5:49 AM Sun 20 Dec 2009 GMT
For the last 64 years, the 628 nautical mile Sydney to Hobart ocean race has tended to find if a boat and crew are properly prepared.
Boats that come straight from the factory, off the ocean freighter, have not been raced for a long time or have last minute do or die assemblies tend to be those that have those little issues that mean Sydney Bateman's Bay or Eden are the first port of call rather than Hobart.
One of the easy guides to a boats preparedness going into the Hobart is Middle Harbours Short Ocean Racing Championship, (SSORC) the traditional short and sharp offshore series at the end of November
Boats that are on site and sorted a month before Boxing Day have to be a better bet than those that are still bolting on chain plates two or three sleeps before the start of this blue water classic.
In the handicap fleet boats like Stephen Ainsworth's Reichel Pugh 63, Geoff Ross Reichel Pugh 55 Yendys, Bob Steel's 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winner, Quest, the top three IRC Racers at SSORC are well sorted, while for others the tyranny of distance has delivered issues.
Major spinnaker issues on the Kiwi built and Sean Langman chartered Investec Loyal and an ordinary start by Ran in Saturday Rolex Passage Race were not positives, this close to the big race. However at least they were on a start line, a week before the main event.
Right now its safe to assume the Work to Be Done list on Grant Wharington's Etihad Stadium, the former Skandia Wild Thing is a bit longer than most.
In theory the two parts of the 45 metre Alfa Romeo mast that has to modified for his supermaxi Etihad Stadium will arrive on a Qantas flight from Singapore at 1400 on Monday and will arrive by truck at the Sydney City Marina in Rozelle Sydney at 1700 Monday. Then the work begins. Hope everyone has had lots of sleep.
The Line Honours betting this afternoon was
Wild Oats XI 1.80
Alfa Romeo 2.25
ICAP Leopard 4.75
Etihad Stadium - formerly Skandia Wild Thing 11.00
Investec Loyal - formerly Maximus 13.00
Lahana 34.00
Rapture 34.00
While Wharington remains his ever positive self, we wonder what he actually thinks his chances of getting past Eden, with the unexpected interruption to his preparation really are? Right now there are a lot of boats that might be a better Hobart arrival bet. Earlier in the week, the Melbourne sailor was saying 1000-1 against.
Given the complexity of the task and the time available, it Wharro and his supermaxi Etihad Stadium races up the Derwent into fourth place or better on line honours in the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, it will be the stuff of dreams.
by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team
|
