The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

SOLAS Big Boat Challenge begins Sydney to Hobart countdown

Roar Guru
10th December, 2013
0

And so it begins, the countdown to the 2013 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. On Boxing Day, 95 yachts of varying sizes will head to Hobart in this annual blue water classic.

However, what the majority of casual observers may not realize is there are a series of races prior to the big one, the first of which was completed yesterday, the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.

This made-for-spectator event is run on the harbour each year, starting at 12.30pm and finishing no later than 2pm, perfect for enjoying one’s lunch and watching supermaxis dodge ferries!

This year there were 14 entries, by invitation only, including Sydney to Hobart line honours contenders Wild Oats XI and Perpetual Loyal.

The course is fairly spectacular – it consists of two laps of the harbour starting from near Shark Island off Vaucluse, around Fort Denison, out to Middle Head, before a spectacular finish in Farm Cove, between the Opera House and Mrs MacQuarie’s Chair.

The race started in fresh north westerly winds, on a spectacular Sydney day, although they did lighten and swing south west by race finish.

All the talk has been of how the brand new Perpetual Loyal would fare against Wild Oats for the big race this year. If the Big Boat Challenge is anything to go by, Wild Oats has a real challenge on her hands.

While this short sprint race is no real indicator to the big event, Loyal showed that she has the basic speed to at least match it with Wild Oats, in fact she led on the first lap, until sail damage allowed Wild Oats to slip past and take the race by 2 minutes 34 seconds.

Advertisement

In the minor placings, Ichi Ban showed they will be among the contenders for overall honours come Boxing Day, while Shogun V, which took the race on handicap yesterday, is not competing in the Hobart race this year.

It was a bit of fun, a good opportunity to exercise the crew and give the yachts a shake down, but it all starts to get serious at the weekend with the CYCA Trophy series.

For full results go to the race’s website.

close