Team Melbourne Uni conquers yet Another Challenge

• NEWS
• 09 Sep, 2004 07:00:00 PM

Team Melbourne Uni conquers yet Another Challenge

"A bunch of young guys can potentially push a lot harder and with a whole lot more determination".

Team Melbourne Uni, possibly the youngest team ever to compete in a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, has found the yacht they believe will give them an edge over their competitors in this year’s 60th anniversary race. 

The 10 crewmembers, who are all below the age of 23 and are students at Melbourne University, are rapt with their new toy - the Sydney 38 Another Challenge which was designed by Sydney Yachts and has been chartered from 41-time Sydney Hobart Race legend Lou Abrahams from Victoria. 

Skipper Chris Lewin is eager to get behind the wheel of his new boat: “It’s like inheriting Schumacher’s Ferrari,” admitted the 21 year-old, referring to Abrahams, a two-time Sydney Hobart Race winner, Admiral’s Cup skipper and Australian champion in the Sydney 38 One Design class.

Abrahams will also be coaching the team.  “We’re not only inheriting Schumacher’s Ferrari – it’s like he’s showing us how to drive it,” Lewin added. 

The crew are already in their twelfth month of rigorous training for the 60th anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, which starts on December 26, and plan to contest the Melbourne to Stanley Race at the end of October as their qualifier as well as undertaking two ‘dry runs’ between Sydney and Hobart in October and December.

TMU is confident that their long-term, professional approach will make Another Challenge a force to be reckoned with.

Lou Abrahams agrees.  “It’s a pretty tough race,” warns the ‘Godfather’ of Australian yachting.  “For the first time for a young team, it’ll be hard, but I think they’re putting in the work and should be a real chance”.

Sydney Yachts is also thrilled to be supporting TMU and expects the young sailors will “surprise a lot of the [sailing] establishment,” according to Martin Thompson from Sydney Yachts.
 
“The guys that have been to Hobart 10 times, 20 times will know the way there but the truth is that a bunch of young guys can potentially push a lot harder and with a whole lot more determination,” said Thompson.

Now that they have their ride, Team Melbourne Uni is well advanced in their Rolex Sydney Hobart campaign but this young crew knows that many more challenges lay ahead - and they can’t wait. 

Meanwhile Lou Abrahams has ordered a new Sydney 38, to be named Challenge, and along with his young counterparts, will by vying for the recently rededicated One Ton Trophy for the overall winner of the Sydney 38 division of the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.