NEWS RELEASE
CRICHTON LEAVES NOTHING TO CHANCE
Despite a lead of about 14 nautical miles over four-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI, and only 70 nautical miles to go to the finish of this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Alfa Romeo skipper Neville Crichton is leaving nothing to chance.
“We will cover them whenever we possibly can,” Crichton told the Rolex media centre by satellite phone as the super maxi closed to 30 nautical miles on TasmanIsland mid-afternoon.
“We won’t let her go out on a flyer without us being there,” the New Zealand businessman said.
In effect, Crichton is warning Wild Oats XI that it will be a match race to Hobart from this point on.
If the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI changes her course, or strategy, Alfa Romeo will cover Bob Oatley’s yacht, but from the front.
In sailing terms, it means that Crichton will seek to ensure that the two recently modified yachts, which are virtually identical, stay in the same weather and wind pattern.
Crichton said he was expecting the wind to move to the south at TasmanIsland, which the Hobart weather bureau has just confirmed.
Forecaster Malcolm Downing said the leading boats would face a south-westerly of 10 knots, gusting to 18, at Tasman and the wind would then veer to the west and north-west as they crossed Storm Bay and into the Derwent River, where the north-westerly would ease from 15-20 knots to 10-15, but, importantly, the wind would stay in.
“This race has been much more difficult than a windy race, there’s so much more to think about. The winds have been so variable and so up and down,” said Crichton, who would not be drawn on what time he would finish the race and whether he would be first over the line.
As Crichton was speaking, Wild Oats XI was closing the gap in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s annual 628 nautical mile race.
The Rolex race site tracker has Alfa Romeo possibly finishing at approximately 10 o’clock this evening.
During the day, the British super maxi ICAP Leopard, owned and skippered by Mike Slade, conceded second place to Wild Oats XI and is now about 28 nautical miles off the lead and sailing east of the rhumbline searching for more breeze.
(ends)
Editor’s Notes:
- High resolution copies of the attached pictures are available on request from: or
- Photographer Credit name in the file name for each picture
ALFA ROMEO II RESULTS
Skipper: Neville Crichton
Dec 2009Rolex Trophy Passages Series1 x Line, Handicap Honours
Dec 2009 SOLAS Big Boat ChallengeLine Honours
October 2009 HSBC Coastal ClassicLine Honours, Race Record
July 2009 TransPacLine Honours, Race Record
Oct 2008 Barcolana RaceLine Honours
Sept 2008 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup4 x Line Honours, 2 x Corrected time wins
June 2008 Boat International SuperYacht Regatta3 x Line Honours, class & event wins
June 2008Rolex Giraglia RaceLine Honours, new race record
June 2008Rolex Giraglia Cup3 x Line Honours, 2 x Handicap win
May 2008 Rolex Capri Race WeekMaxi Class Event Win, 2 x Line Honours
May 2008 Pirelli CupMaxi Class Event Win, 4 x Line Honours
Oct 2007 BarcolanaLine Honours, race record
Sept 2007 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup5 x Line Hons, 1 x Handicap
August 2007 Rolex FastnetRetired
August 2007 RYS Trophy, Scandia Race WeekLine Honours, Class win
June 2007Superyacht Cup1 Line Honours Win
June 2007 Rolex Giraglia Cup Offshore RaceLine Honours
June 2007 Rolex Giraglia Cup Regatta2 x Line Honours to take event
April 2007 Hublot Palmavela Regatta5 x Line Honours to take event
October 2006Rolex Middle Sea Race – offshore raceLine Honours
October 2006Barcolana RaceLine Honours
Sept 2006Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup4 Line Honours, event win
June 2006Rolex Giraglia Cup Offshore RaceLine Honours
June 2006 Rolex Giraglia Cup Regatta2 Line Honours, 1 Handicap win
April 2006 Hublot Palmavela4 x Line Honours wins
Dec 2005Rolex Sydney to Hobart2nd Overall
Dec 2005Rolex TrophyRegatta Win
Dec 2005CYCA Big Boat TrophyLine Honours
Dec 2005Savills Short Ocean ChampionshipLine Honours/Handicap win
Nov 2005CabbageTreeIsland RaceLine Honours
August 2005South Molle/Daydream Islands RaceLine Honours/Handicap win
August 2005EdwardIsland RaceLine Honours
August 2005Lindeman Island RaceLine Honours/Handicap win
For further information
Text and high resolution pictures:
Neville Crichton Edward Rowe
Skipper/OwnerPR Manager
Tel: +61 (02) 9701 8000 Tel: +61 2 9701 8015
Fax: +61 (02) 9701 3555 Fax: +61 2 9701 3555
Mob: +61 (0)409 166 166 Mob: +61 407 913 244
E:
EJR/ejr/2-113
5-Dec-18