Buckley MCG to sea Rolex Sydney Hobart

by Rolex Sydney Hobart Media Centre on 28 Dec 2007 For all those who were worrying about Nathan Buckley’s state of health aboard the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race entry Hugo Boss II, we can confirm that he is a man of steel. He has not thrown up.

'I haven’t even been close,' Buckley said late this afternoon as Hugo Boss II closed on the Tasmanian east coast with a predicted arrival time of 10 tomorrow morning.

'But I do have a headache from the noise. I had never expected the boats to be so noisy. 'I am more concerned about what will happen when I set foot on land,' the former Collingwood Football Club captain and 2003 Brownlow medallist said.

Buckley is a member of one of two watches on Hugo Boss II, the former Volvo 60 Assa Abloy which won line honours in the race in 2001. They have been testing themselves against the two other Volvo 60s -- George Gregan Foundation and DHL the Daily Telegraph.

Buckley has been working three hours on, three hours off, beginning at 5 am. He said he had been helping at the mast, which means hoisting and lowering sails, packing them into their bags, as well as spending some time on the grinders.

'I am surprised at how little we have had to change sails and direction,' he said. 'It’s also worked out that the other watch has to do most of the sail changes.' That probably helps to explain the noise he is hearing down below when trying to sleep. 'It has been a great experience. Sailing at night, with full visibility, is magnificent.

'Would he do it again? 'Let’s wait and see what happens in this race,' he said