Are You Ready for the Hobart ?

[tdw]

Here it comes. Boxing Day start heading south to Hobart. Most attention will be focused on Wild Oats XI (line honours the last four years) and the mighty Alfa Romeo. Other contenders for first across the line include Fastnet line honour winner ICAP Leopard.

Oats and Alfa are the hot favourites of course but if it blows then Leopard could be in with a chance according to the pundits. I'm not a racing expert, in reality I know bugger all other than what I read in the news but I'll try and keep you up to date as the race progresses.

Watch the start ........

Sport - Yahoo!7 Sport - Live stream Sydney Hobart yacht race

Boxing Day (December 26) 1230 Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time. Don't forget that Australia is a day ahead of the Evil Empire.

This is Alfa heading out for a sail last weekend. She is docked away from the main harbour near the Anzac Bridge and has to sail pass Wombat Manor on her way out. btw....Leopard has to cant her keel to induce heel in order to get under the Sydney Harbour Bridge......

(not a great pic, sun was in the wrong place.)



See a vid of the Big Boat Challenge from Tuesday.....

18 Footers Australia | Video

Being much more raced inclined than SailNet, SA has a couple of pretty intensive threads with lots of good stuff.

[smackdaddy]

Very cool. I'll be watching. And I'll start dragging over stuff from SA! This will be a great race!

[blt2ski]

I've watched the link with the transponders the last couple of years. Kinda fun to see how they are doing. Did the same for the Chi-mac and lk ontario 300 this yr too. Not sure if the local swiftsure has that ability yet, but probably closer than yrs past.

marty

[chall03]

I am very subjective here, Wild Oats 10 sits 8 marina pens down from us(alas Wild Oats 11 has too greater draft to even get into RPAYC it's home club) and Bob Oatley's wine is a nice drop especially when he is shouting the entire bar.....

All that said and done, those guys are just a first class outfit. Mark Richards is a great skipper. They sail consistently, in a great boat without the drama and carry on of other boats...

It will be competitive at least this year, which is good but my money is still on Wild Oats.

(Now Bob if you read this, we are the faded blue supersonic 27 with a half varnished port toe rail in berth C7. We do enjoy both your Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz Viognier particularly by the case).

[tdw]

Have to agree with CH. Equipment failure not withstanding, it will be line ball at the finish surely.

Whether they can equal 1982 when Condor of Bermuda came in seven seconds ahead of Apollo is doubtful perhaps, but it is going to be close. If the NEasterly keeps up like it has the last few days then its going to be a screamer.

Race record ? To beat Wild Oats XI record of just under 43 hours they will have to average around 15knots. Fookin' 'ell !!

PS - What on earth is a Shiraz Viognier ? Very partial to Viognier but I've never seen that blend.

[Faster]

td.. am I to take it that you live under the Sydney bridge.... troll-like?

[Faster]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

I've watched the link with the transponders the last couple of years. Kinda fun to see how they are doing. Did the same for the Chi-mac and lk ontario 300 this yr too. Not sure if the local swiftsure has that ability yet, but probably closer than yrs past.

marty

Yes, we've been able to follow our son's crew in Swiftsure the same way for at least a couple of years now.

[chall03]

TD...
I think it is Shiraz blended with 5% Viognier....it ain't half bad either way.
check out
Robert Oatley Vineyards

[tdw]

Originally Posted by Faster

td.. am I to take it that you live under the Sydney bridge.... troll-like?

arghhhhhh......troll.............ban the bugger.........

Good way to get some peace and quiet...I could give myself a life ban.....


Heres a non zoomed pic from home. As you can see we lose the southern end of the bridge and we can't see up under the bridge to the west. Thats why we don't get to see the race start.

[Faster]

What an amazing view!! I'm jealous as hell, I am......

Very nice. How far away is the boat?