Skandia recovery mission underway, chase for handicap honours continues

• NEWS
• 29 Dec, 2004 12:39:00 PM

Skandia recovery mission underway, chase for handicap honours continues

“The plan is in place and we’re fully equipped for the recovery. We’re confident the boat is in good enough shape to recover and refit,” said Skandia’s skipper Grant Wharington from Hobart this afternoon.

The recovery of the up-turned 98-footer Skandia, one of the pre-race Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours favourites, is underway with a tugboat heading to the stricken vessel, with divers and air bags aboard.

“The plan is in place and we’re fully equipped for the recovery. We’re confident the boat is in good enough shape to recover and refit,” said Skandia’s skipper Grant Wharington.

Conditions have eased off the Tasmanian northeast coast, which will assist in the recovery process of Skandia, as well as yachts still with a chance for handicap honours.

Once Skandia is recovered, Wharington plans to put it on a truck and ship it back to his home port of Melbourne where he will begin refitting a new bulb and keel fin which are already being fabricated for his European campaign next year.

The UK yacht Aera, skippered by round-the-world sailor Jez Fanstone, is a handicap favourite and their performance has drawn praise from a fellow competitor, Roger Hickman, the sailing master on Matt Allen's Farr 52 Ichi Ban.

Both yachts are contenders for the silver Tattersalls Trophy for the Overall winner, as are a number of small boats. Peter Kurts’ two-time former Overall winner Love & War and last year’s Overall winning skipper, Michael Spies sailing with his new Beneteau 44.7 First National Real Estate, cannot be discounted from the handicap chase.

“Aera has sailed a brilliant race. We are also trying to sail hard as we think we have a slim chance of beating Nicorette on handicap,” said Hickman this afternoon as they were tacking down the coast into a pleasant 18-22 knot southerly.

“We are hiking out (crew leaning out over the rail) hard like it’s a day race. We have the pedal to the metal.”

Hickman referred to the tough conditions they have experienced for the past 36 hours in this 628 nautical mile race, which began in Sydney Harbour on 26 December.

“I’ve never seen so much water come over a boat, everything down below is wet. Everybody has slept in their full wet weather gear. With the waves so big, you have to be prepared for everything.”

“Today the skies have cleared and people are coming on deck for the first time in three days.”

Sean Langman’s AAPT is the latest finisher in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with an official finish time of 11:40:42 to give the boat an elapsed time of 2 days 22 hours 30 minutes and 42 seconds.