News Corporation confirms its entry in the Sydney to Hobart Race

by News Limited Press Release on 3 Nov 2000 The News Corporation Volvo Ocean 60 has confirmed its entry in the Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race.

News Corporation is one of at least five Volvo Ocean 60s to contest the Boxing Day race and will be skippered by Britain's Jez Fanstone, who will also lead the crew in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002.
With eight of the final 12 Volvo Ocean Race crew on board, the Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race will be an invaluable precursor to the Volvo Ocean Race which will form part of leg three of next year's Volvo Ocean Race.

"Offshore racing conditions are vital to focussing the crew and providing a sense of reality", says skipper Jez Fanstone. "Learnings from the this year's Sydney to Hobart Race will play a major role in the ongoing development of the crew, rigging and sails."

The News Corporation boat to enter the Telstra Sydney to Hobart is the first in a two-boat campaign to contest the Volvo Ocean Race. A second boat, currently under construction in Auckland, will take the start in Southampton in September 2001.

The News Corporation crew comprises sailors from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and includes America's Cup veteran Steve Cotton as Watch Captain and Australian Alby Pratt. The campaign is headed by two time Whitbread winner and offshore racing veteran, Ross Field.

Although a global campaign, the News Corporation V.O. 60s will be registered with Australia's CYC. A launching ceremony for the first of the two boats will take place in Sydney prior to the start of the Sydney to Hobart race.

Lachlan Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation, is as yet unconfirmed as part of the News Corporation crew for the Telstra Sydney to Hobart.

CREW LIST AS AT 1 NOVEMBER FOR TELSTRA SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE


Jez Fanstone - Skipper, UK
Steve Cotton - Watch Captain, NZ
Alby Pratt - Sail Co-ordinator/Trimmer, AUS
Justin Slattery - Bowman, Ireland
Julian Salter - Navigator, UK
Nick White - Meteorologist/Navigator, NZ
Phil Airey - Trimmer, NZ
Andy Beadesworth, UK
Craig Smith, NZ
Kip Stanley-Harris, NZ
Richard Bicknall, NZ
An additional bowman is yet to be confirmed.
ABOUT NEWS CORPORATION
News Corporation had total assets as of March 31, 2000 of approximately US$40 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$14 billion. News Corporation's diversified global operations in the United States, Canada, continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America and the Pacific Basin include the production of motion pictures and television programming; television, satellite and cable broadcasting; the publication of newspapers, magazines and books; the production and distribution of promotional and advertising products and services; the development of digital broadcasting; the development of conditional access and subscriber management systems, and the creation and distribution of popular on-line programming.