In Australia, 11 international boats are racing from Sydney to Hobart in the 64th meeting of the largest and most famous of yacht races. The visiting yachts, coming from nine countries out of a hundred entering boats, do not look to be able to provide a challenge for line honors or be able to match the handicapped US boat Rosebud's come from behind victory. The maxi Wild Oats XI is favored for the line honors, fourth year running.
The Scotland based, 47 foot Jus'do It 3's owner and skipper Ian Darby broke two toes when a rock fell, but the pilot will not let it stop the race. The 37 foot Getaway Sailing 2 will be piloted by Russian sailors, including Dimitry Moshkov, who would not accept defeat when a crack was found in the keel of their 85 foot maxi Trading Network/Alye Parusa. It was the only boat left to race, for the Russians, who refused to step down after the inspector's find. In addition to the determined Russians, other competitors in the yacht race includes two boats from the Netherlands, a British vessel, and one from the US, Germany, Switzerland, France and New Caledonia.
In the 63rd competition, the Wild Oats XI, piloted by Mark Richards, finished the 723 mile race in only 46 hours and 24 minutes. In 2005, the very same vessel won after wiping an hour off of the prior record to finish in 18 hours and 40 minutes. Richards will be piloting the Wild Oats XI again, and will not say if he thinks a record will be set. That said, he will provide stiff competition for the other boats. The potential boats to challenge Wild Oats include Skandia and Ichi Ban.
There was a fleet of upwards of 3,000 boats to watch the start of the race in the Sydney Harbor. There was a favorable northerly wind, that would lesson after a day. On the third day, line honors will be decided, but many of the boats will take four or five days. The oldest competing sailor is the 86 years of age, John Walker, a local native of Sydney and a 25 year competitor. He will be piloting the 33 foot boat Impeccable. Syd Fischer is a handicap favorite, and at 81 is piloting the ship Ragamuffin. He has both line honors and handicap victories under his belt.
The race was first held in 1945, and has been racked with severe storms and weather in prior races. This includes the 1998 storm, which claimed the lives of six sailors and brought seven boats to the bottom of the ocean, and more recently in 2007, eight sailors had to abandon ship as it was sinking, and three sailors were airlifted to receive medical attention due to injuries suffered in the storm. All of the sailors observed a minute of silence on this decade anniversary of the deadly race. Over all the race will prove to be exciting, with classic competitors and new faces.
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