Outimage Publications - Nest Property in the doldrums

The outimage dot net ocean yacht racing banner is an image of Roger Sturgeon's Transpac 65 Rosbud from the United States, working up Hobart's Derwent River into the late afternoon to take out an overall win of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The photograph was taken by Peter Andrews.

Nest Property in the doldrums

Rolex Sydney Hobart - News Update
13:00 AEDT December 30, 2008

Article By Greg Peart, Rolex Sydney Hobart Media Team

December 30, 2008.

At lunchtime today Murray Wilkes and his crew aboard Nest Property were really in the doldrums. They had come to a grinding halt just north of Maria Island after a scintillating spinnaker run that lasted a couple of hours.

"We are just sitting here doing absolutely nothing, and going absolutely nowhere," a rather forlorn Wilkes lamented.

"Music is blaring from down below, and curiosity has got the better of the occasional fur seal. We are having no trouble eating the remaining food that can’t be brought ashore."

Murray Wilkes' Peter Cole designed Traditional 30, Nest Property, just outside the heads off Sydney after the start of the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

As they bob up and down in a small swell, the Rolex Sydney Hobart skipper notes that having six guys aboard a small 30 foot yacht has its downside.

"The boat no longer smells as it should," said Wilkes. "It’s a bit of a stink boat down below!"

This is the third time Wilkes and his crew of five have been becalmed. They wallowed in virtually still waters just south of Gabo Island for more than eight hours.

"I just sat there looking at the water, reflecting on the contrast of ten years ago when yachts were confronted by monster waves," Wilkes said.

Then again last evening Nest Property spent more time drifting without wind and Wilkes and his crew couldn’t help thinking about the fortunes of ocean racing, and how the front pack had experienced such fantastic reaching and running all the way to Tasman Island.

Morale however, is good. Especially as the crew has Tasman Island in their sights, and that means Wilkes and his crew are nearly home.

It has been a long journey for Nest Property which looks like being the last yacht to finish this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart sometime tomorrow morning, New Year’s Eve.

Official race website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

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