20.04m Beam: 4.40m Draft: 3.00m Port of Registry:
Melbourne, Australia Registration Number: 396348 Type: Sloop Builder:
Fisher, Sydney Year: 1980 Displacement: 13.3T Licensed to carry: 16 persons
Located: Asia. Helsal
11 is one of Australia's famous maxi yacht. Over the years she has won
nearly every
major offshore race in the Austral-Asian region and more recently has
embarked on a globe trotting tour competing on what the owner calls "must
do" events, like the Capetown to Rio Race. Before coming to Asia
a complete interior refit was conducted and a new keel was fitted to improve
speed and windward performance. Helsal
II is a good way to get into the big boat scene for
relatively little money and she is also available for charter on the King's
Cup, Singapore Straits, China Sea Race and the Presidents Cup in the Philippines.
Asking
Price Aus$300,000 o.n.o. For
more details Goto the Inventory and photos at: http://asianyachting.com/boats/Helsal2.htm
3.
International News
3.1
Docklands Invitational to kick off Skandia
Geelong Week
Some of Australia’s best known boats will jostle on the start line
when Skandia Geelong Week 2007 kicks off with the new Docklands Invitational
series at the stylish Waterfront City in Melbourne on Jan 20 and 21. The
inaugural Series, which comes on the back of a $900,000 three year funding
agreement announced by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks in July, is expected
to give a preview of things to come in the newly re-badged seven-race
Audi Series (20-29th Jan) with the first four races to be sailed off Williamstown
from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria before moving to Corio Bay in Geelong,
home of venue host, Royal Geelong Yacht Club. To keep up to-date with
all the Skandia Geelong Week news go to: http://www.geelongweek.com
3.2
Sheer luxury at Asia Marine
ASIA MARINE
are one of the leading boat brokers in SE Asia and the authorized dealer
for FOUTAINE PAJOT, DUFOUR, HANSE, TRAWLER, NAUTITECH CATAMARAN AND WHITESHARK.
They also have 15 years experience in Yacht Management and offer Marine
Services to boat owners with attractive management packages. ASIA
MARINE also run a successful Yacht
Charter Agency with a fleet of 25 yachts around Phuket
and Koh Samui. They also have 10 passenger Cruise Boats on the inland
rivers of Laos and exotic Bangkok waterways to choose from. Their professional
team operates a state of the art “Online
Booking Services“ and provide charterers with the best
"last minute deals"
Obtainable from Charter Reservation Officer, Ms Sudrak (Mo) Phongpheng
Tel: + 66 (0)76 239 111; Fax: +66 (0)76 238 974 Email: charter@asia-marine.net
or browse the web at: http://www.asia-marine.net
3.3 Super-Zero class criteria
Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK: The creation of a Super-Zero class with its
own race series at Skandia Cowes Week 2007, is all set to entice the owners
and skippers of the world’s largest and fastest ocean racing yachts
to compete at this year’s event (4-11 August). The Super-Zero class
has been created specifically for any boat wishing to race that is between
14 and 30 metres LOA and with an IRC rating of 1.420 and upwards, whether
it has a fixed or canting keel. The new sequence of high profile stages
will include the Channel Race, the Skandia Cowes Week Super-Zero Series
and the Rolex Fastnet Race. The culmination will be the presentation to
the overall winner of the prestigious ‘Seahorse Magazine Trophy’.
More at: http://www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
3.4
London Boat Show
If your fortunate enough to be in London from the 5-14 January don't miss
the Collins Stewart London Boat Show at ExCeL. Whether you're a boating
novice, marine veteran or you just like playing around on the water, the
boat show is the perfect place to experience the best the boating world
has to offer in the UK. Bursting with new, exciting and interactive things
to do and see, it is a celebration with a "Island nation" theme
featuring everything from seafaring skills through to boat design and
coastal life which encourages visitors to reconnect with the UK's historic
roots through a series of exciting and thought provoking features. If
you can't be there World Wide Images have a photo gallery posted at: http://www.w-w-i.com/london_boat_show_2007/
4.
World Speed Records
4.1
Tony Bullimore
and Doha 2006 ready
to depart?
While all eyes in Hobart are on another challenging Sydney to Hobart Race,
in another part of this tiny Antipodean city, Tony Bullimore’s team
is readying his catamaran Doha 2006 to set out on his challenge
to break the 70 day barrier for a non-stop round world speed attempt.
The huge 102ft catamaran is currently being hosted by Bellerive Yacht
Club. The 27,000 mile course will take Bullimore straight down into the
Southern Ocean where the westerly winds in the Roaring Forty latitudes
will slingshot him across the first 5,000 mile stage to Cape Horn. He
will then follow the South American coast northwards to the Equator, from
where they must pick their way through the calms of the Doldrums and the
Azores high pressure system, to round the island of Flores before returning
southwards to the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) then across the notoriously
rough Indian Ocean before arriving back in Hobart. Lee Bruce will be advising
him about impending weather systems on a daily, if not hourly basis and
the course has been sanctioned by the World
Sailing Speed Record Council http://www.sailspeedrecords.com
which will time Bullimore's start and finish from Tasmania and monitor
his progress around the world. The distance is exactly the same as if
he started from Ushant on the north west tip of France where Dame Ellen
Macarthur, the current record holder began her 71day 14hour 18 minute
voyage last year. The campaign is sponsored by the Doha 2006 Asian Games
Committee, the Qatar National Bank, International developer’s Qatari
Diar, and Mistral Internet so you can follow them at http://www.teambullimore.com/
4.2
Warning to all offshore racers.
DK Yachts are warning all offshore racers to sit up and
take notice when one of their World Champion Mumm 30, Farr 40 or Mills
DK46 lines up on the starting grid. It is business as usual in their new
ultra modern 110,000 sg ft workshop facility in Malaysia. Ray Roberts
DK 46 Quantum Racing is currently, the in form IRC Racer in Australia,
winning the Sydney - Mooloolaba Race, Airlie Beach Race Week and the Hahn
Premium Race Week to complete a trifecta of major events up Australia's
east coast this year. Toby
O'Connell's chartered DK 46 Dhevatara Drumstick claimed
his first King's Cup victory and Neil
Pryde's second
placed Farr 52OD Hi Fi
has DK Yachts dominating at SE Asia's biggest and most prestigious regatta
for the second year in a row. Serious Yachts
for Serious Sailors can
be found at http://www.dkyachts.com
5
"Unluckiest sailors of the month" Dedicated
to the Sydney-Hobart 06 racers.
Dec. 25 -- Seventy-eight yachts began the 628-nautical mile race from Sydney Harbour. The finish line is in Hobart on the island state of Tasmania.
Dec. 27 -- ABN
Amro One, Maximus and Koomooloo among eight to quit Sydney
Hobart
First it was ABN Amro One then 30 minutes latter Maximus,
two of the leaders on the annual Sydney to Hobart sailing race, had to
quit after losing their masts. Five battered and bloodied sailors on the
sole Kiwi entry Maximus were plucked to safety with back, head,
chest and leg injuries in a harrowing rescue after being crushed as the
falling mast came down sweeping across the stern sections of the boat.
About 10 crew were in the cockpit at the time. None of the five were seriously
injured. Aucklander Martin Hannon was "near enough" directly
under the mast when it came crashing down on the cockpit. He was briefly
knocked out and suffered concussion, head injuries and a badly bruised
back and shoulders.
Police boats were also sent to rescue eight sailors from Koomooloo,
which won the race in 1968, after it started sinking 60 miles offshore.
Her classic hull lines came from that Australian legend, Bob Miller, who
changed his name to Ben Lexcen and created the America's Cup winning Australia
II. Koomooloo was launched at a time when Australia was making
its presence felt for the first time on the international ocean racing
scene. Superbly crafted in laminated timber by the maestro Cec Quilkey
in Botany Bay for Denis O'Neil and his merry crew sailed the yacht to
outright handicap victory in the Hobart race the year she was launched
-- 1968. She also represented Australia on two occasions in the world
ocean racing teams championship, the Admiral's Cup, in Cowes, England.
British yacht Adventure assisted in the recovery after Koomooloo
skipper Mike Freebairn issued a mayday. ``We started ripping up the floor
boards trying to find where the water was coming in,'' Freebairn told
the race Web site. ``We started bailing for a while, then I decided for
the safety of the crew that we'd better abandon.'' Seven other yachts
were also forced out.
Like
a piece of antique furniture, or a classic car, Koomooloo has
always held a special appeal within its own world. That appeal was enough
to lure Brisbane yachtsman Mike Freebairn into buying her a decade ago.
Over the years he has done a magnificent restoration, working all the
time to ensure the yacht retained her original charm. And she remained
a competitive racer. Last year she won her division in the Sydney-Hobart,
and until 60 nautical miles off Narooma, Ray White Koomooloo
as she was known for this race, was reveling in her preferred conditions
and again looking strong on handicap.
Suddenly that all came to an end. Her hull was ruptured by the impact that came from crashing over a massive wave. Hours later, when the crew realised their effort to save the classic lady were in vain, they accepted rescue. A short time later Freebairn went through the gut-wrenching and highly emotional experience of turning his back on his beloved yacht for the last time. It was inevitable that she would soon disappear below the surface of the Tasman Sea.
ABN
Amro One, which won the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race in June, also
quit overnight after losing its mast while leading race favorite Wild
Oats XI by five nautical miles. ``We are all bitterly disappointed,''
ABN Amro One skipper Mike Sanderson told the official race Web
site. ``We had a great first night on the water and we had managed to
keep right up there with the other maxis. The most important thing is
of course that all the crew are safe and we have had no injuries.''
The other retirements are Endorfin, Sailing with Disabilities, Chutzpah and Salona, who all suffered steering or rudder problems. Living Doll quit with a radio problem, while Mr Kite had rigging failure. Illusion skipper Graham Jackson joined the Koomooloo crew in the police launch with suspected broken ribs.
Wild
Oats XI, which won the 2005 race in a record one day, 18 hrs and 40 mins,
at 2150hrs 28th Dec 06 become only the sixth yacht in race history to
take back to back line honours and first since Vic Meyer's Astor
achieved the feat in 1963/64. However, the chances of Wild Oats XI, Bob
Oatley’s 30 metre supermaxi repeating her overall IRC victory of
last year are remote, as by 1900 hours her IRC Overall position was 23rd
and at least another 20 boats had a strong chance of winning the Tattersalls
Trophy.
Almost
four hours latter next to finish was Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban,
the Volvo 70 which took part in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race has
been the story of the day after snapping at the heels of Grant Wharington's
100ft maxi Skandia (which had lost its forward retractable canard),
then overtaking and beating his former skipper across the line by a little
over 12 minutes. While other high-tech yachts in the 50ft range struggled
with light winds from Tasman Island and in the Derwent River, Ichi
Ban held onto the IRC Honours for a number of anxious hours before
others came in with the wind to eventually relegate them to 4th overall.
Back
in Sydney who would of predicted that the 33 year old classic timber Sparkman
& Stephens 47 Love & War skippered by Lindsay May this
time would once again prove itself one of Australia’s greatest ocean
racing yachts by winning the coveted Tattersalls Cup for the third time.
Lindsay's hand-picked crew are mainly from George Snow's now retired maxi
Brindabella which includes Geoff Hill who has considerable success on
Strewth in the Asian region, held a shot at the top spot on handicap
right from when Wild Oats finished. No other boat of her vintage
goes as well to windward in a hard breeze like across Bass Strait and
down the Tasmanian East Coast. Perhaps that is part of the secret to success
on the Hobart. Love & War has now won in 1974, 1978 and –
remarkably for her age, against many of the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art
yachts in the world – in 2006.
Surprisingly second place overall also goes to the classic yacht Bacardi
from the same era. Since being launched in the late 1970s, this boat has
been raced continuously including 21 Rolex Sydney Hobarts, best result
a 1st in division in 1993. Co-owner John Williams sailed south this year
with three sons aboard for his 24th Rolex Sydney Hobart and the boat’s
22nd.
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