Comanche, one of five eye-catching 100-foot super maxis competing in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race, has now arrived in Sydney to begin final preparations to take the start line on December 26th. Arriving on a container ship from the USA, the boat will be prepared for competition with the initial goal of racing in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge in Sydney Harbour on December 9th.
Skipper of Comanche, decorated US skipper Ken Read, commented: “It's fantastic to see Comanche arrive in Australia as we build towards the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race. This is the culmination of a two-year project for Jim and Kristy, and we know that this racing machine has been designed and built for speed. We got a taste of what she's capable of sailing down the East coast of the States before we shipped her here – and learnt there is a huge amount of potential but that we have a lot to learn as well and need to respect her raw power. Whatever happens, it's going to be quite a ride – and we can't wait to get Comanche sailing in Sydney.”
Comanche has been designed and built to break records and win prestigious yacht races. The Rolex Sydney to Hobart will be her racing debut as she lines up against four other 100-foot maxis, which should make for compelling viewing in the 70th edition of the Blue Water Classic. The new generation of design and construction is intended to push the boundaries of technology and performance. Comanche is the brainchild of renowned yacht design teams VPLP and Verdier Yacht Design in partnership with Southern Spars and North Sails Design Services, who worked as part of an integrated team to develop the hull, mast and sails of this cutting edge machine.
The sleek black and red hull carries a 150-foot mast that will fly a banner for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), a charity closely supported by Kristy Hinze Clark. The AWC owns and manages more than three million hectares of land in Australia, protecting more native wildlife than any other organization. As an AWC Patron and Ambassador, Kristy is proud to see the boat carrying the colours for this important organization.
The boat will be based in Woolwich throughout December, alongside her major rival Wild Oats XI.
– Tim Kelly
