Hobart Hat Trick!

The line honours dash for the infamous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race is over, but now the real race begins!!! Skandia Wild Thing edged out the New Zealand Super maxi Zana by fourteen minutes to take line honours, yet narrowly behind them was an innovative "little" 66 footer Grundig, with radical design ideas such as rudder cassettes (see below) featured as part of the package. Earlier this month Wild Oats, the 60' canter that won the CMAC, finished a mere 30 seconds behind Wild Thing causing much constination in the camp, perhaps bigger is not always better? Steering Wild Thing, Ian “Barney” Walker made it his second line honours, last time he and crew smashed the record in Nokia the Witbread 60 and the time before that helped steer the Farr 57 Ausmaid to the real prize, outright victory. This should bear well for his upcoming Volvo Race challenge with Wild Thing owner Grant Wharrington.

The race was far from easy though as Wharrinton reported from his bunk that it was really chopped up and bumpy out there, "but you can't complain!” Reports from hovering media choppers saw 6 crew on the foredeck and fears were for the worst, until a new headsail was hoisted on the inner forestay and the fine bowed monster continued on its way. Wild Thing features a double spreader rig and hanks on the headsails as the bow is so fine that keeping sails and crew onboard were seen as desirable! Indeed besides being the first yacht from the state of Victoria to claim Line honours (there is a fierce rivalry between Sydney siders and Victorians), Wild Tthing is also the first canting keel boat to win (and now you have the Hat Trick!) While the honours of the first Victorian designed boat to win went to designer Robert Hick several years ago when AFR Midnight Rambler won the race, it is ironic that Hick in his diminutive 30 footer has been shadowing AFR this race and still looms as a possible handicap victor, we shall see! From a fleet of 55+ starters the retirees were limited to a couple, one of which being Swedish mini maxi Niccorette, recently fitted with a swing keel, 100 square metres more sail and removal of 5 tonne of weight. It would seem a problem with the foils led to the sensible decision to return to port, rumour has it a mis-match in components may be responsible, with neither Lego or Ikea available for comment! In a more sensible move still, Wild Oats did race through colder waters to Hobart, instead upon leaving Sydney harbour, turned left and went to sunny Coffs Harbour. Let's see how she goes for that race! Will next year see the return of Neville Chriton and Alfa Romeo, other super maxi owners (if the eligibility uncertainties make it easier to build a boat that will be raceable for more than one race), and more than 10 degrees of deck heel with a canting keel????? Watch out if it does, Wild Oats may return to do a David to the Goliaths!
- Secret Squirrell