News from the 2011 Sydney to Hobart

[rwatson]

Your 'on the spot' reporter went and had a look at the first boats into Hobart from the race.

These two shots are of the centreboard (trim tabs and all) of the line honours winner "Investec Loyal", and the other of the historic "May Queen", built in 1867, on display 100 metres away.

How times change ...

[rwatson]

How about this styling ..

[michael pierzga]

Does the Hobart have a "cruising class " for the old ocean racers ?

[rwatson]

Yes, there are all types. the oldest is
Maluka Of Kermandie
Originally built 79 years ago of Huon pine,

[michael pierzga]

Super cool !.. Veteran boats and veteran sailors are always the kings of the fleet. What rating rule do they use ?

Also, after the Rambler keel lose and capsize, lessons concerning AIS, DSC and personal locator beacon IDs were learned. Is there a requirement to have your AIS pinging while racing ?

[MechaNik]

The whole race is tracked live to the internet with vessel details, so there must be constant AIS broadcast. They have had their share of disasters so much safety is now involved and response crafts.

[michael pierzga]

I guess AIS is OK, but Sad because racers cant establish indepedent tactics. All competors know your course speed. Ocean races then turn into video game drag races.

[Boston]

Originally Posted by rwatson

Yes, there are all types. the oldest is
Maluka Of Kermandie
Originally built 79 years ago of Huon pine,

spectacular boat Mr Watson

[Boston]

There's a documentary about the race that had so many troubles. I'm sure they go nuts with safety these days.

[Doug Lord]

Nice stuff! More here: Sydney-Hobart 2011
Wild Oats XI lost by 3min 8 secs after 600 miles-one of the closest finishes in SH history.

[Willallison]

Originally Posted by Doug Lord

Nice stuff! More here: Sydney-Hobart 2011
Wild Oats XI lost by 3min 8 secs after 600 miles-one of the closest finishes in SH history.

Yep... great stuff... it was the 2nd closest in the history of the race. The closest was in 1982, when Condor of Bermuda beat Apollo by just 7 seconds!

[rwatson]

Originally Posted by Doug Lord

Nice stuff! More here: Sydney-Hobart 2011
Wild Oats XI lost by 3min 8 secs after 600 miles-one of the closest finishes in SH history.

They nearly won on protest. One of the guys on the winning boat asked a television helicopter what foresail Wild Oats was using - a controversial thing to do.

It turned out he was only asking because he had made it - the most expensive sail ever made, he reckoned.

[redreuben]

The big canting keeled monos have to run a diesel 24/7 to power the hydraulics, is that really yachting ?
RR

[Doug Lord]

Yes, this is really "yachting": ( sailing to the nth degree)

[Steve W]

No its not, if they consider that not running an engine would effect the outcome (and they clearly do or else they wouldnt be doing it) then they are motorsailing.
Steve.