Our best shot, says Scallywag skipper
THEY are outnumbered four to one but the skipper of the Hong Kong entry Scallywag believes the 100-footer has her best chance of ending Australia’s recent domination of the line-honours race.
Australian David Witt says he could not have asked for a better forecast for the foreign raider, hoping to outmuscle the Australian quartet of Wild Oats XI, Comanche, InfoTrack and Black Jack in the 628nautical-mile race south.
“I know if I had to pick a forecast for us, I would pick this one,” said Witt, who has had to overcome radio issues and two ripped sails in the race lead-up.
“It’s about the wind strength for us. This is the range we have designed the boat for.”
While Comanche is the defending champion, Wild Oats XI is the yacht Witt believes is the one to beat.
“I think at this stage if we beat Wild Oats we win the race,” he said.
Sailing meteorologist Roger Badham said yesterday said there are still issues with the timing of an early but weak southerly on Boxing Day, but the rest of the race looks fast.
The forecast is favouring mid-sized yachts such as Stacey Jackson’s 66-footer Wild Oats X, the American 66-footer Prospector and defending champion Matt Allen and his 52-footer Ichi Ban in the overall race.
While there are plenty of mid-range northerlies for downwind sailing, he believes forecast light winds in Bass Strait, or even the Derwent River finishing straight, are what could deprive the winner of a race record.
“It won’t need to change much for it to be back on and there is time for change,” he said.
The Jim Cooney-skippered Comanche last year set a record mark of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds for the race after being elevated into first place when Wild Oats copped a 20 per cent time penalty for a close call with her rival soon after the start.
Eighty-five yachts will be on the starting line when the cannon fires on Boxing Day.
This year Scallywag and Prospector are just two of 11 international entries in the race.
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost