Australia pins hopes on Estate Master for Rolex Farr 40 World title

Martin and Lisa Hill own 'Estate Master' © Kurt Arrigo

When the 2015 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship starts in Long Beach, California, later this month, Australian yachting enthusiasts will pin all their hopes on Martin and Lisa Hill's Estate Master, the sole Australia entry at the prestigious international event.

Long-standing Farr 40 aficionados of the class, the Hills, who finished runners-up at the 2014 Worlds, will vie for the Rolex Farr 40 crown from 24-27 September, after first ramping up in the Pre-Worlds, to be held over 21 and 22 September.

The Sydney couple, representing Middle Harbour Yacht Club and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, left for California yesterday with high hopes of transporting the trophy and title home to Sydney (host for the 2016 Farr 40 Worlds), as the reigning world champion. It would be special.

The Hills know only too well how difficult it is to win a one-design event of this calibre, having engaged in eight Farr 40 Worlds with Estate Master. Their track record, working back from second in 2014, is fifth, fourth, ninth and 15th.

In a fleet of 19 in 2014, including three other Australian entries, Estate Master finished second overall to Alex Roeper's US entry, Plenty. In the process, the Australian couple defeated 2013 world champion, Alberto Rossi's Enfante Terrible (ITA), by one place. The trio will face each other again for the 2015 title and Martin Hill says his crew is up to the task.

Boat captain, James Corrie, has given the boat a complete overhaul of equipment and instruments and a new paint job. Since, Estate Master has placed third at the West Coast Cabrillo Regatta, fourth at the Cal Cup and sixth at the North American Championship – all international events away from home.

"These results do not reflect our improvement though," said Martin Hill, who is also the Farr 40 Association president.

"Overall, the top six Farr 40's have become closer and we've been experimenting to find that edge," he explained.

"We know we're in a better shape in boat preparation and crew sailing knowledge. It's just a matter of how we put it all together at the main event, but we trust Dog (long-term coach Andrew Palfrey) can keep us growing stronger," Hill ended.

While Hill, as owner, will drive the boat, Lisa will not be aboard this time, but will be accompanying her husband and the crew to Long Beach. Despite Lisa staying ashore, Hill feels after finishing second at the Worlds last year and upping the ante on training will hold them in good stead.

In Estate Masters armoury for the 18th edition of the Farr 40 Worlds, is the record-breaking five-time world match racing champion, Ian Williams. The British sailor will be backed up by strategist Michael Dunstan, while Darren 'Twirler' Jones completes the back end of the boat as mainsail trimmer.

The rest of the crew are: Jason Rowed and Jason Currie trimming, Keith Glynn is in the pit, Harry Bethwaite, son of noted boat designer and sailor Julian, will do pit and box, Paul Atkins is at the mast and bowman is Marco Carpinello.

Estate Master is one of 17 boats from six nations entered for the Worlds. And apart from the past two world champions, Hill expects their toughest opposition will come from German entry, Struntje Light (Wolfgang Schaeffer), and Helmut Jahn's Flash Gordon 6 (USA).

The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will be hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club, which has played host to many international sailing events.

All information and results will be posted to farr40worlds.com