3:45 AM Sat 19 Dec 2009 GMT
Airlines have been busy on all fronts for the much talked about Etihad Stadium Supermaxi, and her quest to be on the start line for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart.There's international connections at work to fly in their replacement mast and then there's domestic flights to bring them all together in Sydney this weekend.
Of the 16 man and two-woman crew, roughly half are from Melbourne and Victoria's peninsula region, the rest from Sydney and Queensland.
They've all come together to tackle a massive job list to have the 98 footer as ready as humanly possible for the impending arrival of the mast on Monday.
Everyone's skill sets within the crew are a vital ingredient to 'Project Start Line' - with sail-makers, electrical engineers and stainless steel fabricators working overtime with skipper and owner Grant Wharington on their common goal of lining up with all the other supermaxis in the 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart - a race that will be Grant's 24th .
'It's a case of all hands on deck, and this is where our never say die approach really does rise to the challenge and the Corinthian spirit of our crew shines through' Wharington said en route to the boat this morning, fresh off an early Qantas flight from Melbourne.
'Biggles, GT (two of Grant's long time mates and integral members of the crew) and I have spent several hours compiling a comprehensive jobs plan - and we'll all be methodically and speedily working through as much of it as is humanly possible this weekend' he said.
'We've got an awesome bunch of people who are so committed to Project Start line - Brushy, Sophie and Becksie have been working away at everything all week whilst the boat has been at Noakes Shipyard at North Sydney, and with the rest of us here now, we're confident of making some significant progress ' Grant said.
The mast's scheduled arrival into Sydney is on a Qantas flight arriving around 2pm on Monday, with plans underway to expedite its delivery to the boat to avoid peak hour traffic and maximise the man hours available to have it race ready for Boxing Day.
Project Start Line is well and truly on track - but just like any project there are many variables that have to all work together, as well as a combination of resources and logistics over the next few days, that are vital to its success.
by Etihad Stadium Supermaxi Media
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