Telstra Cup Overall

Nips-n-Tux wins Telstra Cup by one point

Grand prix ocean racers, Yendys and Loco have strengthened their handicap prospects for the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with strong performances in the Telstra Cup which finished today, despite being beaten overall by the newly imported Nips-n-Tux.

Nips-n-Tux, an IMX40 owned by Howard De Torres and the only of her kind in Australia, won the 2000 Telstra Cup IMS division by one point from Geoff Ross’ Yendys, the Overall winner of the 1999 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Nips-n-Tux sealed the series with a corrected time win in the final race. With sailmaker Bob Fraser as tactician, the unexpected win saw Nips-n-Tux narrowly overcome the likes of Yendys and David Coe’s fast paced Loco.

Nips-n-Tux is not an entrant in the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, but is sailing north in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race starting on 2 January.

The last race of the seven race Telstra Cup series was held offshore from Sydney Heads today. The 50 yacht fleet was subjected to a lengthy two hour postponement due to a lack of wind early in the afternoon, but racing finally got underway in a light 5 to 8 knot easterly breeze.

The battle of the day was between David Coe’s Farr 52, Loco, driven by Michael Coxon, and 62-footer, Bumblebee 5, owned by John Kahlbetzer and steered by designer Iain Murray.

Loco led the race from the outset and increased the margin early in the race. However, Bumblebee 5 worked her way back into contention race and at the final mark she made her move into the lead in a close mark rounding, capitalising on an inside advantage.

Bumblebee 5 held onto the IMS line honours win by a boat length from Loco, on corrected time Loco placing fifth and Bumblebee 5 back in 15th place.

David Coe recently purchased Loco in America and planned to race her in the Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race under the IRC handicap division.

However, her blistering pace in her initial regattas, the Telstra Cup and Ord Minnett Regatta, made Coe realise Loco’s full potential as a Sydney to Hobart overall winner and he made a last minute decision to compete in the IMS handicap division.

Loco, previously called Scream, was purchased from Farr Design Team executive Geoff Stagg who is currently in Australia. Stagg, with obvious regrets, said, “I’m sorry I’ve sold the boat now. It’s a great design and is obviously very fast.”

Shockwave, Neville Crichton’s 80-foot maxi, again collected the line honours win in the IRC division to make it a line honours clean sweep in all seven IRC races of the Telstra Cup. Shockwave’s strong performance in the Telstra Cup only further confirms her status as the Telstra Sydney to Hobart line honours favourite.

Loki (Stephen Ainsworth), a Swan 48, secured the overall IRC victory on corrected time by a two-point margin from Shockwave.

The Sydney 38 division also came down to the wire with The Business (Vaughan Stibbard) winning by three points from Victorian Lou Abrahams’ Another Challenge.

Overall Results:

IMS Division:
1 Nips n Tux        Howard De Torres  1,6,2,3,2,2,1  327 pts
2 Yendys            Geoff Ross        2,1,4,2,1,12,2 326 pts
3 Loco              David Coe         5,5,1,1,3,6,5  318 pts

IRC Division:
1 Loki              Stephen Ainsworth 7,3,1,1,7,1,5  322 pts
2 Shockwave         Neville Crichton  2,1,4,3,1,7,7  320 pts
3 Addiction         Stewart Lewis     1,2,5,5,3,5,3  318 pts

Sydney 38 Division:
1 The Business      Vaughan Stibbard  4,1,1,3,1,2,2  329 pts
2 Another Challenge Lou Abbrahams     6,3,2,1,2,1,3  326 pts
3 Blowfly           Barry Moore       1,4,5,5,6,6,1  316 pts