| Top fleet for the Rolex Trophy Series. |
| By the Rolex Trophy
Media Team. |
 |
Photos by
Peter Andrews,
Page edited By Peter Andrews. |
| December 8, 2010. |
|
Sailing enthusiasts will be treated to spectacular racing when a world-class fleet lines up for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Rolex Trophy One-Design Series off Sydney from 10-12 December.
This usually eye-catching event is sure to draw even more interest as all the Farr 40’s taking part will be in tune-up mode for the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in February, also taking place off Sydney. |
|
Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’ Farr 40 Transfusion, during the Rolex Trophy One Design Series in 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage Australia.
|
 |
|
|
At the top of the list is reigning world and European champion, Nerone, an Italian yacht owned by Massimo Mezzaroma, who also won the Worlds in 2003. Another highly credentialed international is American Jim Richardson with Barking Mad, who won the World’s in 1998, 2004, and 2009.
Nerone and Barking Mad went head-to-head for the 2009 World and 2010 European titles. Australian Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’ Transfusion came between the two at the 2010 World’s, leaving Barking Mad third overall. A tough hombre, Richardson has netted a handful of minor placings to add to his wins over the years.
Brett Neill’s White Cloud from New Zealand rounds out the international
list. He and the crew regularly make the trip across the Tasman to Australia
to familiarise themselves with the Australian fleet and the local conditions.
Neill realised the benefit of all their travels after finishing second in the SSORC series in late November to fellow Rolex Trophy One-Design
competitor, Lang Walker with Kokomo. Walker backed up with a win in the Farr 40 Sprint Series early this month, showing a well-prepared crew.
The Australians’ will be out in force. Top of the pile is Martin and Lisa Hill’s Estate
Master and Transfusion. The latter
finished second at the 2010 Worlds to Estate Master’s fourth,
but results have see-sawed back and forth at Australian events, including the
Hills’ win of this event last year, with Kokomo second and Transfusion third. |
| |
Martin and Lisa Hill’s Estate Master, during the Rolex Trophy One Design Series 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage Australia.
|
 |
|
|
Chris Way’s Easy Tiger II, Jeff Carter’s Twin Edake, Ivan Wheen’s Sputnik, David Gotze’s Enigma and Andrew Hunn’s Voodoo Chile make up the rest of the Australian field, and each has had its moment in the sun.
Crew and crew work will play a vital role in deciding the winner and teams will need to be at their best every day. Local knowledge will make the Aussies feel a little more comfortable, while patience, nerve and fitness could make the difference. |
|
Lang Walker’s Kokomo, during the Rolex Trophy One Design
Series 2008.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage Australia.
|
 |
|
|
Owners have topped up their crews with some of the hottest names in sailing. On Estate Master alone there are three Australian Olympians; reigning world champions 470 sailor Malcolm Page, Laser sailor Tom Slingsby and former 49er double world champion Nathan Outteridge, while Transfusion has Olympian Bobby Wilmot.
Challenging conditions off Sydney Heads; prevailing big nor’ easters with some southerly busters thrown in, lumpy seas, short sharp chop, shifty breezes that can go from light and flukey to lusty and gusty, and the pressures of one-design sailing at its best are like being in a pressure cooker. |
|
Chris Way’s Easy Tiger II, during the Rolex Trophy One
Design Series 2009.
Photo © Peter Andrews, Outimage Australia.
|
 |
|
| |
| The Rolex Trophy One
Design nine-race windward/leeward series commences from 11.00am
from Friday 10 December to Sunday 12 December. Results, reports
and images will be published daily at: http://www.cyca.com.au/editorial.asp?key=821. |
|
| Outimage and Rolex © 2010 |
|
|
