Crichton ‘borrows’ top yacht

TOP ocean racer Neville Crichton will be the oldest man to skipper a supermaxi in the Sydney to Hobart after confirming he will steer American record-breaker Comanche in what he predicts will be his last hurrah in the famed ocean race.

By borrowing the 100footer from good mate and Netscape founder Jim Clark and Australian model wife Kristy Hinze Clark, the selfmade multi-millionaire is ensuring he goes out with a splash as he reignites one of his sports greatest rivalries.

“I’m running out of runway so I wanted to give it a go,” the recently married 72-year-old luxury car importer said.

Speculation has been rife for weeks that Comanche would be on the December 26 start line with Crichton finally confirming he will steer her south and will rebrand her with one of his sponsors for the race.

One of six helmsmen on the yacht, he will pit the 24-hour record breaker against rival Wild Oats X1 and his old yacht Alfa Romeo, now owned by Peter Harburg and sailing as Black Jack.

The 2002 and 2009 line honours winner will compile a crew from three different Sydney to Hobart winning campaigns — Alfa Romeo in 2009, Comanche in 2015 and Loyal in 2016 — in his bid to chalk up a rare line/handicap double in the race.

The Sydney-based New Zealander, who survived throat cancer with a hole in his throat which makes any ocean racing life-threatening, says he will return the yacht to Clark after the race and expects it to be then taken overseas for sale.