ID :
96961
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 18:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/96961
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NZ's Alfa Romeo leads Sydney-Hobart race
(AAP) - Yachting titan Alfa Romeo, skippered by New Zealand salt Neville Crichton, is poised to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart ocean classic.
The winner of just about every other off-shore race in the world, Alfa Romeo caught
a decisive breeze in waters off the NSW/Victoria border that eluded all rivals.
The owner of the second-placed ICAP Leopard, Mike Slade, said after entering Bass
Strait on Sunday that he would be very surprised Alfa's accomplished crew did
something to allow him back in the hunt.
"At the moment if your money is on Alfa then you are a happy bunny," Slade told
reporters in Hobart from on board his yacht.
The Kiwi boat got the break north of Gabo Island about 9am (AEDT) Sunday.
"There was no breeze whatsoever and it's always the case that someone will get that
puff," he said.
"Wild Oats didn't get it, we didn't get it, and Alfa was on the right side of it to
get it and off they went, putting 10 miles on us very, very quickly."
Alfa Romeo's on board spokesman Murray Spence was, however, more cautious in his
assessment.
"There is a lot of racing ahead of us and there is going to be a lot of passing
lanes," he told reporters
"It's not a very straight-forward race really so we've got to keep on our toes,
that's for sure."
Alfa Romeo finished second to Wild Oats in 2005, the yacht's only other Sydney to
Hobart, before Wild Oats' four-year reign.
Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards told reporters this year's race was a "role
reversal" of 2005.
"We were just a little unfortunate this morning to get left in a hole before the
nor-easter built.
"Alfa Romeo got going well before us and basically put 15 to 20 miles on us before
we knew what had happened.
"That's just the way yachting goes."
St Jude, the 42 footer from Sydney's Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, skippered by
owner Noel Cornish, was leading handicap honours on Sunday night.
Five yachts had withdrawn, leaving 95 in the fleet.
The bulk of the field was expected to cross Bass Strait overnight with the winner
expected to reach Hobart late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The winner of just about every other off-shore race in the world, Alfa Romeo caught
a decisive breeze in waters off the NSW/Victoria border that eluded all rivals.
The owner of the second-placed ICAP Leopard, Mike Slade, said after entering Bass
Strait on Sunday that he would be very surprised Alfa's accomplished crew did
something to allow him back in the hunt.
"At the moment if your money is on Alfa then you are a happy bunny," Slade told
reporters in Hobart from on board his yacht.
The Kiwi boat got the break north of Gabo Island about 9am (AEDT) Sunday.
"There was no breeze whatsoever and it's always the case that someone will get that
puff," he said.
"Wild Oats didn't get it, we didn't get it, and Alfa was on the right side of it to
get it and off they went, putting 10 miles on us very, very quickly."
Alfa Romeo's on board spokesman Murray Spence was, however, more cautious in his
assessment.
"There is a lot of racing ahead of us and there is going to be a lot of passing
lanes," he told reporters
"It's not a very straight-forward race really so we've got to keep on our toes,
that's for sure."
Alfa Romeo finished second to Wild Oats in 2005, the yacht's only other Sydney to
Hobart, before Wild Oats' four-year reign.
Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards told reporters this year's race was a "role
reversal" of 2005.
"We were just a little unfortunate this morning to get left in a hole before the
nor-easter built.
"Alfa Romeo got going well before us and basically put 15 to 20 miles on us before
we knew what had happened.
"That's just the way yachting goes."
St Jude, the 42 footer from Sydney's Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, skippered by
owner Noel Cornish, was leading handicap honours on Sunday night.
Five yachts had withdrawn, leaving 95 in the fleet.
The bulk of the field was expected to cross Bass Strait overnight with the winner
expected to reach Hobart late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
