Wild Thing Supermaxi checks in for a weigh and measure

by Jody O'Brien on 2 Dec 2009
There’s an old saying that if you want a job done, give it to a busy person, and you wouldn’t find anyone much busier this week than Victorian yachtsman and property developer, Grant Wharington.

Wharington, who owns and skippers the supermaxi Wild Thing, has been working around the clock with his crew to get the boat ready for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart, and today is an important milestone in the boat’s preparation.

With the keel put in on Monday at Westgate Ports in Melbourne and the mast being installed this afternoon at Mornington Pier,(both jobs done with the required assistance and manoeuvrability of massive 90 tonne cranes) - tomorrow’s all important testing takes place, back in Melbourne.

The boat must first be emptied of all weight, including sails, anchor and safety equipment, before it is lifted by a crane from the water to be weighed and measured.

Wild Thing is then put back in the water to undergo the inclination test.

The inclination test is needed for the certification of the boat’s IRC Certificate, a mandatory requirement of the boat’s entry into the great race south – and its purpose to provide the righting moment of the boat.

'We need to be able to demonstrate and calculate at which angle the boat will right itself in the situation where we might get rolled in a big seaway 'said Grant.

It’s a labour intensive activity that will involve dragging the boat over onto an angle of at least 3 degrees, using a very long spinnaker pole, lots of very strong rope and a series of weights.

Today’s testing is done under strict safety parameters, and action will get underway at approximately 9am.

It’s busy on all fronts for the Wild Thing team, with the Amazing Naming Rights Opportunity Project gaining momentum and a growing number of companies signing up for their chance at winning naming rights of the Supermaxi for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart and enjoying the marketing benefits and brand awareness of being the number one sponsor of the boat until mid 2010.

With one more week to go on the promotion where companies or individuals purchase a Corporate Sail for $10,000 and go into the draw to win Naming Rights of the boat until mid 2010.

There are currently 20 companies of various sizes from the large international brands to small boutique operations, that are committed and looking forward to the draw live on air with Ross and John on 3AW Melbourne on December 8th.

Current levels of inquiries and interest indicate that the number involved could grow to around 30 by the cut off date and time of midnight on the 7th of December.

For more information, go to www.wildthingyachting.com.au