TASMANIAN YACHTS TO SAIL OFFSHORE QUALIFIER FOR TELSTRA SYDNEY TO HOBART

by Peter Campbell on 17 Nov 2000 The eight Tasmanian yachts nominated for the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart
Yacht Race will sail their qualifying long ocean race off the south-east
coast of Tasmania this weekend.

Starting from Hobart at 7pm tomorrow, 17 November, a fleet of 12 yachts will
contest the often tough race to historic Maria Island, off Orford, and
return.

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania introduced the Maria Island Race in 1947 as
a lead-up event to give local skippers and crews offshore racing experience
in preparation for the Sydney to Hobart, which had first been sailed two
years previously.

The maxi ketch Tasmania, skippered by Bob Clifford, set the race record of
19 hours 50 minutes and 1 second in November, 1994 and then went on to take
line honours in the 50th Sydney to Hobart Race in December.

Heading the fleet for the 2000 Maria Island Race are Doctor Who, Roger
Jackman's Davidson 52, and Mirrabooka, John Bennetto's Frers 47, while the
smallest boat in the fleet is the Sparkman & Stephens 34, Solandra, which
Craig Escott skippered to an overall IMS win last year.

Doctor Who, making a return to the Sydney to Hobart for her ninth race this
year has a record that includes an IMS overall win in 1990 while Mirrabooka
will be sailing her 14th successive race with a record that includes an IMS
division win.

Other yachts nominated for the Telstra Sydney to Hobart which are racing in
the Maria Island Race are B52 (Hughie Lewis), Breakaway (Wayne Banks-Smith),
Cyclone (Stephen Keal), Hot Property (Dave Hansen), Interum (Craig King) and
Valheru (Tony Lyall).

They will be joined by John Radonic's Fine Cotton, Mark Ballard's Grand
Chancellor, Michael Wearne's Rumbalara and Craig Escott's Solandra.

The 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race will have its Tasmanian launch
at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania tomorrow morning, with Cruising Yacht
Club of Australia Commodore Hans Sommer flying down to join RYCT Commodore
Robert 'Biddy' Badenach for the event.

Most of the Tasmanian owner/skippers competing are expected to attend the
function at 11am.

* Note to Sports Editors: We will be distributing news reports on the
progress of the Maria Island Race throughout the weekend when information
comes to hand.

If you need further information, please call Peter Campbell, Telstra Sydney
to Hobart Race Media Director, who will be Hobart over the weekend, on 0419
385 028.