Fremantle to Bali Race 2013 - Glamour and Speed

by Marina Valmadre on 28 Feb 2013 Fremantle to Bali Race 2013. In an extraordinary coup for Western Australia and the Fremantle Sailing Club it was announced today that the multi-million dollar ultra-lite maxi yacht Tokolosh VI previously known as Nicorette, one of the fastest yachts in the world and a regular participant in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, will for the first time come to Fremantle bringing glamour and world eyes to the state’s only international yacht race.

Hoping to shave days off the fastest time record for the Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally which departs Fremantle on May 4 the high speed flyer will bring the excitement of big boat racing to WA’s shores and provide an extraordinary opportunity for the state’s hottest young sailors to perform on a boat not usually seen in WA waters.

Terry Baker, Chairman of the race and rally has welcomed the spectacular yacht to the fleet and said that as the word spreads this may be the start of an opportunity in future years for WA to develop an Indian Ocean Maxi Yacht Race.

With a length of 27.4 metres (90 feet) and a mast with an overall height of 43 m, she is no shrinking violet. Top to mast heel she is about as tall as 15 floors of a residential building and just screams excitement and speed.

As one of just seven canting keel super maxi yachts in the world today, international eyes will be on the magnificent racer.

Skipper and West Australian business man, Tony Mitchell said the ‘savage machine’ which in some races is crewed with as many as twenty two will race with sixteen crew made up of top young West Australian sailors who would not usually have the opportunity to race on a boat of this calibre without heading overseas or interstate and having good connections.

Mr Mitchell has a formidable reputation for his competitive spirit, love of sailing and support for young yachtsmen and this is coupled with a fierce desire to shave days off the race record to win the newly minted Rolly Tasker Memorial Trophy for Fastest time. The trophy has been introduced following last year’s death of the home-grown yachtsman of international renown.

The boat will be co-skippered by Finnish born Australian Ludde Ingvall who has raced the boat internationally and developed international crews for many years, racking up impressive international wins in the sleek super maxi.

The Wonderful Indonesia Race chair Terry Baker said that records are made to be broken and with the boat having a top speed of 34 knots it could take a day or two off the record set by WA boat Limit in the last race. Limit took six days and five hours sailing at 10 knots to break the previously long-held record for the 1440 nautical mile race, set by Rolly Tasker in his yacht Siska.

'The opportunity to have a boat of such international significance being prepared in the West and racing in WA’s only international yacht race is just extraordinary and will ensure the eyes of the world will be on us,' Mr Baker said.

The boat is due to arrive at Fremantle Sailing Club from Singapore in mid March where its extraordinary presence will be a lure for locals and visitors.

Mr Mitchell said the boat would be on the hard at Fremantle Sailing Club for a couple of weeks where local shipwrights and painters would prepare the boat for the race and its anticipated glory.

'All of Perth and Fremantle will want to come out to see this glamorous vessel,' said Mr Mitchell.

' With its canting keel and elegant but massive scale it is an impressive beast that delivers adventure. And we all need adventure,' he Fremantle to Bali Race 2013