Russians set sail for Hobart

Bobbing up and down out in the Pacific Ocean would rank as one of the loneliest
places on the planet - so spare a thought for Obsession crew member Callum Cecil.
The Australian born and bred sailor admits he will be a long way out of his comfort
zone when he takes to the seas on board the 39 footer with an eight-man crew from
Russia.
The syndicate of experienced Russian sailors from St Petersburg are one of two
predominantly Russian crews who have travelled to Australia and leapt at the
opportunity to line up for the historic Sydney to Hobart race.
Obsession will go head to head with 49-footer Vamp, who will be skippered by
well-known Russian dragon sailor Mikhail Muratov and a crew which will be half
Russian, and half Australian.
But while Muratov's crew will likely be conversing in English, Cecil isn't expecting
to have the same sort of luck.
"These guys have gelled together really well, even though they don't sail together
in Russia. Myself however, I'm having a bit of trouble with the language," he
admitted on Thursday.
"Because unlike the other boat we're not 50/50. I'm one of nine that doesn't speak
Russian and it makes it a bit hard for me. But I'll sort it out I'm sure!"
Obsession navigator Dmitry Filatov said the famous bluewater classic was globally
accepted as "one of the most dangerous, important races in the world".
"Every year, sailors have some very main points (that they want to tick off), and
the Sydney to Hobart race is one of them," he said.
"We hope that we will get a really, really amazing race because everything's
different. Conditions ... weather ... everything is different from Europe.
"We hope that first of all we get to Hobart, then maybe we'll get some good results
and if we win that would be amazing."
Champion Australian offshore yachtsman Roger Hickman will form part of the
Australian contingent aboard Vamp, and he allayed any fears the Russian crew members
may have held about the fearsome conditions which have been predicted, including
some fierce northerly winds which will batter boats on the first evening.
"These guys sail dragons (boats) in two or three degree temperatures in lakes where
the ice has only just thawed," he laughed.
"I don't think the beautiful balmy waters off the east coast of Australia is going
to worry them one little bit."
But the famous race has already claimed two more early victims, with both Wild Rose
and Papillon withdrawing, reducing the number of starters to 87.
Wild Rose had been entered as a back-up to Vamp, while race rookie Papillon was
scratched from the race after it suffered a damaged keel over the weekend which
needs repairing.