NOKIA TO DEFEND TELSTRA SYDNEY TO HOBART LINE HONOURS WIN

by Peter Campbell on 24 Oct 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart race organisers today received confirmation that last year's
record-slashing VO 60, Nokia, is returning from Denmark to defend its line honours win and its
phenomenal race record time of 1 day 19 hours 48 minutes 2 seconds.

Sailing in hard reaching conditions, Nokia's time bettered the previous record by 18 hours.

The Volvo Ocean 60 syndicates are using the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart as part of the their crew
training for the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race, which includes the 2001 Sydney to Hobart as a leg of
the round the world race.

Boat owners intending to enter this year's Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race have just over week
-- 1700 hours on Wednesday, November 1 to be exact -- to lodge their 'Application For Entry Form'
with race organisers, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The CYCA is predicting a fleet of between 80 and 100 yachts, but today the club reported only 30 or
so owners have lodged their application for entry form, a requirement before yachts are accepted as
entries for the tough 627 nautical mile ocean classic.

None of the applications received to date include the expected record line-up of big boats -- three
80-footers, Shockwave, Nicorette and Wild Thing -- the 76-footer Brindabella, the Open 60 Xena, the
new Sydney 60, Eureka, and now at least six Volvo Ocean 60s from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, New
Zealand, South Africa and the USA.

The CYCA will not accept any late applications under new race management rules, but is confident
that scores of yacht owners intending to line up for the Boxing Day start will lodge their
paperwork over the next week.

Application For Entry Forms are available from CYCA sailing administrator, Mark Robinson, email:
sailingoffice@cyca.com.au

While some boat owners are being tardy with their paperwork, applications have already been lodged
with the Club from the IMS overall handicap winners of the two previous Telstra Sydney to Hobart
races: the 1998 winner AFR Midnight Rambler, a Hick 35 owned by Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas, and last
year's winner, Yendys, a Farr 49 owned by Hong Kong-based Australian Geoff Ross.