Stunning new ‘Yendys’ to be campaigned for second overall win

• NEWS
• 13 Aug, 2003 03:17:00 PM

Stunning new ‘Yendys’ to be campaigned for second overall win

Former Hobart Race overall winner, Geoff Ross, has has bought the Mediterranean based Banco Espirito Santo, rated the top IMS Grand Prix offshore yacht in Europe last season.

Successful Sydney ocean racing yachtsman Geoff Ross has purchased one of the world’s most advanced racing yachts in a bid to win his second Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 

Ross, who has essentially been absent from the sailing scene due to the pressure of business since he guided his previous Yendys to victory in the 1999 Hobart race, has bought the Mediterranean based Banco Espirito Santo, the top IMS rated Grand Prix offshore yacht in Europe last season.

Designated a Judel Vrolijk 52 and designed by Rolf Vrolijk, the man responsible for the America’s Cup winning yacht Alinghi, the new Yendys will arrive in Sydney immediately after the completion of the current Mediterranean racing season.

Ross has assembled an outstanding crew to reinforce his chances of scoring and outright handicap win in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

It will include Australia’s Grant Simmer, and internationally acclaimed navigator, Juan Vila. Simmer was navigator of Australia II for the 1983 America’s Cup win and acted as design coordinator for Alinghi this year while Vila was navigator for the winning Illbruck team in the last Volvo Ocean Race around the world.

by Rob Mundle