French-Kiwi fusion in race to Hobart
NEW ZEALAND winemaker and yachting enthusiast Jim Delegat’s second attempt at the Sydney to Hobart blue water classic has a distinctly French flavour with helmsman Thomas Coville reunited with the monohull he helped guide to success in the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race.
Coville, who completed single-handed circumnavigations of the world in 2008-09 and 2011, is one of three watch captains that will share responsibility for the 70-foot Giacomo reaching Tasmania as soon as possible after today’s start on Sydney Harbour.
New Zealanders Chris Mains and Cameron Dunn join the experienced Frenchman, who supported compatriot Franck Cammas when the then named Groupama 4 won the previous edition of the world’s premier offshore race.
The trio replace legendary New Zealand skipper Chris Dickson and is not the only area where Delegat – the managing director of the Delegat Wine Estate – has altered his crewing for the 628 nautical mile journey down Australia’s eastern seaboard and across Bass Strait.
In a significant departure from last year’s approach, Delegat has increased the crew from 14 to 20 to receive a more favourable handicap.
‘‘We’ve decommissioned the ballast tanks so we’re sailing with a dry boat and we’re using people for ballast,’’ he said. ‘‘Overall we’ve got a better IRC rating this year (1645) which puts us in a more competitive position than last year in terms of handicap.’’
With five super maxis in the 117-strong fleet, including seven-time line honours winner and defending champion Wild Oats XI, Delegat accepts being first across the line is unrealistic.
‘‘We race this boat as winning on handicap because it’s unlikely that we can ever beat a 100-footer on line although we do benchmark ourselves against the 100-footers in terms of distance and time travelled.’’
Giacomo was the sixth boat to cruise up the Derwent last year and ranked third in its division – given the increased competition offered by the likes of brand new American 100-footer Comanche Delegat will be satisfied if they can maintain those positions.