Aera stakes claim to Rolex Sydney to Hobart title
by Al Constable on 29 Dec 2004
Aera is the current handicap leader Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race 2004 Crosbie Lorimer
http://www.crosbielorimer.com
The Nick Lykiardopulo owned ,Jez Fanstone skippered Aera has this afternoon laid a strong claim to the overall IRC Tattersalls Cup in the 2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race. The highly experienced crew drove the boat hard and she sailed well above her handicap.
Lykiardopulo has sailed to Hobart twice before, his previous Aera won the CHS (IRC) division in the 1998 Hobart. This time it looks like he has another fine handicap win albeit in a much larger and more competitive division.
His Jason Ker designed 55-foot yacht, Aera, was built in the Cape Town boatyard, Acheson Rossa, and chosen by the King of Spain as his yacht for the 2003 Admirals Cup. Renamed Bribon for the event it won all seven of the inshore races and was second highest scoring boat behind Wild Oats.
Clearly one of the standout handicap favourites, Aera has been campaigning hard since winning the British IRC Nationals & Skandia Cowes Week 2003.
With good sailing conditions across Storm Bay and up the Derwent, Aera was fourth to finish behind Brindabella at 15:43:43 ahead of the first of the Volvo 60’s Seriously Ten at 16:16:28.
More shortly.
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