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NEWS
'Comanche' brings out the big guns
American supermaxi flies a whopping great 1100sq m kite and enlists Aussie James Spithill for HobartWhile the American supermaxi Comanche played bridesmaid to Wild Oats XI in the Big Boat Challenge race held in the confines of Sydney Harbour, her crew are far from despair as the do the American thing and bring out the big guns in preparation for the Sydney-Hobart.
Ken Read, President of North Sails, is among those aboard preparing for the Sydney-Hobart on Boxing Day with, among other things, a whopping great new AZ kite flying a massive eye-catching Red-Indian comanche insignia that reminded at least one online warrior of Keith Richards.
BIG BOAT RACE
"An amazing team got Comanche off the ship, in the water and trained for three days prior to trying to get this beast around one of the shortest, quickest race tracks I have ever been on (Big Boat Challenge)," Read writes in a recent blog.
"Never mind the 1000 spectator boats/ferries/other 100-footers all over the place. We very proudly made it around the track holding our heads high with a tight second to Wild Oats XI, who quite frankly is much better suited for this type of sailing.
"No excuses though. We still have plenty of work to do!" Read writes in a recent blog.
EVEN BIGGER KITE
Comanche has been back training and sailing offshore from Sydney. There is more testing, training and test drive for the crew of helm time.
Read says he had an amazing day testing sails including an 1100 square metre new A-2 downwind sail (photo attached).
"Seriously big!" he says. Check it out. The sail was so big we had to crop the photo to make it fit on our sites.
Read reports that Kristy (Hinze) and Jim (Clark) hosted a terrific party the other night in honour of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the Ocean Preservation Society.
"They give back more than any other people I have ever met which makes this program that much more special," he says.
SPITHILL ABOARD
America’s Cup winning Sydney skipper James Spithill writes that it’s great to be joining Comanche for this Year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart for his third time racing south.
"Jim and Kristy Clark have put together an incredible team led by Kenny Read… filled with sailors who have been successful in VOR, AC, One Design, but more importantly a low-key group who work hard but have fun as a team and work together really well.
"I’m learning heaps with every hour we spend on this weapon, looking forward to the preparation and the race ahead," Spithill says.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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