Sail-World.com : Bakewell-White super maxi to contest Sydney Gold Coast race

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Sail-World.com : Bakewell-White super maxi to contest Sydney Gold Coast race

Bakewell-White super maxi to contest Sydney Gold Coast race

'Konica Minolta-Zana Sydney Hobart 2005' Ian Mainsbridge Click Here to view large photo

Lahana, being unloaded from her shipping crate, after her arrival at Port Kembla - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Andrea Francolini Photography ©
The Bakewell-White designed supermaxi yacht Zana, also known as Konica Minolta, will be overhauled by new owners Peter Millard and his brother-in-law John Honan to compete in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, her maiden voyage for the new owners and under her new name Lahana.

Millard and Honan, from Sydney, watched as Lahana arrived in Port Kembla and will spend the next couple of months having her overhauled and optimized for IRC racing at Noakes Boat & Shipyards at Woolwich.

Both owners are aiming to participate in all the offshore passage races up and down the east coast, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart. It is anticipated that Lahana will also compete in Audi Hamilton Island Race Week after completing the Gold Coast race.

Lahana, designed by Brett Bakewell-White, is a 98 foot fixed keel water ballasted yacht that was built in 2003 in NZ. The modifications she will undergo will help the yacht keep pace under her IRC rating.

Zana, later known as Konica Minolta was built by Hake Marine in Wellington, NZ and campaigned by Stewart Thwaites.

Zana was a frequent sight in Australian and New Zealand offshore races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Auckland to Fiji, Hamilton Island Race Week, and the 2005 HSBC Coastal Classic.

She has been based in England for some time before being acquired by her new owners, who purchased the the supermaxi sight unseen by her new owners. It is understood that an independent survey spoke highly of her design and construction quality

Konica Minolta off to set the Auckland Suva Race record - Chris Lewis

'We are excited to participate in offshore yacht races once again – this time as yacht owners and want to focus on IRC racing,' said Millard. 'It will be a family affair – with the name of the boat being developed from both our daughters' names and it has a Hawaiian translation of ‘A Day at the Office’.

'Our crew will be made up of other CYCA members and some from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, who I have previously sailed with. We looked forward to competing with the likes of Skandia, which was built after Lahana.' Millard said.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is a 384 nautical mile race that marks the commencement of the CYCA’s prestigious Blue Water Pointscore Series. The race is also the third event of the Audi IRC Australian Championship and regularly attracts fleet sizes of 70-80 yachts.

For more on the Gold Coast Race click here

Konica Minolta Zana clears away after the start of the BMW Round Ireland race 2006 - Event Media

Konica Minolta competing in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Crosbie Lorimer

by Jennifer Crooks and Sail-World

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7:54 AM Tue 26 May 2009 GMT

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