NICORETTE'S HOBART RACE DOUBLE

by Ian Grant on 30 Dec 2000 Royal Swedish Yacht Club maxi Nicorette has survived time and talk of a possible protest to be declared the provisional IRC class winner in the boisterous Telstra Sydney-Hobart race.

The Nicorette crew accused of sail stacking on the weather rail to assist stability which is not allowed under the sailing rules for the IRC class basically 'blew' their rivals away in what proved to be one of the toughest races on record.

Owner skipper Ludde Ingvall a former World maxi champion who described the race as the hardest of his career because it turned into a flesh and fabric tormenting 500 n/ml slog against gale force winds was happy with the result.

Particularly when the power sailing maxi reduced to minimum sail power at times during her bash against the tormenting and unrelenting gales finished with almost a 6 hour win over the Globe sailing Volvo 60's Illbruck, Tyco and 8 hours ahead of Grant Wharington's Wild Thing.

In IRC class division 2 the battle to record the fastest corrected time was much closer with the Sydney Swan 48 Loki skippered by Stephen Ainsworth appearing set to win the trophy.

Loki applying a race strategy to 'crack sheets' and go for speed over the ground in crossing Bass Strait proved the yachts ability to handle tough upwind conditions.

She completed the course in 3 days 16 hours 33 minutes 16 seconds for 12th place on line honours and late today appeared to have no threat from her class rivals who were still slogging against the cold gale strength winds.

At this afternoons fleet report John Quinn's Polaris Of Belmont and Summit Bacardi (Graeme Ainley) which were the only threats to Loki were running out of time.

The Cole 43 Polaris Of Belmont noted for her sea kind character to handle fresh headwinds had put up a strong challenge she was abeam of Tasman Island at 3pm with 40 miles to sail in just under 5 hours.

Provisional Placing's IRC Div 1: Nicorette 4-03-15-26 1, Illbruck 4-09-13-32 2, Tyco 4-09-14-25 3, Wild Thing 4-11-49-54 4, Assa Abloy 4-14-45-51 5, News Corp 4-17-33-15 6. Div 2: Loki 4-05-23-41 1, still racing Polaris Of Belmont 2, Summit Bacardi 3, Aera 4, Impeccable 5, Pippin 6.