Michael Spies has sailed in 28 Sydney Hobart races, including skippering the Overall winner First National Real Estate in 2003 and co-skippering the record-breaking line honours winner Nokia in 1999.  He replaced the 2003 boat with this then new Beneteau 44.7, optimising it for IRC racing in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, gaining  a 9th overall  and 2nd in IRC Division C.  Spies went on to win the 2005 Sailing South Race Week in Hobart, Skandia Race Week in Geelong and the IRC Cruising Class at Hamilton Island Race.  

Spies himself is a four times world champion in a variety of classes while his crew includes Etchells helmsman Peter Gardner who has raced to Hobart 26 times.

Link here (Flash) or here (ASF format) to an interview with co-skipper David Beak prior to the race