McConaghy built Loki's jubilant Tattersall's Cup victory
by Blue Robinson on 9 Jan 2012
Loki, Stephen Ainsworth - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2011 Rolex/Daniel Forster
http://www.regattanews.com
After 14 attempts, a delighted Stephen Ainsworth has staked claim on the historic Tattersall’s Cup with his McConaghy built Reichel/Pugh 63’ Loki, adding the Rolex Sydney Hobart handicap victory to a brimming trophy cabinet.
'We are elated, it is a fantastic feeling, a huge thrill to win this race,' said a jubilant Ainsworth. 'I know how hard it is to win this race. I have been trying for a long time!'
Critical to Loki's victory in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race was the crew’s ability to push the boat through the first night’s thirty-knot Southerly front - and then work through the light patches closer to the finish: Ainsworth's crew taking sixty miles out of the leading Maxis in one morning. Launched in Sydney in 2008, Loki has been the standout IRC yacht in Australia - in 2010 taking both line honours and IRC Division 1 overall victory in the Audi Sydney Harbour regatta, plus the overall win in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Crowned the 2010-2011 Bluewater Pointscore Champion - winning four of the seven-race series and taking line honours and the IRC 0/1 divisional win in this year’s Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race, in September Loki added the Bird Island Race to its list of successes, breaking the 15 year-old record held by the 80ft Brindabella.
Congratulations to Loki's owner and crew on beating an international fleet of eighty seven yachts and winning such a challenging and complex Rolex Sydney-Hobart race. Ainsworth describing the victory as 'Pure joy!'
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/92683
