Crew thirsts for firsts

THEY were the first team from mainland China to compete in a Sydney to Hobart, the first to enter this year’s event and now the crew on the 52-footer De Rucci are working overtime to be the first to win the famous race.

Skipper Dong Qing and his crew on the rebranded De Rucci, formerly known as Ark 323, are also the first international entry in Sydney training for the bluewater classic which starts on Boxing Day.

The Chinese team from Noahs Yacht Club Shanghai are hoping it is third time lucky for them after being hit by a rival at the start of the 2015 race and last year racing much of the trip to Hobart without a mainsail after breaking their boom in Bass Strait.

“Because of the last two years we decided to get here even earlier to train,’’ said Qing, who arrived with his team this month. “This year we want to do well’’ Qing’s crew, the first to enter this year’s race when entries opened, will train five days a week until the December 26 start of the Sydney to Hobart with all but two of his 15-strong crew having previously raced the event.

They also enter the 73rd Sydney to Hobart with the additional experience of having campaigned in the famous Fastnet race in the UK this year.

De Rucci is one of 31 overseas yachts in the 109-strong Sydney to Hobart fleet, which also includes 12 boats from the UK and representatives from New Caledonia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the US, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Russia.