Age has not wearied them

• NEWS
• 27 Dec, 2003 07:53:00 AM

Age has not wearied them

The smaller and older boats in the 56-strong fleet are reveling in the southerly conditions

The oldest skipper in the fleet and his 23-year old boat is showing the youngsters a thing or two as he leads the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet on IRC and IMS handicap, the system that decides the Overall winner.

Recently named Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Ocean Racer of the Year Awards, John Walker, who is 81 years old, is competing in his personal 20th Sydney Hobart Race. He has completed all 20 races on his three-quarter tonner Impeccable.

The smaller and older boats in the 56-strong fleet are reveling in the southerly conditions with Michael Spies and Peter Johnson’s Beneteau 40.7 First National Real Estate in second position in both the IMS and IRC divisions.

The oldest boat in the fleet, Peter Kurts’ classic timber sloop Love & War, built in 1973, is currently sailing in third position in the IMS division.

Kurts, a two-time former winner, has invested heavily in this race, buying a new sail wardrobe and spending a lot of time training with the crew during the lead-up.

It’s a similar story in the PHS division with Tony Williams 38-footer Balmain Experience leading from the 1986-built Bright Morning Star (Randal Wilson) and Brian Emerson’s 1985-built Frers 40 Wahoo.