4:03 AM Sat 19 Dec 2009 GMT
Neville Crichton and his Alfa Romeo crew made short work of the Rolex Trophy Rating Series 27 nautical mile Passage Race today, the 100 footer from New Zealand taking just one hour 48 mins 25 secs to complete the race.
Sean Langman's 100 foot Investec LOYAL from Sydney was next home at 12.07.25, followed by the yacht everyone is talking about, R?N, the JV72 owned by Niklas Zennstrom, which arrived in Sydney just days ago and had its first proper hit-out in Sydney waters today.
R?N, which was declared the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race in August is highly rated as a chance to take out the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race later this month. Representing the United Kingdom, Zennstrom has said he is keen to win both races back to back.
Zennstrom and his international crew finished the race at 12.22.45 and were followed home by Peter Harburg's RP 66 Black Jack from Queensland and Stephen Ainsworth's Loki, an RP 63 from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the organiser of the Rolex Trophy Rating Series.
Today's race started in 10 knot west-sou-westerly near Shark Island on Sydney Harbour with most hoisting kites soon after the start signal. The wind veered south-east as the day went on. At 1.30pm, half of the fleet was yet to finish the race, enjoying surfing downwind in a lovely 15-18 knot southerly breeze as they headed towards the Watsons Bay finish line.
More reports to come later today
by Di Pearson, CYCA media
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