Yachting: Rush of entries for 2006 Sydney to Hobart race

SYDNEY - With only a week and a half to go until applications for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart close, skippers are scrambling to submit their paperwork for the Boxing Day blue water classic.

As of today, 44 yachts have applied to enter and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia sailing manager Justine Kirkjian is expecting at least another 30 before the November 3 deadline.

The latest high-profile application rumoured to be on its way to the organising club is for Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley's 30m maxi Thuraya Maximus.

The New Zealand maxi and Mike Sandersons Volvo 70 ABN AMRO One are both currently contesting the Rolex Middle Sea Race and both are booked on a ship to Sydney at the conclusion of this event in Malta.

If they make the start line, it will be an impressive display of sailing might on Sydney Harbour with Thuraya Maximus one of three maximum sized 30m maxis and ABN Amro One one of two Volvo 70s, the first time this class of boat will race south to Hobart.

Entries over the past week include the classic two-time winner of the Tattersalls Cup for top handicap honours, Simon Kurts S&S 47 Love and War, and another veteran campaigner, Graeme Ainley and John Williams Bacardi from Victoria which will sail south for the 26th time, a record for this event, with Johns' three sons among the crew.

Graeme Wood has entered his new Nelson/Marek-designed Transpac 52 called Wot Yot, one of two the CEO of Wotif.com plans to nominate.

He has put together an outstanding line up including ex-Quest Overall winning crew members Michael Green, David Ellis (who will reach the 25 race milestone this year) and Jack Goluzd.

In total, the crew has amassed an amazing 163 Hobarts.

Graeme's second entry will be for his Sydney 47 Wots Next? which collected the Premier Cruising Division trophy at this year's Hamilton Island Race Week.

Using Wots Next, Wood will launch an exciting youth program which will soon be announced.

Another dual entrant is Sean Langman who has nominated the 1932 built gaff rigged Maluka and his modified Open 66 Xena with which he's finished bridesmaid twice on line honours.

Xena is up for sale so a new owner could take her southor the same Tasmanian crew who chartered her last year may do the same, said Langman.

Today applications for entry were received from Queensland skipper Bill Wild, who has nominated his Welbourn 42 Wedgetail, which finished 6th overall and second in division in last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart, Syd Fischer's champion Farr 50 Ragamuffin and Ray Roberts' DK46 Quantum Racing.

Roberts and his top crew are chomping at the bit for another crack at the big one having won everything they've contested this year including Skandia Geelong Week, the Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race and Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks.

- AAP