SAP Ausmaid favourite for overall winner of 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

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SAP Ausmaid favourite for overall winner of 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

by Peter Campbell on 30 Dec 2000

South Australian yacht SAP Ausmaid is shaping as the first South Australian contender in 50 years to win the Telstra 2000 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Ausmaid, skippered by Kevan Pearce, crossed the Hobart finish line at 10.44 pm last night to become the IMS Overall race leader.

Ausmaid, a Farr 47 design, is ahead of the UK entry Quest, skippered by Chris Bull, from the Royal Ocean Racing Club and last year's IMS Overall winner, Yendys, the Farr 49 skippered by Geoff Ross.

If she is confirmed as the race winner at the declaration of results at 11 am tomorrow (December 31). Ausmaid will be first South Australian entry to take the title in 50 years. The last and only South Australian Overall winner was Nerida in 1950.

However, race organisers say several yachts still at sea remain with a chance.

They include AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas, NSW), which at this morning's race sked, was abeam of Freycinet Peninsula, Chutzpah (Bruce Taylor, Vic), the cruiser/racer Sunstone (Vicky and Tom Jackson, UK), and BOOTS (Rex Billing and John Porter, Vic).

Yachts which have crossed the finish since midnight include Yendys, Quest (Chris Bull, UK), Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer, NSW), Loki (Stephen Ainsworth, NSW), Cruz Control (Maynard Smith, Qld), Ninety Seven (Graham Gibson, NSW), and Eureka (Bob Roberston, Qld), bringing to 15 the number of finishers with 45 yachts still at sea.

The first Tasmanian entry Dr Who rounded Tasman Island at 4.16 and is expected to finish mid-morning.

The Volvo 60 yachts preparing for next year's around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race will resume competition at 10:00 am this morning when they start the next leg of their journey from Hobart to Auckland.

The yachts, News Corporation, illbruck, TYCO and Assa Abloy, will start from near the Telstra Sydney to Hobart finish line off Castray Esplanade.

Further Information

2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Media Centre
03 6234 1015

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.yachtsandyachting.com/1361

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