Comanche

Comanche came to the race fresh out of her wrapping last year and left mouths agape with her speed as she made good her escape from Sydney Harbour. Light winds in Bass Strait and little time on the water were her downfall and she settled for second on line to record holder Wild Oats XI. In May, she took the treble of line, record and overall win in the 185nm Block Island Race. On July 12, the ‘aircraft carrier’ set a new 24 hour monohull speed record in the 2015 Transatlantic Race, covering 618.01 nautical miles (25.75 knots average), nearly the equivalent of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race distance of 628 nautical miles.

In August, Comanche took line honours from George David’s Rambler 88 in the fluky light Rolex Fastnet Race by four and a half minutes after a race-long battle, with Rambler 88 finishing six hours ahead overall. The super maxi then took line honours in all four races at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Skipper, Ken Read, and crew are looking forward to their Hobart stoush with the other super maxis, in particular Wild Oats XI. Diehard yachties are looking forward to the outcome of this race for line honours. James Spithill joins a heavy-hitting crew again, among them Aussies colleagues Casey Smith, Justin Clougher and Ryan Godfrey. 

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