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SOLAS Big Boat Challenge line honours winner with the Opera House in the background
Crosbie Lorimer |
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Bidding is now open in the CYCA SOLAS Trusts eBay Auction for the chance to sail on an ocean racing thoroughbred
The exclusive opportunity to bid for a place on one of Australia’s best known ocean racing thoroughbreds for charity is now open. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia today listed guest places on Wild Oats XI, Skandia, Ichi Ban and Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5 for its SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 16 December 2008.
One of the most exciting days on Sydney Harbour each year, the annual big boat dash around some of the Harbour’s most famous foreshore landmarks will again bring together a number of Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours contenders for this pre-Boxing Day showdown.
This year the fleet will be racing to raise awareness and money for the CYCA’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Trusts, which support search and rescue organisations Australia-wide.
For the high profile Wild Oats XI, skipper Mark Richards is using the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge as their last sail prior to racing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and vying for a fourth consecutive line honours win.
Wild Oats XI
In her Rolex Sydney Hobart debut this state-of-the-art 30m maxi with canting ballast twin foil took line honours in record time and won the Tattersall’s Cup – the only boat to take the trifecta since Rani in the first race in 1945. Wild Oats XI achieved the hat trick of line honours wins last year. Wild Oats XI is attempting a fourth successive line honours win following extensive modifications aimed at making the 30m Reichel/Pugh designed maxi faster and stronger. Two places are on offer on this ‘Makybe Diva’ of ocean racing.
To make a bid for the two places on Wild Oats XI log on to:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAIL-ON-WILD-OATS-XI-IN-THE-SOLAS-BIG-BOAT-CHALLENGE_W0QQitemZ320321284713QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item320321284713&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Skandia
Two places on Grant Wharington’s 30m maxi Skandia from Melbourne were also posted on eBay today. The Rolex Sydney Hobart 2003 line honours winner, Skandia, is for the sixth time making the trip from Melbourne to Sydney for the Boxing Day start of the 64th race to Hobart. Come the 16th of December, Wharington and his Victorian crew will be charging around Sydney Harbour at breakneck speed attempting to be one of the front runners across the finish line off the Opera House.
To make a bid for the two places on Skandia log on to:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAIL-ON-SKANDIA-IN-THE-SOLAS-BIG-BOAT-CHALLENGE_W0QQitemZ320321284875QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item320321284875&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Ichi Ban
CYCA Commodore Matt Allen has offered two places aboard his Jones 70 Ichi Ban, which finished third across the line in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart and is backing up this year. In the right conditions and on an open ocean, this modified Volvo 70 is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots or 55 kilometres per hour.
To make a bid for the two places on Ichi Ban log on to:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAIL-ON-ICHI-BAN-IN-THE-SOLAS-BIG-BOAT-CHALLENGE_W0QQitemZ320321284972QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item320321284972&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5
Andrew Short’s new acquisition has brought him recent success on the race track. After purchasing the boat in the USA earlier this year and before bringing her back to Australia, she took line honours in the St David’s Lighthouse Division of the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race. Upon her return to Australian shores, Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5 stretched her legs at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and has since proven she is a dominant force in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race after notching up a win in the Gosford – Lord Howe Island Race (which is often used as a qualifying race for Hobart). Two places are also on offer on this exciting boat.
To make a bid for the two places on Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5 log on to:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAIL-ON-ASM-SHOCKWAVE-5-IN-THE-SOLAS-BIG-BOAT-CHALLENGE_W0QQitemZ320321285141QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item320321285141&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Bidding for all four items will close on 8th December 2008. Terms and conditions apply, see the individual URL’s for details.
The CYCA Solas Trusts Charity was set up as a charitable trust in 1999 as a result of the tragic events of the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. To date almost $450,000 has been donated to search and rescue organizations Australia wide and has provided financial support to immediate families of those lost at sea during Australian Yachting Federation sanctioned races. The CYCA Solas Trusts also aims to foster & fund research and training in safety & rescue procedures.
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Ichi Ban crossed the line third and finished second in IRC Division for this year's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge
Christophe Launay |
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