89 yachts heading for Hobart

• NEWS
• 02 Dec, 2005 08:11:00 PM

89 yachts heading for Hobart

The fleet for the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race stands at 89 yachts after the deadline for final entries closed at 5.00pm today

The fleet for the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race stands at 89 yachts after the deadline for final entries closed at 5.00pm today.

Two prominent yachts, George Snow’s maxi Brindabella and the veteran Victorian boat Bacardi have both withdrawn their entries in the last 24 hours.

Brindabella is a former line honours winner and holds the record for a conventionally ballasted yacht (no water ballast or canting keel) of 1 day 20 hours 39 minutes 50 seconds.

Bacardi would have sailed in its 25th Rolex Sydney Hobart this year and, along with Philip’s Foote Witchdoctor, would have equalled the record previously set by Mark Twain.  With Bacardi now withdrawn, Philip’s Foote Witchdoctor will equal the record alone.

With less than 24 days to go before the race begins, the maxis and international yachts are beginning to arrive in Sydney. 

The new 30m maxi Wild Oats was launched on Sydney Harbour today, the New Zealand maxi Konica Minolta is expected to arrive overnight while the UK’s Hugo Boss will arrive at the CYCA on Friday December 9.

For the latest fleet details, go to 'The Yachts' on this website. 

Among the entries is Game Set which last year competed as Cure Our Kids, pictured battling galeforce winds to complete the course.

A final update of entries will be provided on Monday December 5.