Soldini set for Sydney-Hobart
Famous Italian skipper and his crew now in Sydney training for the ocean classicThe VOR 70 Maserati, manned by Italian skipper Giovanni Soldini and his 11-strong crew, will line up for the start of the 71st Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious sailing challenges.
The 628-nautical mile event always throws up extreme conditions, but every year attracts top-level, meticulously-prepared craft that battle it out to the last to take home the much-sought after Tattersall’s Cup.
The Italian boat will be flanked by 108 others ranging in size between 10 and 30 metres and hailing from 11 nations. The fleet will number some of the world’s fastest maxi yachts, including Comanche, the super maxi penned by VPLP-Verdier, Ragamuffin 100, Wild Oats XI, Perpetual Loyal and Rambler 88.
Amongst Maserati’s toughest rivals will be the VOR 70 Black Jack, (ex Telefonica). Four years Maserati’s junior, Black Jack has competed in two previous Sydney-Hobarts, finishing fourth and fifth on line honours.
The current record for the race was set in 2012 by the Wild Oats XI which covered the distance in one day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
"Maserati is all set to tackle this incredibly tough race," said Soldini in Sydney recently. "In recent years, we’ve done of series of preparatory jobs on the boat that have made her more robust and reliable than ever.
"We also have an exceptionally strong crew ready to face even very difficult weather conditions.
"This is the first time I’ve competed in the Sydney-Hobart, but I did sail in these waters during round the worlds in 1994 and 1998. As ever though, we’ll be fighting tooth and nail."
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