Fleet of 85 for Rolex Sydney Hobart

Article by Lisa Ratcliff

An eclectic mix of yachts built between 1932 and this year, and ranging in size from 9 metres up to 30 metres will bring Sydney Harbour alive at 1pm on Tuesday 26 December for the 62nd start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

An overwhelming resurgence of classic boats is a standout feature of this year's fleet with three veteran former overall winners, Koomooloo (1968), Love & War (1974 and 1978) and Illusion (1988), and one former line honours winner, Fidelis (1966), joining other well known boats from those decades - Polaris of Belmont, Impeccable, Bacardi, Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor, Magic and BSG on Tap.

There are many more overall winning skippers coming back to try their luck once more sailing different boats. Of these, two time winner Lou Abrahams is preparing for his 44th consecutive race and if successful in his quest, the 79-year-old Victorian skipper will equal the previous record set by the late John Bennetto from Tasmania.

One of the vintage boats could be successful in the 628 nautical mile chase for the ultimate prize, the Tattersall's Cup for the IRC handicap winner, or it could be one of the more modern designs, the DK 46 Quantum Racing, the Corby 49 Flirt, the Transpac 52 Wot Yot, the latest Reichel/Pugh designed Yendys or another Beneteau.

The looming battle for line honours will once again be a stunning display of modern technology with three canting keel 30 metre maxis preparing for the Bass Strait assault.

Defending line honours and handicap winner, and race record holder, Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI is looking to rewrite history with a back to back line honours win, a rare feat last achieved by Astor in the early 1960s, but will have to outsail the same sized New Zealand maxi Maximus in its debut race south, and the highly experienced Melbourne skipper Grant Wharington and his former line honours winner Skandia.

This year there's new kids in town, two Volvo 70s, which have raced in the world's fiercest oceans and have been tested in the type of conditions that have branded this event one of the toughest yacht races in the world.

The 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet will represent the Netherlands, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Italy as well as every Australian state and the ACT.

The CYCA Sailing Office will continue to process applications until Friday 10 November, the extended date for lodgement, with the final fleet size to be formally announced by CYCA Commodore Geoff Lavis at the official launch of the bluewater classic at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on the morning of Tuesday 14 November 2006.

Due to the fact entrants have been extremely helpful in getting vital documentation in early, the CYCA announced today that its race
administration is in a position to handle a number of possible further applications from skippers who require more time to submit their paperwork.

The first lead up regatta to the Boxing Day start will be the Rolex Trophy One Design Series from 8-10 December followed by the spectacular CYCA Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 12 December and finally, the Rolex Trophy Rating Series, an exciting preview to the handicap form guide for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, from 14-17 December.

For the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart, a fleet of 85 yachts started and 80 finished the 628 nautical mile race.

To view the list of yachts applied to enter go to rolexsydneyhobart.com

Photo courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex : Start of the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race