Future Shock enters Coffs Harbour Race, with a difference!
by Scott Gilbert on 15 Nov 2010
Future Shock Craig Ellis
One of the most well known offshore racing yachts in Australia over many years has again entered the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race for 2011.
Future Shock owned by Ron and Craig Ellis and designed by Greg Elliott, was built in New Zealand in 1988 and has raced in innumerable offshore races in Australia, New Zealand and overseas in that time.
What is different about this years race she is that she is entered in the Short Handed Division and will sail with only 3 crew.
It will be a busy and exciting time for the boys, although they have sailed many miles on the boat together it is usually with 14 or more on board. This will be the first time the boat has been raced with a shorthanded crew and will be a learning experience for them. Added to that, this will be the first race for the boat with a brand new keel designed by Greg Elliott. The new keel has increased the draft by nearly 1 meter but has less wetted surface and drag than the old one.
The crew for the race will consist of:
Craig Ellis, Skipper and owner of Future Shock with many miles under his belt including 8 Coffs races and many other races up and down the East Coats.
John Murphy has sailed many Coffs and Sydney Hobart races and has sailed with Craig for many years on the 50’ Wild Thing and then Future Shock.
Scott Gilber. Sailed and skippered Future Shock for the previous owner Peter Hanson. Scott is no stranger to shorthanded racing having competed in and won the 1995 Melbourne to Osaka double handed race on Wild Thing.
All three are good mates but this will be a true test of their endurance and skill.
There have been quite a few modifications to the old lady over the 10 years that Ron and Craig Ellis have owned the boat. There has been a stern extension which increased the overall length to 18.3 meters. A new rudder and now a new keel. Water Ballast was also fitted in 2005 for extra stability. All these modifications have had a significant effect in improving the performance of the boat. However the most obvious of all the modifications is the unmissable bright green paint job she now wears, Future Shock has always stuck out in a crowd and now even more so.
It is a big unknown how the boat will perform in this configuration but all three believe they can compete against the other large boats entered to date. In the right conditions she may surprise a few of the newer and more fancied entrants for line honors.
One battle that will be interesting to watch is between Future Shock and Mathew Short’s Shortwave. Two years ago Shortwave broke Future Shock's long standing Melbourne to Hobart race record. The boys on Future Shock will be looking for a little friendly pay back when they line up for the race this year. Although Future Shock is a larger boat than Shortwave she is a good 18 years older so the battle between the old and the new will be enthralling.
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