Comanche set to be the pacesetter down NSW coast

Comanche is expected to lead the fleet down the NSW coast and across Bass Strait in record time before it hits a windless roadblock.

Jim Cooney, the owner and skipper of race favourite LDV Comanche.

Supermaxi LDV Comanche is expected to lead the 102 strong fleet of yachts in this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart race down the NSW coast and across Bass Strait in record time — but to run into a windless hole when she passes Tasman Island.

Sydneysider Jim Cooney, who bought the yacht from its American billionaire owner Jim Clark, just over a week ago, said yesterday it was “too tough to call” the winner of the race.

“I think it will be the most intense race for some time,” Cooney said. “Each of the supermaxis has won line honours in the race which I think is a first for this race.”

Cooney, who only had his first sail aboard LDV Comanche last Wednesday, said he was now far more comfortable with the boat than he had been on that first sail.

“I thought it would be a step up from the Volvo 70 I was sailing but the loads are almost double,” he said, “However it is a beautifully designed boat and everything is where it should be. It has been a very steep learning curve for me.”

Cooney said he first became interested in Comanche in August when there were rumours that it might not contest the race, despite being in Australian waters.

“Under the carnet de passage ii came in under it was to be in the Hobart race and then head back to America, so there wasn’t any real possibility of a sale,” he said.

“But at some stage rumours were firmed up and the boat was released from its import restriction, so I began talking to the owners in the US. It all happened rather quickly really and Neville Crichton and I had a couple of schemes up our sleeves about how we might run the boat. But it wasn’t until we began discussions with the owners that things started to fall into place.”

Cooney said he was continually asked just how much he had paid for the yacht, which was said to have cost Jim Clark more than $25 million to build in 2014, but that he wasn’t saying.

“I’ll give you a hint,” he said. “The first day we took it out, I had with me an old mate who had sailed with me on Brindabella and Maserati for years. As we were coming back through the Heads he turned to me and said: ‘Jim, I don’t know what you paid for this but it is worth every penny’.”

Comanche is the $2 favourite with Sportsbet to claim line honours from Black Jack ($3.50) and Wild Oats XI ($3.70).