Sydney to Hobart: LDV Comanche skipper Neville Crichton says race record safe
A QUARTET of cutting-edge former winners headlines the 2017 Sydney to Hobart fleet but a new race record is a ‘one in a million’ chance says two-time winning skipper Neville Crichton.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Women sailors creating waves in 2017 Sydney-Hobart yacht race
- Chinese crew on De Rucci first internationals to arrive
A QUARTET of cutting-edge former winners headlines the 2017 Sydney to Hobart fleet but a new race record is a “one in a million” chance says two-time winning skipper Neville Crichton.
The fleet for the famous Australian race setting sail on Boxing Day stands at 107 and boasts a record 30 overseas entrants, four 100-footers (who have won 11 of the past 12 line honours races) and a fleet minnow just 30-foot long.
IT’S OVER: Sally’s dream dashed
Ranging from the hi-tech, brand-new 52-footer Ichi Ban, owned by Australian Sailing president Matt Allen, to the stunning 87-year-old wooden beauty Dorade from the US, the fleet also includes six female skippers, the tiny timber yacht Maluka and a who’s who of world sailing.
Crichton has hand-picked a world-class crew to race LDV Comanche which, under his old mate and Netscape founder Jim Clark and wife Kristy Hinze Clark, claimed fastest time honours in 2015 to see Hinze Clark create history as the first female owner to achieve the feat.
But it isn’t last year’s race record-beaker Perpetual Loyal — rebranded InfoTrack and now owned by Sydney to Hobart debutant Christian Beck — or eight-time champion Wild Oats who Crichton considers his greatest rival this year.
VIDEO: Aussie drama in Volvo Ocean race
CHANGING TIMES: Women rule in round world race
It’s his old boat Alfa Romeo which delivered him victory in 2009 to end Wild Oats’ four-year run.
Now owned by Queenslander Peter Harburg, skippered by Mark Bradford and renamed Black Jack, the supermaxi is the light-wind specialist of the fleet.
“This boat (LDV Comanche) is fantastic but to try and beat last year’s record is one in a million,” Crichton said of Perpetual Loyal slashing five hours off Wild Oats old mark for her record of one day 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds.
“We want to try and win the race, but it’s unlikely we will get the record though. Those conditions last year were great.
“I’m looking forward to it. I just don’t want to get my arse kicked by my old boat.
“They are a damn good chance of doing it.”
The four super maxis will excel in specific and very different conditions, with Black Jack a gun in light winds, Wild Oats at her best in moderate and Perpetual Loyal and LDV Comanche excelling the tougher it gets.
The race for the overall honours is wide open with Allen and his team on Ichi Ban, Italian America’s Cup veteran Vincenzo Onorato’s 50-footer Mascalzone Latino, Karl Kwok’s 80-footer Beau Geste from Hong Kong, Zoe Taylor’s 40-footer Grace O’Malley and Shane Kearns’ 34-footer Komatsu Azzuro all in with a shot.
Overseas entries this year are from New Caledonia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the US, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Russia and the UK.