Mike Freebairn back for another Sydney Hobart

11:28 AM Wed 5 Nov 2008 GMT

'Spirit of Koomooloo' Andrea Francolini / Audi &copy

A career spanning four decades of hull tormenting ocean racing will again be tested when the Michael Freebairn skippered Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo sets her sails in the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race on Boxing Day.

Her crew of Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron ocean racers have tremendous faith in the champion who has the distinction of representing Australia in the Admirals Cup in England and completing the tortuous Fastnet Race on the North Sea.

She is essentially a past generation blue water racer but her crew of good mates believe that age and her extensive log of racing miles will not present a problem when the fleet of 113 yachts head into another physical bash against wind and wave on the Tasman Sea.

Several of her 2008 crew also manned the deck of the equally famous Koomooloo when she was reported as the progressive race leader on overall corrected handicap after a torrid first night in 2006.

Unfortunately their challenge turned from glory to gloom when the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's race control centre received a May Day from the crew indicating the majestic timber sloop had sprung a leak and was in peril.

Her crew bailed with buckets in a valiant effort to save the grand old sloop but the inflow of water eventually left the Koomooloo crew with the heart wrenching decision to commission the life raft and abandon-ship before the famous sloop plummeted to the ocean floor.

They have planned a new challenge this year and have high hopes of completing unfinished business in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with the replacement yacht which was built in the same Sydney boat-shed alongside Koomooloo.

Their 2008 challenger designed by the famed loft of Sparkman and Stephens who have a long history of success in the Americas Cup has the pedigree to upset the modern sloops with her chances hinging on a forecast that provides a high percentage of windward sailing.

by Ian Grant