Rolex Sydney Hobart - Fifteenth time Lucky for Sailing Legend

by Danielle McKay on 25 Dec 2009 A Favourable forecast and a secret weapon has Australian sailing legend David Witt certain that his elusive Rolex Sydney to Hobart win is well within reach this year.

Witt, who is co-skippering the 90ft maxi YuuZoo in his 15th Sydney-Hobart, reckons the forecast favors the maxis and his handicap sweet-heart will give the fleet a red-hot run for the Tattersall's Cup.

'It looks like it's definitely going to be a big boat race, especially for handicap' Witt said.

'There's going to be a lot of light air reaching and running, which means we should finish around the 28th.

'It's about then that the big southerly should hit, slowing up the little boats and making it very hard for them to win on handicap.

'And it's about time I got a win; it would be great to silence the boys, they love ripping into me about that, especially since almost half the crew have had a win before.'

With the small boats sorted, Witt turned his attention to the equally big competitors, but with YuuZoo boasting a much lower-handicap rating than her 100ft competitors Witt said there was really only one other handicap favorite to worry about.

'With the big boats it depends on who can finish well on time, which leaves two favorites; us and the 70 footer Ran, because we both have extremely low ratings,' Witt said.

'The two biggest factors between us will be how quick that southerly comes in and how well each boat sails. 'But I'm confident. We will probably need to beat Ran by about five to six hours and that's very achievable.'

The self confessed betting-man has even put his money where his mouth is, backing YuuZoo, and he revealed that several other competitors shared his faith. 'There are several mates on (Grant) Warrington's boat (Etihad Stadium) who've backed us for $100 bucks or so,' Witt said. 'It's a fair indication of how serious of a contender we really are.'

Witt also revealed details of YuuZoo's Big Boat Racing Team's secret sail arsenal _ well not-so-secret anymore!
YuuZoo's massive new sail, which is affectionately known as the Whomper by its 21 crew members, is a cross between a jib-top and a code zero. But it's not been without controversy; with several competitors questioning its place in the race. 'It has caused a bit of fuss, but at the end of the day it's legal and it will give us a real advantage,' Witt said.

With his unrequited Sydney-Hobart victory firmly in sight the 38-year-old, who has won three 18-ft skiff world titles, the Fastnet and Maxi worlds, is confident this is the year for his home-ground win.

'I can remember being a young bloke and my old man would take me out every year and we'd watch the race start and I decided at 10 that I wanted to win it,' Witt said. 'Here I am 15 Hobart's later and I still haven't won one. Half of the time I've been on boats that aren't capable of a win but the other half I'd say we've been unlucky.'

Witt said his 2000 and 2001 attempt for race victories on Grundig were the top two incidences of 'the one that got away.'

'In 2000 Alfa Romeo pulled out when we were hit by a big southerly and we were in front by about 10 miles at about one third of the way across Bass Strait,' Witt said. 'It was looking gold until our rigging failed and so did our race hopes.

'Then in 2001 the fleet was hit by a twister, Nicorette got sucked in and it destroyed their mainsail and lost them a lot of time, meanwhile we avoided it and broke out to a massive lead.

'The breeze swung behind us, and because we're an Open 60, the fastest boat on the planet, we looked like the real-deal.

'Then the boat started to delaminate, and even though we were just off Tassie's coast near Tasman Island, the call was made to turn around and go to Eden. It is painful to be that close, and think you have it, and to lose it again.'

But Witt is confident 2009 is his year. This year is definitely the best chance I have of winning on handicap,' he said.

'And I can tell you, after 15 races I don't' care if the win is on line honors or time, I just want to be able to say I've won the Hobart race.'