Sydney to Hobart 2022 winner Andoo Comanche to chase special record, latest race news
Andoo Comanche skipper John ‘Herman’ Winning and his team will be back to defend their Sydney to Hobart win next year but in-between they have an incredible mission for the boat.
It was built as an ocean marauder capable of breaking records and winning the most prestigious ocean race in the world and that's what the super slick supermaxi Andoo Comanche has been doing.
But under her new skipper John “Herman’ Winning and his victorious Sydney to Hobart crew, the supermaxi may go hunting for a lot more silverware in the next 12 months.
Sailing master Iain Murray said there was discussion aboard the 100-footer during her race to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart about attempting to crack 700 nautical miles in just 24 hours.
“I think they want to go chase sone records and races. This boat can do exceptional speeds, it’s build to ocean race and we will send out a search party,’’ said Murray, now a 10 time line honours winner after Andoo Comanche’s early morning win on Wednesday.
“I think they want to maximise what they have.
“The 24 hour record is on the agenda, there’s talk about chasing 700 miles in a day.’’
Back in 2015 when only recently launched by original owner Jim Clark, Comanche covered 618nm at an average of 25.75 knots (47.69 km/h) for 24 hours for a speed sailing record.
On Wednesday she covered the 628 nautical miles between Sydney and Hobart - not a straight course and requiring more that 700 miles of sailing as they tacked and gybed their way - in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds to beat LawConnect and Black Jack for the win.
The yacht, under the name LDV Comanche and a different owner, also holds the Sydney to Hobart race record of one day, nine hours and 15 minutes set back in 2017.
Winning raced to Hobart with Murray running his team of 23 mates, sailing legends and veterans, including his 70-year-old father and famous 18-footer skiff campaigner John “Woody”’ Winning.
Winning junior dedicated the win to his “dear friend”, Andoo Team X founder Matthew Munting who died earlier this year.
“We’ve got the boat. We will be coming back for sure. We’re not trying to come second. We’re here to win every race that we do,’’ he said.
“This boat doesn’t deserve to come second; certainly not when it’s in its prime. Until the foiling boats outdate this boat she should always be going out there trying to win line honours.’’
While the race for line honours is over the race for he handicap win is just heating up.
As expected it is boats in the 52-foot range looking likely to dominate.
And it is the Sydney boat Celestial, owned and skippered by Sam Haynes, who is in the box seat to claim the trophy.
It would be a memorable victory if he pulls it off after last year finishing second to Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban after incurring a time penalty.
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