Etihad Stadium faces its own challenge on SOLAS Big Boat Day

by Jody O'Brien on 15 Dec 2009
Whilst their competitors line up for the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour today, the Etihad Stadium Supermaxi crew have got their own action happening on both sides of the ditch to get their boat to the start line on Boxing Day.

The Boat’s Designer Don Jones and Navigator Graeme Taylor are in New Zealand, whilst Grant Wharington and the rest of the crew are scattered across Melbourne and Sydney working on a long list of jobs to continue their preparation for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Graeme and Don flew out to Auckland late yesterday to meet with Southern Spars.

The Southern Spars engagement with the Etihad Stadium Supermaxi is due to the fact that the replacement mast, owned by Alfa Romeo's Neville Crichton, has been built by them, and they want to see it assembled and standing to their satisfaction.

The rigging on the previous mast (ie: the one that failed on Friday) was Future Fibres which is not a product manufactured by Southern Spars.

There have been a number of transport solutions proposed over the last three days, and it’s expected that there will be some firm decisions made in the next 24 hours.

'We’re able to cut the mast to make the air freighting of it easier, however the challenge is getting the timeline right of transporting it from where it is in the South of France to the closest possible airport and then getting it to Sydney in time to put all the pieces back together again by the 26th of December' said Grant.

'Everyone is just taking things a day at a time at the moment, and working through everything that needs to happen to have the boat ready for the replacement mast' he said.

'We wish everyone a great day in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge and we’re really disappointed that we’re not there this year – but we’re doing everything we can to join them all on the 26th of December for the great race south' Grant said.