Big Sydney Hobart threat of international entry

Competing skippers predict that the fleet for this year’s race from Sydney to Hobart could break records as strong winds are expected.

And handicap colossus number one won’t be running this year, so the fastest of all ships could be one of the quality overseas entries.

Local yachts have won overall honors in each of the last four races, with a staggering 12 of the last 13 new winners of the Tattersall Cup awarded the trophy to the overall winner .

Pre-race weather forecasts suggest it is unlikely to be a small boat race, with yachts in the range of 60-70 feet and the always-competitive TP52 force most likely to appear. increase.

Andoo Comanche captain John Winning said his Supermaxi was unstoppable if sailed properly in the right conditions, and if the boat lived up to his hopes and expectations, he would be able to fly from Sydney to Hobart. He said he was ready to make history.

‘A pretty fast race’

“These conditions look like going to be a pretty fast raceMatt Donald, co-owner of the TP52 Gweilo, which finished second overall in 2019, said:

“If you can get off (to Hobart) early on the 28th, and possibly a handicap win. “

One of the most popular local boats is Tasmania’s 66-foot Alive, which won overall honors in 2018.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a good race, but I’m not confident we’ll win,” said Alive skipper Duncan Hine.

Both Donald and Hine were wary of the eight participants from overseas.

“we have [New Zealand’s] Caro is probably one of the 52 best boats in the world at the moment.you got a warrior [from America]said Donald.

“[From Australia,] Quest, it does very well every year, Celestial, Zen, so the fleet is deep around it [mid-sized] theme.

“Then there are some things that are a little bit bigger, like Whisper and Alive.

Launched last year, the Botin 52-footer Caro underscored its qualifications by winning Division 1 of the 2022 Australian Yacht Championships on Hamilton Island, defeating several local TP52s, including Ichi Ban.

British 38ft Sunrise, piloted by Australian navigator Adrian Kahalan, was the overall Fastnet winner for 2021 and was second in the Nakaumi race. did.

TP52 Warrior Wong took overall victory in this year’s RORC Caribbean 600 and won the Newport Bermuda Race division.

“If you can withstand the wake of a big boat, if you can navigate the boat well, you’ll do really well. It’s the sailors who win the race, not the boat,” says Warrior Wong captain and owner Chris Sheehan. I was.

There could be even more contenders this year, as both hands qualify to win the Tattersall Cup for the first time after making their racing debut in 2021.

Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea’s 34′ Mistral won the overall Cabbage Tree Island race this month.

-with AAP