Fast and furious: Conditions to favour the fleet’s biggest boats

Despite a foggy morning on Sydney Harbour, Bureau of Meteorology forecasters for the 628 nautical mile race suggest strong northerlies may mean the supermaxis challenge for the race record.

Warrior Won bowman, Dylan Vogel, 30, from Rhode Island up the mast at the CYCA ahead of the Sydney to Hobart on Monday. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

On the eve of the 77th Sydney to Hobart, the 14-man crew of Warrior Won are adding the finishing touches to their TP52, ready to compete in what forecasters say will be a “fast and furious” race, favouring the fleet’s biggest boats.

Christopher Sheahan, the US skipper and owner of Warrior Won, is “quietly confident” this year’s Sydney-Hobart could be won by a wide field of contenders, despite predictions the four supermaxis will dominate.

“The conditions will favour some of the bigger boats in the fleet, no doubt. But you can bet your bottom dollar that about 95 of the boats competing are going to be impeccably sailed, by unbelievably good sailors, whether they’re professional or Corinthian (non-professional),” said the US skipper who is racing in his second Sydney to Hobart.

“You never bet against a Corinthian and the amateur crews because some of them have done this race 20 or 30 times and they’re tough as nails Australian sailors who know the course, they know these waters and damn it they know how to sail.”

Warrior Won, which last raced in the 2017 Sydney-Hobart, is crewed by professionals, including Australian Ben Lamb, Canadian Richard Clarke and American Ben Bardwell, with more than 30 Sydney-Hobart races between them.

Rhode Island-based bowman Dylan Vogel, 30, who will be competing in his first Sydney to Hobart, said the crew and boat “is as ready as it will ever be”, as its skipper prepares to select the sails on Boxing Day morning, based on a final weather forecast.

“There is very little that can be done now apart from adding the emergency equipment and some final food provisions,” he said. “We all have a break for Christmas brunch and if we don’t feel ready now, then we’ll never be ready.”

In its division, the 52-footer will be pitted against New Zealand-owned Caro in one of the most highly-anticipated contests of the race, as well as against high-profile contenders, Ichi Ban and Quest.

“The Sydney to Hobart combines three extraordinary things. First and foremost the Australian sailors, this fleet of boats and the sailors on board them are hands down the best in the world,” said Mr Sheahan, 57.

Bureau of Meteorology forecasts for the 628 nautical mile race suggest strong northerlies may mean the supermaxis challenge for the race record – held by Comanche at one day and nine hours.

At the weekend, yachting meteorologist Roger Badham said the first six hours of the race would be crucial if Comanche’s 2017 record was to be beaten, adding that the conditions augur well for the 100-foot supermaxis, including Black Jack, Wild Oats, LawConnect and Andoo Comanche.

“It’s a very good race record, that’s part of the reason it may not go,” Mr Badham said. “I think it will depend on the first six hours of the race and the last six hours, how quickly they can get into second and third gear going down the coast and what breeze there is at the end.”