Biggest sails for Hobart?
Rumours are flying that this year we may see the biggest sail ever set in the Sydney-Hobart yacht raceThe brand new 100ft Comanche has arrived in Sydney for what could be the biggest showdown of supermaxi yachts in the race’s 70-year history.
No fewer than five of the supermaxis will line up for the start, with each chomping at the bit to be the first to get to Hobart.
Each has its chance and the credentials to take line honours. But now we’re starting to hear rumours of secret weapons in their armouries to try to get any advantage they can over the competition.
One of the rumours doing the rounds is that Perpetual Loyal could be packing a new running kite that may be the biggest sail ever seen in the blue-water classic.
But will it be as big as that of Comanche, which will no doubt big packing some serious sails in its locker? As we can see from the photos, the new, and as-yet untested under race conditions, flyer will be packing some big chutes for the race.
And what of the changes to Syd Fisher’s Ragamuffin 100? Undoubtedly a dark horse, the big maxi, like Grandfather’s axe, has just been treated to a new hull with a canting keel.
Wild Oats XI has received some changes too, with a new high-tech main to go with them and surely a couple of big kites of her own.
So after the gun goes off on December 26, keep an eye out as the boats turn south with (hopefully) a following nor’easter to see who is going to fly the biggest kite ever seen on the way to victory in the Derwent.
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