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| Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. |
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| From December 26th, 2007. |
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| Stranded in Esperance a real test of perseverance |
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| By
the
Rolex Sydney Hobart Media Team |
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November
23,
2007. |
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| For
some lucky skippers, heading out to the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart
on Boxing Day can be as convenient as stepping on to their boat berthed
at one of the Sydney Harbour marinas and motoring to the starting area. |
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| While
all have to complete the rigorous entry process and prepare their crew
and boat for the often treacherous Bass Strait crossing, by the time
start day rolls around, one West Australian skipper will no doubt feel
like he’s already completed the tough 628 nautical mile ocean classic. |
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| Steve
Humphries set out from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Perth last
week and after six days at sea ran head on into gale force winds. |
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“The
boat was to sail to Sydney with a delivery crew of two,” said Humphries.
“As luck may have it, the trip south to Cape Leewin proved to be a bit on the nose with 50 knots across the deck and with the addition of
a gale south of WA, the experience proved too much for the crew who decided they didn’t want to continue and asked to be dropped off in Esperance.” |
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| With
no time to organise another delivery crew, a resourceful Humphries has,
from his motel room in Esperance, organised a truck to pick up his S&S
34 Huckleberry a week from today and transport it across the Nullarbor
to Sydney. |
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Humphries
has coined this year’s race “an achievable working man’s Everest (I hope)”
and it’s something he’s been working towards for many years.
“In 2001 and 2002 I crewed on two Sydney Hobart races on a boat called
Breakaway and after that I vowed to do the race in my own boat one year,” said Humphries. |
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“As
I’m retiring and getting older, I decided that if I didn’t do it this
year then it probably it wouldn’t happen."
“To this end I purchased Huckleberry in June last year from Mike Finn,
who raced it very successfully in WA."
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“The
preparation and the cost started almost immediately with a new mast and
rigging, overhauled motor and a preliminary sail wardrobe."
“Most nights after work were spent on the boat doing something to bring the
boat up to cat 1 racing standard, other nights were spent on the paper work
required to enter the race."
“The first real test of boat and crew was the Perth to Geraldton return race
last month. The race up was fine, even though we were the last boat home, but
the race back was to prove to be a test for both boat and crew.” |
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| Humphries
has had to face another test getting to Sydney for the start in less
than five weeks but he’s determined to continue on. |
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And
perhaps typical of a sailor, he’s managed to convince his bride of a
month to fly down to Esperance this weekend for their honeymoon, which
had to be postponed due to Huckleberry’s Rolex Sydney Hobart preparations.
Huckleberry is one of four West Australian entries for the Rolex Sydney Hobart
2007. |
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| Official
website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com |
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| To
view the list of yachts applied to enter go to: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com//yachts.asp?key=526 |
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Peter Andrews |
Outimage |
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