Nicorette's race for Hobart has begun

• NEWS
• 11 Oct, 2004 02:50:00 PM

Nicorette's race for Hobart has begun

Sydney-siders will see Nicorette on Sydney Harbour by mid-November, preparing to take on the world’s premier ocean race.

As part of preparations for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the new Nicorette 90 foot super maxi yacht had her deck lowered onto her hull last week, giving spectators at Woolwich Dock a unique opportunity to see the internal cross-section of the yacht.

To celebrate the race’s 60th anniversary, the Australian Big Boat Racing Team is building one of the world’s most advanced ocean racing yachts. Last week’s delicate operation is a crucial milestone in the construction of the vessel, which began in July 2004.

Internationally renowned skipper of the Nicorette yacht, Ludde Ingvall said: “This is a truly exciting day, but also very nerve racking!  After all these months of building, the new yacht is now ready to undergo the final stages of preparation.”
 
“The Rolex Sydney Hobart is the pinnacle of ocean racing,” said Ingvall. “The world’s best ocean sailors are hungry to win this race - especially this year, the 60th anniversary of the race. The world’s best yacht designers want to build winning yachts and this requires planning and commitment.”

The new 2004 Nicorette yacht has been designed with stability in mind. She sports a very powerful hull shape and the canting keel is kept so her static heel does not exceed 10 degrees.  Speed and safety is obviously crucial too, and this year the foil is asymmetrical by means of a trimflap, enabling less change in overcorrecting when at the helm and reducing drag.

This is the sixth time Nicorette has entered the Sydney Hobart race – one of the highlights of Australia’s sporting summer.

Sydney-siders will see Nicorette on Sydney Harbour by mid-November, preparing to take on the world’s premier ocean race.