NICORETTE & AERA WINS

NICORETTE WINS LINE HONOURS (2 days and 16 hours) Nicorette Skipper (Ingvall): "... It is an amazing event. The best and toughest ocean race in the world ..."
AERA WINS OVERALL (HANDICAP) Aera Skipper, Jez Fanstone:"... We had a great boat and a great team ... The 600 mile races are tough because you never get into any rhythm and you never get any rest. We did the preparation and let God hand out the prizes.” 57 RETIREMENTS INCLUDING SKANDIA & KONICA MINOLTA

RACE RESULT

NICORETTE WINS (2 days and 16 hours)
SKANDIA & KONICA OUT; 57 RETIREMENTS

NICORETTE WINS (DAY 4, DEC 29, 2004)

Nicorette (Ingvall): "... It is an amazing event. The best and toughest ocean race in the world"

The brand new Nicorette in its maiden race won the 60th Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. It reached Hobart a little after 5 am on Wednesday morning. This is Ludde Ingvall's 2nd line honours having won in 2000 with the original Nicorette.
INGVALL: "... It is an amazing event. The best and toughest ocean race in the world. I feel sad for those who won’t make it to Hobart. Mother nature doesn’t forgive ... We were able to sail tactically and without any damage that would have stopped us.."

Sean Langman's AAPT has finished 2nd. Brindabella 3rd. Love and War running 24th is the current Handicap leader.

SKANDIA & KONICA MINOLTA OUT (DAY 3, DEC 28, 2004)

Skandia (Warrington): "... It is a terrible blow to all of us"
Konica Minolta (Twaites)"... This wave was twice as big as any others we’ve seen during this"

Line honours favourites Super Maxi Skandia and Konica Minolta have both retired. Last year's winner Skandia was abandoned by its crew after its canting keel jammed due to broken hydraulic ram. Skandia skipper (Warrington): "... It is a terrible blow to all of us to have to pull out of the race. We have sustained some irreparable damage to the keel and for safety reasons are unable to continue”

Last year's runner-up Konica Minolta (known as "Zana" last year) retired later in the day with structural damage from a large wave. Konica Minolta Skipper (Twaites): "... I was below deck when it happened. I heard the wave then I heard the foam crushing. It was all hands on deck. The helmsman was keeping the boat under control and trying to slow it down.This wave was twice as big as any others we’ve seen during this race. It was a pretty hairy night overall.”

FINAL RACE RESULT

BOATS

CONTENDERS FOR 2004 LINE HONOURS INCLUDE:

• SUPER MAXIS WITH CANTING KEEL
• SKANDIA, AUS, Grant Wharington (length 29.97m / 98 foot)
  Winner 2003 Sydney to Hobart race ; Winner 2003 JP Morgan regatta; Winner 2004 Skandia Geelong Week; Winner 2004 Sydney-Mooloolaba
• KONICA MINOLTA, NZL, Stewart Thwaites (length 30m / 98 foot)
  2nd in 2003 Sydney to Hobart race (as "Zana"); Winner 2004 Sydney to Gold Coast; Winner Auckland Noumea; Winner Auckland Tauranga race
• NEW NICORETTE, SWE/AUS, Ludde Ingvall (length 27.38m / 90 foot)
  Winner 2000 Sydney to Hobart race

OTHER CONTENDERS FOR 2004 LINE / OVERALL HANDICAP WINNER INCLUDE:

• AAPT, AUS : 3rd in 2003 Sydney to Hobart
• FIRST NATIONAL, AUS : Overall Winner 2003 Sydney to Hobart race
• TARGE, AUS/NZL: Winner: 2004 Rolex Trophy; Winner: 2003 Admiral's Cup, England

ALL STUDENT CREW

• ANOTHER CHALLENGE, AUS: students from Melbourne University

ROLEX TROPHY, Dec 2004

• Lead up race to Sydney to Hobart, the Rolex Trophy comprises first eight races of the Rolex Challenge teams series; Sydney to Hobart is the 9th race.
• WINNER (IRC division): Targé (ex Wild Oats)
  1 Targé (Steven David’s Reichel/Pugh 60, AUS) 377 points
  2 Konica Minolta (Stewart Thwaites' Bakewell-White 98, NLZ) 376
  3 Aera (Nick Lykiardopulo, UK) 355,
  4 Yendys, Judel/Vrolijk (Geoff Ross, AUS) 351
  5 Ginger, Swan 55 (Leslie Green, AUS) 344
• PHS (Performance Handicap System) division:
  1 Nips N Tux (Howard De Torres, IMX 40) 339 points
  2 Courtesan (Philip Childs) 334 points
  =3 Brindabella (George Snow’, Jutson 79) 329 points
  =3 Aera (Nick Lykiardopulo, Ker 55, UK) 329 points

LAST YEAR RESULT: 2003 Sydney to Hobart Race

• LINE HONOURS: 57 boats started
  1 Skandia, AUS, Grant Wharington; 2 day 15 hr 14 m
  2 Zana, NZL, +15 min
• OVERALL HANDICAP WINNER: First National