ID :
35739
Mon, 12/15/2008 - 16:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/35739
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Skandia or Wild Oats to win: Wharington
Skandia skipper Grant Wharington insists only Wild Oats XI and his boat are realistic line honours contenders in this year's Sydney to Hobart and is looking forward to getting his first peek in 11 months at his old rival in Tuesday's Big Boat Challenge.
The sprint around Sydney Harbour will be the only competitive hit out for Wild Oats XI prior to the Boxing Day start of the Sydney to Hobart.
Gunning for a record breaking fourth straight line honours victory in the iconic race, Wild Oats XI will aim to finish first in Tuesday's promotional shakedown.
The two maxis haven't raced each other since last year's Hobart and both have spent most of the year in storage.
"The biggest benefit is getting the crew focused on the job at hand and going through all their paces, we really don't get that many chances to race against Wild Oats," Wharington said.
"It's nice to see them up close and see where their strengths and weaknesses are."
Skandia and Wild Oats XI are the only two maxis entered for the Sydney to Hobart and, asked whether he believed any of the small boats had a realistic chance of taking line honours, Wharington said "not at all".
"All things being equal, unless we have some sort of breakdown."
The 14 nautical mile harbour race will not provide a formguide as the fleet numbers just 16, including a handful of boats not entered for the classic.
"We are looking forward to some tight manoeuvring around Sydney Harbour," Wild Oats
XI skipper Mark Richards said.
While Wild Oats XI won't race again before Boxing Day, Wharington plans to give
Skandia some more competition this Saturday and Sunday in the Rolex Trophy series.
Contesting his 21st Hobart, Victorian Wharington said he was looking at overall
honours as his priority, while still chasing line honours.
Another feature of Tuesday's Big Boat challenge will be the appearance of the new
Reichel/Pugh boats Limit and Loki.
The 62-foot Limit and Loki, one foot longer, are expected to be contenders for
overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart.
Other fancied handicap chances in the Hobart contesting Tuesday's race are the
52-footers Quest and Wot Yot.
The sprint around Sydney Harbour will be the only competitive hit out for Wild Oats XI prior to the Boxing Day start of the Sydney to Hobart.
Gunning for a record breaking fourth straight line honours victory in the iconic race, Wild Oats XI will aim to finish first in Tuesday's promotional shakedown.
The two maxis haven't raced each other since last year's Hobart and both have spent most of the year in storage.
"The biggest benefit is getting the crew focused on the job at hand and going through all their paces, we really don't get that many chances to race against Wild Oats," Wharington said.
"It's nice to see them up close and see where their strengths and weaknesses are."
Skandia and Wild Oats XI are the only two maxis entered for the Sydney to Hobart and, asked whether he believed any of the small boats had a realistic chance of taking line honours, Wharington said "not at all".
"All things being equal, unless we have some sort of breakdown."
The 14 nautical mile harbour race will not provide a formguide as the fleet numbers just 16, including a handful of boats not entered for the classic.
"We are looking forward to some tight manoeuvring around Sydney Harbour," Wild Oats
XI skipper Mark Richards said.
While Wild Oats XI won't race again before Boxing Day, Wharington plans to give
Skandia some more competition this Saturday and Sunday in the Rolex Trophy series.
Contesting his 21st Hobart, Victorian Wharington said he was looking at overall
honours as his priority, while still chasing line honours.
Another feature of Tuesday's Big Boat challenge will be the appearance of the new
Reichel/Pugh boats Limit and Loki.
The 62-foot Limit and Loki, one foot longer, are expected to be contenders for
overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart.
Other fancied handicap chances in the Hobart contesting Tuesday's race are the
52-footers Quest and Wot Yot.
