
The online charity auction for the chance to sail on one of the incredible maxi yachts competing in next Tuesday's (December 15) SOLAS Big Boat Challenge closes on Thursday. Interest in the eBay auction has been intense as there are few opportunities for the general public to ever sail on one of these yachts.
The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Challenge is one of the most exciting days on Sydney Harbour as the fleet of giant maxis makes its one lap dash around the most famous foreshore landmarks.
All monies raised by the eBay auction will go to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's SOLAS Trust, which supports search and rescue organisations across Australia.
Bob Oatley's 100 foot Wild Oats XI, which will be vying for its fourth consecutive line honours win in this year's Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, will go head to head with many of its rivals in the Challenge.
Other super maxis will include Sean Langman's Loyal, formally known as Maximus, which will be sailing with a crew including champion boxer Danny Green, Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett and former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns.
Melbourne's Grant Whatrington will be sailing his 30 metre maxi Wild Thing, the line honours winner in the 2003 Sydney-Hobart.
Lahana, the 98 footer formerly known as Zana, will be chasing the bigger boats, while CYCA commodore Matt Allen hopes his modified Volvo 70, Ichi Ban, will be nimble enough to teach a lesson to the larger boats on the tight harbour course.