The wind gods have indicated they intend coming to the party for Konica Minolta in the Sydney to Hobart race but the boat's designer, Brett Bakewell-White, just hopes they don't steal the show.
As New Zealand's sole entry in the blue water classic, Konica Minolta is one of the favourites
to win the 628 nautical mile race, provided the conditions are right and she doesn't break down.
At this stage the forecast for Boxing Day favours the New Zealand boat. Moderate up-wind conditions are predicted for most of the race. But it's the strong front which is expected to hit the fleet on the second day that is worrying Bakewell-White.
"Roger Badham [meteorologist] is saying there is a bit of a nasty front developing. It is not as bad as 1998 or 1993 but it will be nasty.
"Which is a problem for all the big boats. It is possible none of us will get there because one of the hardest things on these big boats is slowing them down. They just beat themselves to death."
The 30m-long New Zealand maxi, owned by Wellington businessman Stewart Thwaites, is one of three yachts favoured to take line honours in the 60th event which has attracted close to 120 yachts.
Grant Wharington's maxi Skandia, which edged out Konica Minolta, then known as Zana, in last year's race and the newly built Nicorette are the other two.
"Konica Minolta clearly has an edge up-wind over Skandia and looking at Nicorette I think she will be the hardest boat to beat," Bakewell-White said.
"However she is brand new and they are still putting her together and if it is rough I think there is a very good chance Nicorette will not get to the finish."
Given favourable winds, they could all threaten Nokia's 1999 race record of one day 19 hours 48 minutes and 2 seconds.
"A westerly or an easterly would be best to break the record but record breaking conditions aren't what we want from our boat's points of view because Nicorette and Skandia are probably stronger than us in those conditions."
Refitted with a bowsprit and using a water ballast system, Konica Minolta is more of a conventional yacht compared with its rivals, which both sport canting keels.
Since last year's Sydney to Hobart, Konica Minolta has impressed.
It smashed the Auckland to Tauranga race record then absolutely annihilated the Auckland to Noumea record by 40 hours.
Its last hit-out was in the recent Rolex Trophy in Sydney, a series of eight short-course races held over four days, where it finished second on corrected time to Steven David's 18m Targe.
While the Rolex Trophy gave the yacht a chance to check in against the opposition, it also gave the 26 crew, which includes Gavin Brady, Ian Gordon and Steve Hayles from the America's Cup syndicate Oracle and veteran New Zealand sailor Erle Williams, the chance to gel.
"This will be the first time the boat has gone to a major event with a crew that have all sailed together," said Bakewell-White, who will be on the boat during the race.
"Tactically we have really lifted our game."
Race Facts
* 628 nautical miles.
* Race record: one day 19 hours 48 minutes and 2 seconds set by Nokia in 1999.
* Starts from Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Boxing Day, as it has traditionally done since the inaugural race in 1945.
* A record 371 yachts started the race in 1994, which was the event's 50th anniversary. Close to 120 yachts are expected to sail this year.
The wind gods have indicated they intend coming to the party for Konica Minolta in the Sydney to Hobart race but the boat's designer, Brett Bakewell-White, just hopes they don't steal the show.
As New Zealand's sole entry in the blue water classic, Konica Minolta is one of the favourites
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