| Sport stars thrive
at sea |
| By Greg Peart and
Lisa Ratcliff, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team. |
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Photos By Daniel
Forster for Rolex and Peter Andrews.
Edited by Peter Andrews. |
| 12:00 AEDT, December 29, 2009. |
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| Six yachts have
now completed the 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race including Investec
LOYAL, dubbed ‘the celebrity boat’ which left
Sydney Harbour Saturday afternoon with a bunch of sports stars
and sailors, and arrived with a tight team of yachties who
can all talk the talk and walk the walk - albeit a little wobbly
after nearly three days at sea. |
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Sean Langman's chartered 100 foot Greg Elliott design, Investec
LOYAL,
on Sydney Harbour ahead of the start of the Rolex Sydney
Hobart yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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Boxing world champion Danny Green described his experience once, Investec LOYAL had docked in Hobart. "The whole thing was a buzz. We all pulled together, there was great camaraderie." It was his first visit to the island state, after finishing fourth over the line.
When asked what he had planned for his first moments ashore, Green said "brush my teeth, have a shower, and I’m looking forward to a cold schooner." |
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Sean Langman's Investec
LOYAL, at sea during the
Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Olympic gold medallist Grant Hackett said "it was very trying, very rewarding getting to the other side" while Wallaby hooker Phil Waugh described the 628 nautical mile ocean classic as a big challenge.
"Early on there were some hairy moments," said Waugh. "We didn’t get much sleep. I really enjoyed being out there. Physically it was harder than I thought; it’s very different to playing rugby."
Investec LOYAL’s navigator David Dickson summed up the trip beautifully, "I’ve never laughed so much on a boat. The owner’s rep, Ross Field, is a passionate Kiwi supporter. The banter between him and the two Phils [Phil Waugh and Phil Kearns] was priceless." |
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Mike Slade’s UK 100 footer ICAP Leopard working
up the Derwent at first light, to be the third boat to
finish the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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| Skipper Sean Langman had nothing but praise for the sport’s latest recruits. "These guys never stopped. They are excellent, competitive men who don’t give up. I hope they come back." On his own plans, Langman has no doubt. "I’ll be back next year. It’s still unfinished for me." |
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Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard on the Derwent
with their final destination in view, Hobart's Battery
Point, during the Rolex Sydney Hobart
Yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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Mike Slade’s UK 100 footer ICAP Leopard finished third over the line early this morning, and in a typical and entertaining Slade vernacular, Slade offered the following reflection.
"When Napoleon turned up at Waterloo he knew he was in for a bad day, he had a bad day at the office didn’t he? I’ve been a bit like that. It was a fantastic race and well done, Alfa, bloody marvellous." |
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The Bowman on board Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard on
the Derwent, approaching the Hobart finish line during
the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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Slade said that ICAP Leopard had gambled by sailing farther offshore. "We went offshore because there was no point in covering Alfa’s tracks. She had about 20 miles on us and we just got locked out. We had about four shut-downs and it was as frustrating as hell. We sat there for hours, watching them go away. That cost us; we got punished."
Despite suggesting pre-race that this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart would be his last, Slade was this morning overhead saying "We will be back to do another one I think. The boat’s a glutton for punishment." Finishing out of the top two can be a strong motivator. |
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Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard crosses the
finish line for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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ICAP Leopard’s tactician Ray Davies this morning paid credit to line honours winner Alfa Romeo.
"The Alfa Romeo boys really deserved to win. They sailed tactically a very, very good race and kept the boat sailing well in all conditions. We had a shocker."
"Considering the conditions, morale was really good on board," added Davies. "We had a very good first part of the race. We were hoping for a bit of breeze and a bit of luck, but we didn’t get either. The guys on board just kept their chin up even when it became pretty evident we just weren’t going to be able to draw them back. Now that the pain’s over, everyone loves their yachting and we are going to be back for many more Rolex Sydney Hobarts, that’s for sure." |
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Mike Slade’s, owner / skipper of ICAP Leopard, being
interviewed by the media after completing the Rolex Sydney
Hobart Yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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Cricket’s on the agenda this afternoon for the 22 man ICAP Leopard crew, the right amount for two teams to square off at the Queenborough Oval at Sandy Bay, Hobart. Half time refreshments include Pimms, English Breakfast tea and cucumber sandwiches.
The next boat due to finish is Ludde Ingvall’s 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours winner YuuZoo, due to cross the finish line off Hobart’s Castray Esplanade at 1pm. |
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Reflections on the bow of Mike Slade’s ICAP
Leopard,
after completing the Rolex
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage.
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The last boat in the fleet, Chris Dawe’s Polaris of Belmont, is the only starter currently not expected to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Hobart. From a starting fleet of 100 there are have only been five retirements.
For further information about the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart, go to the official race website at: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com |
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| Outimage and Rolex © 2009 |
