Sydney-Hobart 2015

The first bit of major news for the upcoming Sydney-Hobart is the massive rebuilding of Wild Oats XI. She is now sailing from Hawaii to Australia and will be hauled immediately. Changes will be made to her bow, stern and rig.

http://www.sail-world.com/Rolex-Sydney-Hobart-Race---Major-modifications-for-Wild-Oats-XI/137105

 

Wild Oats XI----two pieces

It has begun:

 

Is she getting a bigger engine too.

 

Wild Oats XI

I hope so! More Power!

 

They are doing a lot of work there doug. You would think it would be more cost effective to build a new boat but i guess they have their reasons. The s/ h will be better when they allow multihulls. I know its an old topic but a multi division would make an exciting addition. And ban engine assisted sailing as well.

 

Yeah, I'd like to see multies allowed but the billionaire mono owners probably wouldn't....

 

Wild Oats XI

Wild Oats XI underway: (pix by Andrea Francolini)

 

Good article here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/10/29/sydney-hobart-an-international-icon/#more

 

how many multis have just had a problem in the Transat JV?
not a good ad for inclusion in the S to H

 

Sh

Why would you single out multies-as many or more monos have retired from the TJV. By your apparent logic that would mean no boats at all in the Sydney-Hobart?
One day multies may be allowed-or have their own version. From what I've read there may not be enough interest in Australia-at least from people with SH capable multies?

 

The PROPORTION of monos that has retired is less than the PROPORTION of multis that has retired. You can't just use raw numbers when the multis are vastly outnumbered.

 

The majority of multihull retirements have been caused by things that would be just as serious on a monohull eg. the Multi50 retired due to a collision with a container and Actual had some problems with their rig.

The Prince de Bretagne capsize is more of a worry the boat doesn't seem very stable and has capsized twice now (both leewards capsizes rather than pitchpoles) it's a very light weight platform with what appears a fairly moderate sail plan. I wonder about the mast canting and whether it simply makes the platform too stiff and powered up at high angles of heel. Canting rigs disable one of the trimaran platform advantages of partially depowering automatically when heeled.

 

Apparently, Rambler 88 is entered in the SH-that would make 2 large DSS equipped ocean racers in the SH for the first time. And Rambler comes in having beaten Comanche at least twice on corrected time. Last year Wild Oats XI beat Comanche boat for boat and this year, with all her mods, should be even faster(I hope).

 

Sh 2015

From Scuttlebutt: Entries have closed for the Sydney-Hobart 2015-story here:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/11/04/strong-field-for-sydney-hobart-race/

 

Comanche reducing crew size to try to beat the modified Wild Oats XI:
http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/news/2...ds-bodyweight-to-win-the-rolex-sydney-hobart/