Time to Go

December 11th, 2006

On Thursday the three Hobart based yachts competing in the 2006 Rolex Sydney to Hobart will set sail for Sydney as the final preparations for the race south are well underway. Both Fruit skippered by Mark Ballard and Creative inTension Co Skippered by David Rees and Craig Escott have spent time out of the water having checks to the Hull, Rudder and Keel before making the 630 nautical mile journey to Sydney. Helsal IV skippered by Dr Tony Fisher has been receiving a major upgrade recently to be ready for the race.

A large number of the race crews will deliver the boats to Sydney to prepare themselves for the challenges that occur in offshore yachting including becoming accustomed to how the yachts handle over larger waves and in the stronger winds. The three yachts will stay in constant contact on the trip to Sydney for safety reasons and will most likely stop over in the small town of Eden on the NSW South coast to re fuel. The trip is expected to take up to 5 days with crews taking it easy and making sure that no undue strain is put on the yachts before the Boxing Day start.

Both Fruit and Creative inTension are coming off very strong performances in the recent Rolex Sydney to Hobart qualifying Maria Is Race 2^nd and 3^rd across the line respectively which was sailed in very trying conditions with the boats getting buffeted by a 50knot Southerly at Tasman Island, conditions that could once again prevail in late December. Both boats also performed very well on IRC Handicap reversing their line honours results with Creative inTension claiming 2^nd overall with Fruit third.

Dr Fishers Helsal IV has endured a very different build up after recently arriving from Europe the 60foot cruising yacht has undergone a major refurbishment, “We have to make sure the air conditioners work” Fisher joked at a recent function held at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania but the crew of Helsal IV are keen to produce a very string showing on the trip south.

Co Skipper and project manager of Creative inTension David Rees is looking forward to finally getting back Sydney once again, soaking up the atmosphere at the CYCA after a 4 year absence from the Sydney to Hobart. “The chance to catch up familiar faces and “old rivals” over a beer while you all try and work out what the weather is going to do, everyone with there own thoughts about it.”

A major goal of all the crews is to have to honour of being the first Tasmanian boat home (to finish the race) and each crew believes they are in with a shot “given the right conditions”. Craig “Esky” Escott of Creative inTension believes “local knowledge of the (Tasmania’s) east coast and Storm Bay will play a vital role in our (Creative inTension’s) overall result even the final 12 miles up the River Derwent can make a massive difference in the 628nm course.” When the boats arrive in Sydney they will be stripped completely and only the bare essentials will be put back on board including a large amount of safety gear which is mandatory on every competing yacht. The Racing sails will replace the older sails used for the delivery trips and all unwanted gear will be loaded into a shipping container at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and will meet the fleet once again when they arrive in Hobart.

Creative inTension will have regular updates of the crews progress up the East Coast of Australia on their campaign website http://www.saileski.com/

 

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