5:34 AM Mon 21 Dec 2009 GMT
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'Image courtesy of Wild Oats - Rolex Sydney Hobart'
John Curnow
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Jono Morris and Mark Evans, the co-owners of McConaghy have announced the first annual McConaghy Cup, which will be awarded based on the results from the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart race.
As makers of the some of the fastest yachts on the planet, from Mach2 Foiling Moths to Supermaxis and everything in between, McConaghy will be recognising their winning yachts when they cross the line in Hobart at the end of this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart race. Two awards are on offer - one for Line Honours, recognising the first McConaghy boat across the line in Hobart and the second for the best McConaghy Handicap (overall) winner.
With a minimum of 6 Supermaxi's in the game, the real race, and the one everyone is talking about, is the battle between the three 'winningest' Supermaxis the world has ever seen - Alfa Romeo II, ICAP Leopard III and Wild Oats XI. The 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart will be the very first time that these three McConaghy built Supermaxis, considered the most prolific winners in Maxi history, have ever been together, adding yet another element to this world class prize fight. Also in the mix are the McConaghy built Minimaxi's Loki built by McConaghy co-owner and Managing Director Jono Morris in their Sydney, Australia facility and Yendys built by McConaghy co-owner and Managing Director Mark Evans in their Zhuhai, China facility. Nothing like a little friendly competition between business partners! There's even a piece of nostalgia in the mix, as well.
Befitting a global leader in marine technology, this cup is not just another piece of silver or glass. It is in fact a very cool carbon fibre powerboat steering wheel for the campaign owner's tender. 'We're known for our innovation, in fact it's something very much imbedded in our culture at McConaghy. Coming up with a products and prizes of this nature is not only essential to our brand, it's an important way to acknowledge our clients and the passion we all share for the sport and the technology that enables it', said Jono Morris today. 'The McConaghy Cup recognizes the race that's going on within the Rolex Sydney Hobart race adding an exciting element for McConaghy owners and fans', said Mark Evans who heads McConaghy in China.
Determined to defend and better her speed record while adding to her historical four consecutive Sydney Hobart wins, Bob Oatley's McConaghy built Wild Oats XI has undergone several modifications including increasing her overall length to 100 ft matching that of Alfa Romeo 2 and ICAP Leopard.
With 142 line honours and wins to her name and most recently smashing the Transpac record in July, Neville Crichton's McConaghy built Alfa Romeo 2 has left a trail of race records across the Pacific as she heads towards Sydney determined to put an end to Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart dominance.
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Image courtesy of ICAP Leopard - Rolex Sydney Hobart - John Curnow
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Fresh from taking their second line honours in a row of the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Slade's McConaghy built ICAP Leopard has been racking up wins at a blistering pace of almost 1 every 6 weeks over the last several years. ICAP Leopard has their sights set on line honours in all three of Rolex's offshore events in this calendar year - the Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race and now the Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Most recently Stephen Ainsworth and his McConaghy built Loki smashed the Cabbage Tree Island Race record slicing more than one hour off the time set by Bob Oatley's Supermaxi Wild Oats XI last year. Her performance since launch just a year ago puts Loki's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race rivals on notice to beware of this 63-foot speedster.
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A winner up North this year - Yendys - Rolex Sydney Hobart - John Curnow
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Geoff Ross' purpose-built 55 foot Yendys was the first grand prix yacht out of McConaghy International's boatyard in China. Winner of the IRC Racing division at the 2007 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Yendys carries a sail number of 1836 - the year Geoff's ancestors first arrived in Hobart via convict transportation.
Dr Tony Fisher raced his McConaghy built Adams 20 Helsal III with great success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including breaking his own record for the Gosford to Lord Howe Island and scoring line and handicap wins in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race. Tony and his son Rob bought back the boat in 2007 in a totally rundown condition. They have completed a major refurbishment under the direction of Tasmanian designer Fred Barrett, including replacing the centreboard with a fixed bulb keel and bigger rig. Father & son will co-skipper the boat in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Jono Morris and Mark Evans, owners of McConaghy Boats since 2000 and builders of these modern mega sailing machines, are thrilled to have Alfa, Oats and Leopard and their owners in town for this historical homecoming event, where they'll race with their other family members. When asked why so many of the top race yachts come from the McConaghy shed, Morris and Evans agreed that it's their passion for, and understanding of high-performance yachts combined with their companies culture of innovation that makes the difference.
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Mark Evans holding McConaghy's New Carbon Fibre Powerboat Steering Wheels - the Line Honours and Handicap Prizes for this year's McConaghy Cup. They will be complete with custom engraved centres. - Rolex Sydney Hobart - John Curnow
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Image courtesy of Alfa Romeo - Rolex Sydney Hobart - John Curnow
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by John Curnow
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