SYDNEY, 26 December 2005 — Experts expect records to tumble in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race starting here today, with forecasters predicting the most favorable weather conditions this century.
While the 628-nautical-mile Bluewater Classic always retains the potential to spring a nasty surprise, leading contenders are confident of breaking the race record of 43 hours and 48 minutes set by Nokia in 1999.
“The record is there to be taken,” the owner of one of the race favorites, Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton told reporters.
The skipper of AAPT Sean Langman said the five 30-meter (98 foot) “supermaxis” among the 85 strong-fleet were certain to mow down Nokia’s benchmark if the right weather prevailed in the dash along Australia’s southeastern coast to the island state of Tasmania.
“I would say that the supermaxis will absolutely smash the record by something like 10 hours,” he told reporters.
“There’s a fantastic opportunity for the treble in this race with this forecast, with line honors, the record and handicap,” he added.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted light southeasterly winds for the start on Sydney Harbor, changing to northwesterly breezes Monday evening that will reach up to 30 knots tomorrow.
The fleet is expected to make the traditional spinnaker start from Sydney Harbor, escorted by hundreds of spectator vessels as up to 400,000 people watch from vantage points on the foreshore.
Wild Oats (AUS), launched earlier this month, has been installed as line honors favorite by online bookie Centerbet, closely followed by Alfa Romeo (NZL), an almost-identical rival from the same US design stable that first sailed in July.
Alfa Romeo overcame Wild Oats in an eight-race regatta staged in Sydney ahead of the main event, but Crichton said he expected to be pushed relentlessly.
“I would be surprised if we and Wild Oats were not in sight of each other all the way, unfortunately,” he said.
Unusually, Wild Oats and Alfa Romeo are also listed as favorites for overall honors, a section of the race that takes handicapping rules into account and normally favors smaller yachts.
Other supermaxis in the running are Skandia (AUS) and Konica Minolta (NZL), along with AAPT (AUS) — which took line honors last year racing under the name Nicorette.
At the time, Nicorette’s owner Ludde Ingvall questioned whether his yacht would return to defend its title after describing the 2004 event as a “demolition derby,” where appalling conditions meant almost half the 116 entrants failed to finish.
The weather was the worst since 1998, when six sailors drowned in mountainous swells and savage gales, forcing organizers to tighten safety restrictions and ensure only experienced crews took part in the event.
