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Take two for Natelle Two

Take two for Natelle Two

Laura Roper, one of three women skippers contesting this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, has struck some issues during the delivery of her family boat, Hobart-based Natelle Two, to Sydney.

Laura Roper, one of three women skippers contesting this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, has struck some issues during the delivery of her family boat, Hobart-based Natelle Two, to Sydney.

Twenty-two year old Roper, who is about to line up for her first blue water classic, was leaving Eden for the final leg of the journey to Sydney yesterday morning only to come face to face with 37 knots of wind from the north east and a heavy swell.

“It was good to experience those conditions,” said Roper. “We were so underhanded; it was very strenuous on the body.

“The worst weather happened during the night. We all had our safety gear on and I wasn’t frightened,” she added.

Having made it as far as Montague Island, Natelle Two with its delivery crew of three, including Laura’s father Glenn, turned around and headed back south to the safe port of Eden where Glenn has been repairing the damage and ordering new parts.

At 6am this morning Natelle Two arrived back to Eden to repair a broken main traveller and a couple of broken halyards, which were due to be replaced anyway.

Depending on the outlook, Laura is hoping to leave Eden tonight and is due into Sydney on Wednesday.

By Lisa Ratcliff, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team