Australia Day Regatta Shockwave beats Nicorette

by Peter Campbell on 26 Jan 2001 The New Zealand super maxi Shockwave returned to racing on a winning note today in the 165th Australia Day Regatta offshore race from
Sydney to Botany Bay and return - her first start since retiring from the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race.



Skippered by owner Neville Crichton, the 80-footer outsailed the Swedish maxi Nicorette, the boat that went on to take line honours in the
gruelling Sydney to Hobart Race.



Shockwave finished the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 25 nautical mile offshore race more than 16 minutes ahead Ludde Ingvall's
Nicorette, with George Snow's Brindabella just over one minute astern.



Conditions today, of course, were totally different to the strong to galeforce winds with rough seas of the Sydney to Hobart, a gentle 8 to
10 knot east nor'easter that was ideal for the light displacement Shockwave.



With many of the 51 starters still at sea early this evening, handicap results for the City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy will not be
announced until tomorrow.



Inshore, the largest fleet in years contested the world's oldest continuous regatta with recent and past Sydney to Hobart yachts figuring
in top placings.



The Danish yacht Nokia, a Volvo 60 that holds the race record for the Sydney to Hobart, took line honours in Division 1 with first place
on handicap going to the regular harbour racer, Akela, helmed by Steve Sweeney.



In the Classic Yacht division, Fidelis, the 1966 line honours winner of the Sydney to Hobart now owned by Nigel Stoke, got the gun from
Caprice of Huon (David Champtaloup) which represented Australia in the first challenge for the Admiral's Cup in England in 1965.



First place on handicap went to the former Victorian 6-metre class yacht Antara (Ian Kortland) from another former Hobart racer, Struen
Marie (Keith Pryor) and Caprice of Huon.



Winner of Gaff Rig race for the Federation gold medal was the Victorian built

'couta boat Sylvia, skippered by Philip Kinsella.





Further information: Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or email - peter_Campbell@bigpond.com