SA yacht primed for handicap honours

by Sean Whittington on 26 Dec 2005 South Australia’s leading racing yacht - Hardys Secret Mens Business – is primed and ready for her assault for Handicap honours in the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Skipper/owner Geoff Boettcher said this year’s race represents his best opportunity for success in nearly two decades of competing in one of the world’s most grueling ocean-racing events

The 14.2 metre, Reichel/Pugh ocean-racing yacht ventures into today’s race start as one of the favourites for Handicap honours, following a series of on-board improvements in recent months.

A modified rudder and revamped sail inventory are the major modifications, as well as improved sleeping facilities for the crew.

'We are in with a good chance – I have no doubt about that at all,' said race veteran Geoff Boettcher, who is competing in his 18th Sydney-Hobart race.

'The boat is at her optimum - we have made a few adjustments to the way she sails, which should improve our overall performance,' he said.

'We are comfortable with the knowledge that we have prepared the boat as best we can for the race.

'All we need is a little luck on our side, together with the entire crew working together to ensure the boat performs to the best of her ability.'

Hardys Secret Mens Business was the 'surprise packet' of last year’s Sydney-Hobart race, finishing ninth in Line honours in its maiden Sydney-Hobart race.

This year Boettcher has enlisted the support of three of the nation’s most talented yachtsmen - 1996 Olympic Games yachtsman Matt Hayes, as well as Carl Crafoord and Tony Powell - to form part of his 12-man crew.

'They will bring a new dimension of experience and professionalism to the boat, which will hopefully squeeze a little bit extra out of the rest of us,' Boettcher said.

'Conditions (for the race) look ideal for us, so having these guys – Carl Crafoord, Tony Powell and Matt Hayes – as part of our crew will be a real bonus for us,' he said. 'This is my 18th Sydney-Hobart, and we go into the race with the fastest boat I have ever entered, and with the best crew I have ever had racing a boat.

'Like every Sydney-Hobart, this year’s race is going to be extremely tough – we will be competing against a lot of experienced yachtsmen, who like us, will be striving to perform at the top of their game.

'But I’m confident that if we race well, we will give Handicap honours a real crack.'

The Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race is regarded as one of the world’s toughest deep-sea sailing races, which last year claimed nearly half of the 116 competing yachts.

This year’s 628-nautical mile race has attracted an international field of 85 yachts.

Last year’s Top Ten finish was the start of a successful 12-month racing campaign for Hardys Secret Mens Business.

In February, it completed a rare 'triple act', winning Line, IRC Handicap and Division One honours in South Australia’s premier ocean race, the Bluewater Classic from Adelaide to Port Lincoln.

And in August, the yacht took out Handicap honours (Division A) in the prestigious Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht race – an event second only in status to the Sydney to Hobart race on the sport’s national calendar.

That performance – against some of the fastest and biggest racing yachts in Australia – also saw Hardys Secret Mens Business achieve a Top Ten finish in Line Honours.

Background

Hardys Secret Mens Business is one of the most technically-advanced yachts of its type in Australia, and was the newest to compete in the 2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

In last year’s race - which claimed nearly half of the 116 starting yachts - Hardys Secret Mens Business crossed the finish line in 3 days, 23 hours, seven minutes and 38 seconds (9th position in overall line honours).

The yacht was designed by leading American naval architects, Reichel/Pugh, and built in Victoria by Hart Marine.