Maria is a veteran Sparkman Stephens design. She represented Australia in the One Ton Cup in New Zealand in 1971 after finishing 21st in her first Hobart start, the gruelling 1970 race. Since then she has raced to Hobart on four other occasions, finishing 42nd last year and beating much more modern designs. A true S&S thoroughbred, she is at her best going to windward but will have a tough time filling a major place this year.