Yendys makes strong bid for IMS handicap double in Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race

by Peter Campbell on 29 Dec 2000 The Sydney yacht Yendys this morning is making a strong bid for a rare back-to-back overall IMS handicap win in the Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

The Farr 49, owned and skippered by Hong Kong-based Australian yachtsman Geoff Ross, took overall IMS honours in the 1999 race only weeks after being launched.

Based on positions reported from the fleet at 3am today, Yendys, has sailed to the top of the leader board in progressive provisional corrected times, with a corrected speed of 12.24 knots.

Only two yachts have won successive Sydney to Hobarts in 55 races, the famous Freya which won in 1963, 1964 and 1965, and Westward in 1948 and 1947.

In second place, with an IMS corrected speed of 10.37 knots, is the British cruiser/racer Sunstone, a varnished timber Sparkman and Stephens-designed 39-footer built in 196 5 and owned by cruising couple Tom and Vicky Jackson.

The Sydney yacht Ninety Seven, skippered by Graham Gibson, dropped from first to third overall with an IMS corrected speed of 10.2 knots, just ahead of the Tasmanian yacht Interum (Craig King).

The Swedish maxi, Nicorette (Ludde Ingvall) which took line honours early this morning with an elapsed time of 2 days 14 hours 2 minutes 9 seconds, continues to hold first place on corrected time in the IRC handicap category.

In second place is illbruck, the German Volvo 60 skippered by American John Kostecki, third is the Melbourne maxi Wild Thing (Grant Wharington) which is expected to finish second in the fleet.

Leading the PHS handicap category is the veteran yacht Hogsbreath Witchdoctor, owned by the Rum Consortium, with Berrimilla (Alex Whitworth) in second place, Delta Wing (Bill Koppe) dropping back to third position overnight.



Further information:
Peter Campbell - Media Director - 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
03 6234 1015 or 0419 385 028