Telstra Cup - Canon Big Boat Challenge

No Shocks in the Canon Big Boat Challenge

Shockwave, Neville Crichtons’s 80-foot speed machine has blitzed the Canon Big Boat fleet on Sydney Harbour with a four-minute line honours win over nearest rival, Melbourne maxi Wild Thing (Grant Wharington), competing in its first race since undergoing major hull modifications.

“The crew has only been together for three days and we are constantly learning from every race,” Neville said at the post-race press conference. When asked about his expectations for the upcoming 2000 Telstra Sydney Hobart Race, Neville professed that “the biggest problem will be slowing her down.”

On handicap, the true prize amongst yachties, the two 58-footers in the fleet, After Shock, Neville Crichton’s previous Shockwave now owned by Colin O’Neil, and her sistership Another Duchess (Bob Oatley) have taken out first and second on corrected time. The first time After Shock entered the Canon Big Boat Challenge in 1998, she also claimed the prestigious trophy.

Wild Thing was amongst those who led early from the spectacular start along with After Shock, the Volvo 60 Tyco (Michael Harvey) and a second Volvo 60 Nokia, skippered by Stefan Myralf. Conditions were ideal with a constant 8-knot south-easterly, gusting up to 12 knots at times.

Race favourite Shockwave was pinned at the start allowing Wild Thing to make a break, which she held for the early part of the race, but it was only a matter of time before the turbo-charged maxi accelerated to seize the front position and to claim the third place on handicap.

“I was happy with the boat’s performance,” said owner Grant Wharington today. “She balanced nicely whereas we used to have a helming problem. Today was a real confidence booster for us and we think we’ll be competitive for the Hobart Race, particularly when our water ballast comes into play.”

The five-time line honours winner in this event, Brindabella, was never in the running for the gun although she did maintain her third place for most of the 14 mile course, with owner George Snow and his principle helmsman Bob Fraser sharing the wheel.

“It’s better coming first than third, but that’s life,” said George at the press conference. “The Hobart Race is a different thing however. I do have an older boat but it’s a strong boat and we all know that the Sydney Hobart Race can be very hard on the fleet.”

After a slow start, the red-hulled Open 60 Xena (Sean Langman) slipped through the fleet to finish fourth over the line just off the Opera House, in amongst all the charter vessels and spectator boats that had followed the 14-strong fleet around the tight harbour course.

“We are just a bunch of skiff sailors who are campaigning a home grown yacht and we are going to send her to Hobart, and hopefully not break her,” said Sean Langman, who finished fourth over the line.

A new addition to this year’s 7th annual Canon Big Boat Challenge was umpires onboard each yacht in the fleet, as well in red inflatables. There were ready to adjudicate any on-water incidents but unlike in previous years, there were no incidents and results were released quickly.