The 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was rather more benign than usual if blasting along at over 20 knots of boat speed in 30 kts of breeze is classed as benign.
It was not without its challenges however with the River Derwent playing some of her usual tricks on the sailors with some reporting having to spend significant time at anchor with the wind disappearing coupled to an adverse ebb tide.
None of these factors seemed to have a bad effect on Perpetual Loyal who benefitted from the north easterly breeze suiting her mode and she literally smoked the existing record set by Wild Oats XI by around 5 hours arriving in the pouring rain in the early hours of this morning. Two other boats also relegated Wild Oats XI down the “fastest ever”standings with Giacomo, the former Groupama from two Volvo Ocean Races back and the much fancied Scallywag both beating the previous race record but it was Giacomo’s pace that most deserved of mention which resulted in her winning the battle in IRC from Loyal, Ichi Ban, last year’s winner Balance and what was the surprise package, UBox.
At some point in the race each of these contenders filled each of the places at the top of the leaderboard but it was Giacomo’s extra pace, getting her in before the wind in the Derwent went light for the night that won the day.
At one point, as Matt Allen’s wife boarded the plane for Hobart, Ichi Ban was ahead of UBox and as she sat down on the aircraft, who should be next to her but Wang Bin, owner of the Chinese entry. On comparing smart phones it could be seen UBox had slipped behind Ichi Ban. By the time those phones were switched again in Hobart, places had been reversed – it was that kind of race…
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