Yachting: Appleton says experience key to Sydney-Hobart race

by JULIE ASH


Zana helmsman Cameron Appleton believes experience gave Skandia the edge in the 59th Sydney-to-Hobart race.

Skandia, an Australian super-maxi, claimed line honours in the race yesterday morning, finishing 14 minutes ahead of her main rival, the New Zealand-built and crewed Zana.

The skiff-like Australian yacht Grundig was third, finishing five hours later.

In a tense tactical battle from the start to finish, Grant Wharington's Skandia completed the 630-nautical-mile race in two days, 15 hours, 14 minutes and six seconds, almost a day outside the race record set by Danish flyer Nokia in 1999.

It was Wharington's first line-honours victory in his 16th Sydney to Hobart.

"They [Skandia] were in our sight from start to finish," Appleton said. "We knew exactly where they were and they knew exactly where we were.

"We led them for about five hours shortly after the start, but then they got around us. It was tough because we always believed we were going to be able to peg them back and get them, but we just couldn't find the next shift."

In terms of performance, Appleton said there was little between the two state-of-the-art 30m carbon-fibre yachts, despite Skandia's sporting a canting keel.

"The boats were pretty even, in fact they were surprisingly even," Appleton said.

"As we said when we got off the boat at the end of the race, we have learned a lot and there is a lot we can do to make the boat go better.

"Basically, it came down to the fact the other guys were a little bit more experienced on the day and they got there. They have done a lot of yachting together and have finally got it right."

Although "bloody disappointed" with second place, Zana's owner and skipper Wellington businessman Stuart Thwaites was pleased with his boat's performance.

"It was the first race we had done and the first time the crew had sailed together," Thwaites said.

"Being that close is hard in some ways because you go through all the 'what ifs,' but at the same time it is better than being a long way back.

"I am disappointed but also happy with second. However, I was after line honours."

The notoriously stormy stretch of water between Sydney and Hobart provided the 57-strong fleet with plenty of anxious moments.

The leading boats crossed Bass Strait in headwinds of up to 30 knots which claimed Swedish maxi Nicorette after it suffered keel and hull damage.

Skandia was also lucky to avoid serious damage when it hit a large sunfish on Saturday.

Appleton concedes his first Sydney-Hobart race "wasn't too bad" and he would consider another.

"I have to do another one because I haven't won one yet," the former Team New Zealand helmsman said.

"It was a bit wet at times and hard on the body, but that's ocean racing."