Sisterships in duel for IRC handicap honours

• NEWS
• 28 Dec, 2005 01:11:00 PM

Sisterships in duel for IRC handicap honours

Two new sister ships, Chieftain and Living Doll, are engaged in a fascinating battle for handicap honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Two new sister ships, Chieftain and Living Doll, are engaged in a fascinating battle for handicap honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

They are both Cookson 50s, designed by New Zealander Bruce Farr and have canting keels.

Chieftain is owned by Irish property developer Gerard O’ Rourke; Living Doll by Michael Hiatt of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. 

They each had successful lead-up regattas to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, Chieftain finished fifth in the Hamilton Island series and Living Doll sixth in the race from Sydney to the Gold Coast.

They are currently converging on the Tasmanian north-east coast, having separated north of Flinders Island last night after sailing identical courses for most of the race.

Computer projections give Chieftain the edge and a three hour buffer over line honours winner Wild Oats XI. She would win the race if she finishes by midnight tonight.

Visit www.rolexsydneyhobart.com  where you can follow progress of yachts at ‘Yacht Tracker’ – yacht positions are updated approx every 10 minutes.