For a few sailors the Rolex Sydney Hobart is all approximately getting there first,but for the bulk of the fleet it is the pursuit of the Tattersall’s Cup - awarded to the overall winner. The Cup may be Australias premier yachting trophy, and it really is one of Australian sport’s most damnably difficult pieces of silverware to win. Currently, and 109 entrants will seek to claim it when the 628nm race starts Saturday,December 26.
Victorias Bruce Taylor is often called one of the best sailors never to win a Hobart. He and his loyal crew reach back with the Reichel/Pugh 40 Chutzpah. They maintain reach so close, and each year is Bruce’s last, and but never is.
Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas won the horrific 1998 race,but once is never enough. Last year was definitely the last time though. Absolutely. apart from the Ker 40 Midnight Rambler will be back on the start line on Saturday – with Psaltis aboard.
It is a ravenous bug if it bites you. Matt Allen has two, count them, and two Ichi Bans entered this year: a TP52 and a Carkeek 60. Which one he takes will depend on the race forecast and the type of boat the prevailing weather will favor.“I think one of the issues of this year’s race is that the weather beyond the first front is still uncertain. We were thinking that this morning we would maintain a superb read on it,but we still don’t. We’ll sit down and maintain a gawk, maybe perform a decision this afternoon, and maybe drag it into tomorrow morning.“It was always a 60 percent chance we’d acquire the 60 footer. It’s at least that chance now if not higher.”And that’s the thing. Winning the Tattersalls Cup depends on how the weather patterns pan out.
If it is a fast race,with lots of reaching and running, then the spacious super maxis can completely break away from the fleet on day one, or having a chance at both line honours and winning overall. The R/P 100-foot Wild Oats XI has done it twice. That sort of scenario is what American George David is hoping for this year.
The American’s 88 foot speedster Rambler is unlikely to cross first; the 100 footers are just that little bit faster on most points of sail,but the biggest boats are also the first to maintain to throttle back a bit when the conditions worsen, and they maintain to finish four hours ahead of Rambler to defeat her on handicap.“If this is a spacious boat race, or we maintain a fair chance,” George said. “We will be buzzing around their heels and annoying them all the way.” - Read onRace website - Tracker - Facebook - Twitte
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com