After yesterday looking over the contenders among the Supermaxis, part two in the series looks at the Maxis in the 69th Sydney to Hobart, starting on Boxing Day 2013.
2. The Maxis
There is a much larger than usual contingent of Maxis in this years race.
A total of 18 are scheduled to start on Boxing Day with the fleet having been given a significant boost by the inclusion of the Sydney to Hobart as a leg in the Clipper Round the World Race. This has put an additional 12 maxis in the race.
The Contenders
1. Brindabella, Skipper Bill Sykes
2. Beau Geste, Skipper Karl Kwok
3. Giacomo, Skipper Jim Delegat
4. Black Jack, Skipper Peter Harburg
5. Nikata, Skipper Tom Brewer
6. Southern Excellence II, Skipper Andrew Wenham
The Clipper Fleet
1. Derry-Londonderry-Doire, Skipper Sean McCarter
2. GREAT Britain, Skipper Simon Talbot
3. Henri Lloyd, Skipper Eric Holden
4. Invest Africa, Skipper Richard Gould
5. Jamaica Get All Right, Skipper Peter Stirling
6. Mission Performance, Skipper Matthew Mitchell
7. Old Pulteney, Skipper Martin Van Der Zijdan
8. One DLL, Skipper Oliver Cotterell
9. PSP Logistics, Skipper Christopher Hollis
10. Qingdao, Skipper Gareth Glover
11. Switzerland, Skipper Victoria Ellis
12. Team Garmin, Skipper Mark Burkes
Before we look at who may push the Supermaxis in terms of Line Honours, a quick word about the Clipper Fleet.
The Clipper Round the World Race is a unique event and opportunity for anyone who has an interest in sailing or adventure. The race pits 12 identical yachts each skippered by a professional sailor, but the crews are all amateur.
In fact anyone can apply to become a crew member.
The Clipper Race was founded in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and William Ward, both of whom will be going south to Hobart on a couple of the older Clipper racers, CV10 and CV5.
Although it would be an unlikely win, with amateurs racing against some of the most professional sailing teams ever gathered for a Sydney to Hobart, it should be remembered that these crews have gained vast experience since they started in London on September 1.
I would be very surprised to see one of these yachts at the head of the fleet into Hobart, but they will have an interesting race between themselves.
Of the other contenders in this group the real challengers will be the Volvo 70’s Giacomo, Black Jack and Southern Excellence II, along with my dark horse, Beau Geste.
For the nostalgic it would be nice to think that the old stager Brindabella could be up there with the best of them. Unfortunately she is now totally outclassed by the newer, more high tech yachts.
Most of the yachts in this group will probably finish ahead of her, but if the weather is on the nose all the way south, she may push for divisional handicap honours.
Like Zefiro in the Supermaxis, Nikata is a cruiser/racer taking part in her first Sydney to Hobart. She is unlikely to feature in the placings, but the ride south is sure to be one of the more comfortable in the fleet – this Swan 82 features 4 luxury cabins, and it’s usual life is as a charter vessel in the Mediterranean and Carribean.
On to the four yachts that may push the Supermaxis to Hobart. The three Volvo 70s have all competed in the Volvo Ocean Race – Southern Excellence II in 2005/6 as Brunel, Giacomo and Black Jack in 2011/12 as Groupama (the overall winner) and Telefonica respectively.
Giacomo appears to be the stand out. During the first CYCA Trophy Series race last Saturday she outsprinted Wild Oats XI to the heads, with skipper Jim Delegat reporting that Giacomo hit a speed of 20 in all wind conditions she encountered.
Given the correct conditions she is a real threat to the big two.
And so to the dark horse, Beau Geste. At 80 feet she is some 20 feet shorter than the two leading contenders, and whilst in sailing size does matter in terms of overall boat speed, my mail is that this yacht is an absolute flying machine.
Owned and skippered by previous Hobart winner Karl Kwok, Beau Geste has been designed and built to the latest standards and innovations with races like the Sydney to Hobart in mind.
Will she beat the big two? We will have to wait and see. She left New Zealand for Sydney on Tuesday so hopefully we will get to see her in action before the big day to judge for ourselves.
Given the right conditions I am tipping that an upset could be on the cards.
Andy
Guest
Hippos! Crikey, and I thought waterskiers were bad. A bit more freeboard than a fireball would be a comfort! Here is hoping the next AC72 designs will be a bit safer. I like the action but they should loosen up the rules on overweight, top heavy wing sails and perhaps allow wand control on the foils. More speed and safety and more in tune with real world sailing. Whilst a raging, hard to control beast was fun to watch and was the objective, any more deaths would take the fun out of it. Fun times in sailing!
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
I think you're right Andy....I'm fairly certain it will happen eventually, there are multis in the Fastnet, so why not the Hobart. As I mentioned below, I think the imagination of what sail racing could be has been pushed along by the recent America's Cup, that was truly spectacular. I learnt to sail as a teenager in Zambia on a Fireball.....pretty good fun, except for stray hippos!!
Andy
Guest
I would hope that is so. I used to race a sailfish! Handicap is essential to any real competition and I'd hate for unskilled sailors to win through sheer expenditure. I suspect that introducing multis would really make it two races. Or one race, two fleets..which is fine. What might be scary is if folks get too into the competition and design boats that push safety margins...I would hope the around-the-world designs have sufficient margin, but human error can push any margin too far. One shipping container at 40kts would push any safty design I suspect!
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Whilst a multi hull would in all likelihood lead the fleet home, there is no guarantee it would win the race....the actual race winner is awarded on handicap. A multi hull would still have to be sailed well.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
The sailing culture is certainly conservative here. I have to say that I am a traditionalist and enjoy mono hull racing, but can also appreciate the multi hulls. I guess it is a possibility of changing over time, especially if the Bob Oatley America's Cup challenge gets up and running, and they stick with the multis, that could force the issue.
Andy
Guest
Me too! How close to the fleet would be considered rude/illegal I wonder?
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Like Andy, I'm not that interested in a bunch of huge monohulls wallowing around. No matter how much their 'speed' is talked up, they're still slow compared with the multis you see in Europe. Australia's conservative sailing culture does not seem to have embraced short-handed racing either. I'd like to see a giant multi with a small crew take part in the Sydney to Hobart unofficially and lead the fleet home by a long way.
Andy
Guest
Thanks Mark. That is a shame as the multis are quite capable of doing it safely these days. I guess it would change the race forever though in ways that some (most?) competitors would not appreciate. I assume that roll control on foils doesn't qualify as "self righting"! Not sure if such a thing is viable anyway for ocean sailing.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Andy, unfortunately not. Under the eligibility rules for the race all yachts must be self-righting mono hulls. However I have noticed that The Pittwater to Coffs Race early in the new year has multi hull entries this year.
Andy
Guest
Are there any modern foiling multihull boats, or are they old school displacement/planing? Love to see some big fast tris and cats!