Yachting: Super maxi Zana to challenge for honours

By JULIE ASH

Fifty-seven yachts will line up in the 59th Sydney to Hobart race on Boxing Day.

Described as one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world, the 627 nautical mile race is expected to take less than two days to complete.

Starting in Sydney Harbour the fleet head out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait then down the east coast of Tasmania.

At Tasman Island the fleet turn right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

Nokia, who won the 1998 Volvo Ocean Race as EF Language, hold the open race record, which stands at 1 day 19h 48min 02s.

The Demark/Australian boat was the first to complete the race in less than two days.

New Zealand's biggest racing yacht, the super maxi Zana, is expected to challenge Australia's largest ocean racer, Skandia, for line honours this year.

Other yachts to watch out for are Swedish entry Nicorette, who have a star-studded crew, including Olympic sailor Anthony Nossiter, a Whitbread crewman, New Zealander Richard Bouzaid, and Alinghi grinder Will McCarthy; and Australia's Brindabella, owned by George Snow, who took line honours in the event in 1997.

Last year's overall winner, Bob Steel's Nelson/Marek 46 Quest, is defending her title but the line honours winner, New Zealander Neville Crichton and his 90ft yacht Alfa Romeo, will not make the trip to Sydney.

Alfa Romeo is still in Europe, having completed an impressive year which saw it win the Giragalia Cup, the Fastnet Race and the Middle Sea Race.

Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, John Messenger, describes the lineup as "one of the highest-quality fleets ever to assemble in the 59-year history of the race".

Over the past week eight boats have withdrawn, making the entry list the same size as last year's fleet, which was the smallest in around 30 years.

Messenger said there were a number of reasons for the spate of withdrawals.

"I think some of them are a bit worried about their sponsors and their sponsors' commitments or they haven't been able to tie in a sponsor," Messenger said.

"For some of them, their preparation was not as far advanced as they hoped to be at this time and for some of the inter-state boats they may have issues getting here in time with their crew.

"Obviously I'm a little disappointed that we've lost some boats but I'd rather have a small fleet of quality boats that are going to get there (to Hobart) and race competitively than a fleet of unknown boats that may end up with half of them (retiring) in Eden."