SUPER MAXIS TO CLASH AGAIN ON AUSTRALIA DAY

by Peter Campbell on 26 Jan 2001 The Swedish maxi yacht Nicorette, line honours winner of the recent Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, and Shockwave, the hot
favourite that withdrew in galeswept Bass Strait, will clash again tomorrow in the 165th Australia Day Regatta.



The two 80-footers head up a fleet of more than 60 yachts expected to contest the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's City of Sydney
Sesquicentenary Trophy offshore race from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay and return as part of the historic regatta.



The 25 nautical mile short race starts near Shark Island at 11.00am and is expected to produce a spinnaker finish mid afternoon off the
Opera House.



Shockwave, owned and skippered by Sydney yachtsman Neville Crichton, started odds-on favourite for line honours in the Sydney to
Hobart after dominating racing the lead-up Telstra Cup regatta.



However, she was untried in heavy weather ocean racing conditions and after leading the fleet into Bass Strait, she withdrew soon
afterwards, citing the forecast of galeforce winds and rough seas.



Nicorette, skippered by Ludde Ingvall, went on to take line honours in a gruelling race to Hobart as 23 other yachts, including the maxis
Brindabella and Xena, also retired with damage.



Tomorrow's Australia Day offshore fleet has also attracted most of the leading IMS and IRC grand prix racing yachts, including the Overall
winner of the Sydney to Hobart, SAP Ausmaid, skippered by Roger Hickman, and the recently launched Nips 'n' Tux, Howard de Torres'
IMX 40 that won the 2000 Telstra Cup and then the 2001 Strathfield Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race,



On the Harbour, the Danish 60-footer, Nokia, the race record-holder for the Sydney to Hobart, will compete in Division 1 of the 165th
Australia Day Regatta, the world's oldest continuous regatta.



Further information: Peter Campbell - Phone 0419 385 028

Email - peter_Campbell@bigpond.com