Sydney Hobart: One For the Small Guys?

2:33 AM Sun 27 Dec 2009 GMT

'Alex Brandon and James Connell on Boxing Day morning - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Sydney to Hobart. Some five weeks back at the CYCA media launch for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the inevitable and rather academic speculations started amongst those not familiar with the race's mercurial weather patterns as to what the race had in store this year and who was best placed for a win.

Amongst the big gun skippers on the media podium that day an owner or two from the smaller end of the fleet were speaking with the same seriousness of purpose and confidence as their better known colleagues with whom they were rubbing shoulders.

One such was James Connell, joint owner with Alex Brandon of the diminutive Zephyr Hamilton Elevators, the smallest boat in the fleet at 33 feet. James was speaking that day with some assurance of their prospects for a race win on handicap, provided of course that the weather suited.

'A fast start and a slow finish for the front end of the fleet will suit us well' said Connell at that time. We bought this boat with a view to a handicap win in this race and if we get the right conditions there is no reason why we can't take the Tattersalls Trophy; we came close enough a couple of years back' he added recalling their 2007 divisional win.

As James and Alex prepared the boat on Boxing Day they were every bit as confident of their prospects as five weeks earlier. 'It would be good if the big boats stalled after Day 1' said Connell hinting at that very real prospect.

And stalled they are - or near enough - with Alfa Romeo, Wild Oats XI and ICAP Leopard forming a slow moving triangle seemingly joined at the hips somewhere off Green Cape late this morning.

Indeed any speculation as to possible winners of this race on either line honours or handicap still seems as fruitless as it was five weeks ago, with the weather predictions changing as often as the race schedules.

For Mary Holley, navigator on board the evergreen Aurora a slow race might be ideal too; The Holleys are race regulars and always add value to a race day chat.

Although a light wind track will not suit the boat, Mary has a mission on this race that is not exclusively about navigation.

'She's brought a book to read this year' said husband Jim yesterday, adding hastily that Mary had recently torn a hamstring and so would not be spending much time on deck, 'she'll only be moving between the nav station and her bunk during the race' he added.

Jim and Mary Holley with Aurora crew - Rolex Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race 2006 - Crosbie Lorimer

'I plan to get this book finished' said Mary with a smile, hinting that this might however be a challenge 'I've even bought a special booklight so I can keep reading when the off watch crew are down at night'.

With the very real and unusual prospect that the media here in Hobart will have an undisturbed night's sleep and even conceivably a leisurely brunch tomorrow before heading down the Derwent River to meet the first arrivals, the chance of a Bradbury-style come from behind handicap win for the small boats is not such a longshot right now.

Whether Zephyr tops the handicap podium remains to be seen, but the smart money presently has Mary Holley finishing her book well before Aurora passes Tasman Light.

by Crosbie Lorimer

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