| Loyal’s Derwent drift into second over the line. |
| By Bruce Montgomery Sydney Hobart media team |
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Photos by
Daniel Forster and Carlo Borlenghi for Rolex,
Story and page edited By Peter Andrews. |
| 00:30 AEDT, December 29,
2010. |
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| After being becalmed within sight of the line, Sean Langman and Anthony Bell’s 100-foot supermaxi Investec Loyal is the second boat to finish the Sydney Hobart, three and a half hours behind the provisional line honours winner Wild Oats XI. Investec Loyal crossed the line at 00.11.34 on Wednesday morning after experiencing a trying Derwent drifter as the wind dropped out just before midnight. |
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Sean Langman's 100-foot Elliott Investec Loyal, catches the sunset
off Tasman Island during the 2010 Sydney Hobart.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Langman congratulated
the Wild Oats XI crew on being first to Hobart. The outcome
of an international jury hearing today (Wednesday) may determine
if Investec Loyal is elevated to line honours winner of
the
66th edition of the world renowned yacht race.
"I want a victory on the water," Langman said on arrival, after being asked how he would feel about being named line honours winner should Wild Oats XI be stripped of the honour for a rule infringement. When asked whether he can challenge Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI again and win, he responded: "definitely, there is more in this boat, more in the team."
"The first afternoon we were the faster boat, they were a slicker team. We’ll change [that] though," he warned. "We sailed a seamanship race." |
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Sean Langman's 100-foot Elliott Investec Loyal, approaching Tasman
Island during the 2010 Sydney Hobart.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
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The jury will hear a protest today by the race committee against Wild Oats XI for a rule infringement that centres on the signal strength of their HF radio as they entered Bass Strait on Monday, a prerequisite that all boats must meet one of the outcomes of the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
The crew on Investec Loyal included former Australian cricketer legend Matthew Hayden, seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley, Olympic butterfly champion Geoff Huegill and former Wallabies Phil Kearns and Phil Waugh.
Matthew Hayden was put to work on the bow and did not suffer seasickness the whole way. "It was hairy at times, getting the bodyweight low" said Hayden." He had such a great experience, he said would like to do it all again.
"It would be nice to come back and get line honours. I felt safe, warm, I felt like I knew the boat. Our training really came in handy. I felt that I knew the vessel well enough to contribute the best of my ability and I had a ball. It’s such a different sporting culture and rates up there with some of the best teamwork I have ever seen. In a way it surpasses the challenges on a still playing field," Hayden added. |
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Sean Langman, skipper of Investec Loyal.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
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Langman announced dockside that first timer Layne Beachley had taken out the "golden pillow award".
"I felt sick the moment my first watch began at 9pm on Boxing Day night, and I didn’t get out of bed until 6am today," said Beachley. "I just wanted to get involved; I wanted to get on deck. I felt like I was being squeezed by a piece of rope around my stomach and squeezed and squeezed and squeezed until there wasn’t any liquid in my body."
On Oats’ performance she said: "They’re a well oiled
machine, they’re a professional crew, they’ve been training for this
for years and they deserve a win." Swimming champ Huegill said: "What
amazed me was the concentration aspect of it. For me I guess I just have to focus
on 52 seconds or a 23-second race; you go through so many different elements."
The talented sailing line-up also on board included America’s Cup sailor Billy Merrington, Olympic sailor Anthony Nossiter and North
Sails’ Michael Coxon. |
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Sean Langman's 100-foot Elliott Investec Loyal, offshore during
the 2010 Sydney Hobart.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
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Peter Millard and John Honan’s Lahana is the next due to finish, followed by Matt Allen’s Jones 70 Ichi Ban which featured in the top handicap placings earlier but is slowly slipping down the rankings now that the breeze has shut down.
For further information about the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, go to: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. The race can also be followed on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/rshyr. |
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| Outimage and Rolex © 2010 |
