Maritimo sets sights on 2020 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
The 54-foot racing yacht Maritimo 11 will line up on the 2020 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start lineQueensland luxury motor yacht maker Maritimo has expanded beyond its pursuit of the XCAT World Championship for a new challenge – adding a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race trophy to the cabinet.
Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter entered last year’s 75th anniversary of the race in the 119-year-old ketch Katwinchar, crossing the line in a time of four days, six hours.
That must have ignited some passion because Maritimo will take to the water in this year’s race in a new boat, the Maritimo 11, a 54-foot (16.5-metre) racing yacht.
The Maritimo 11, a boat built by US high-performance racing and cruising specialist Westerly Marine, was spotted in San Francisco by Bill Barry-Cotter’s brother, Kendal, and sailing team captain Michael Spies earlier this year.
The boat, formerly known as Swiftsure 2, was formerly owned by the California State University Maritime Academy after it was donated to the school by its owner, Transpac, Pacific Cup and Rolex Big Boat winner Sy Kleinman.
Spies, who will rack up his 44th Sydney Hobart race in this year’s event, said the yacht was ready to race to Tahiti, but COVID-19 struck and “complicated plans”.
“It had won virtually everything going and has an enviable following amongst yachting circles in the USA," said Spies.
"We instead prepared the yacht to ship back to Australia. Instead of sail, and against the odds, we managed to get it to the Koheler [Craft boat] yard in San Diego just as the rest of the marine industry in the USA went into shutdown," Spies said.
The boat was then brought back to Maritimo’s special projects division on the Gold Coast where it was converted into its Maritimo 11 form and readied for the Sydney Hobart.
"The whole project has been undertaken by Maritimo craftspeople and apprentices, which adds so much benefit to the quality of Maritimo’s motor yachts, as their craftspeople develop such diverse skill sets and knowledge gaining experience in projects like these," Spies said.
One of the other crew members on the boat will be Ian Short Sails owner Ian Short, who has developed a full set of carbon-fibre sails for the boat.
Maritimo 11 left the Gold Coast last Friday to make the passage to Sydney to make its final preparations for the race. It was escorted by 11 Maritimo motor yachts as it made its way past the city skyline.
The boat also will fly a spinnaker promoting the Gold Coast during the race.
Tags
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.
