Neville Crichton's 100 foot Alfa Romeo has sounded the warning bell for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart, capitalising on a costly mistake aboard Wild Oats XI to take a resounding victory in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge (15 December 2009).
"The difference was Ricko getting a twisted sail. Today's race was a bit of fun, but it's more fun to win," said Crichton.
Crichton's prediction for the upcoming blue water classic is the crew who makes the least mistakes will win.
If today's 14 nautical mile sprint around the southern end of iconic Sydney Harbour is anything to go by, Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI crew have been given a rude reminder that they'll only beat Crichton by sailing a perfect race. The Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI was leading Alfa Romeo around the track until the final downwind run when a nasty wrap in their spinnaker, referred to as a 'wine glass', cost them the silverware.
"We were very happy with our performance today," said Richards. "The boats have always been very evenly matched and always will be, I'd say. [Wild Oats XI wine maker owner] Bob said it's not very often a wine glass gets on top of him, but it got on top of us today.
"It's good to give the team a kick in the pants and to realise you've really got to dot all the i's and cross all the t's otherwise you are going to get beaten," added Richards.
The biggest spectator fleet in the event's 16 year history wasn't disappointed as the 19 starters set off up the harbour under grey skies in a nor'easterly breeze that fluctuated between 12 and 16 knots during the afternoon.
Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo, both Reichel Pughs, shot out of the starting gate off Steele Point, the two boat-for-boat up the first beat in an America's Cup style match race.
Crichton was aggressive on the helm, calling starboard on Wild Oats XI's skipper on the first windward beat and forcing him to tack off, the two boats so close the crews could have shaken hands.
Wild Oats XI led Alfa Romeo around the course, rarely more than two boat lengths apart as the skippers sailed their own races, only meeting to cross tacks and at rounding marks. Then, when it looked like Richards had the supposedly "fun race" sewn up, a spinnaker malfunction allowed Crichton to pounce.
Third over the line was Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X, skippered by Iain Murray, and fourth was Sean Langman's 100 foot Investec LOYAL with its A-list sporting line up including Grant Hackett, Phil Waugh and Phil Kearns.
Last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winner, Bob Steel's TP52 Quest, skippered by Mike Green, was named today's overall winner from Geoff Ross' RP55 Yendys and Stephen Ainsworth's RP63 Loki.
The next event on the Rolex Sydney Hobart lead up calendar is the Rolex Trophy Rating Series which starts Thursday 17 December and runs through to Sunday 20 December before the climax, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts at 1pm on 26 December.
Line Honours
Boat Name - Elapsed TimeAlfa Romeo - 01:23:40
Wild Oats XI - 01:24:50
Wild Oats X - 01:32:39
Investec Loyal - 01:33:17
Lahana - 01:34:43
Blackjack - 01:35:02
Loki - 01:37:15
Limit - 01:38:45
Ichi Ban - 01:40:17
Yendys - 01:42:51
Vanguard - 01:45:40
Quest - 01:46:56
Ginger - 01:51:01
You're Hired - 01:51:07
Calm - 01:52:12
Shogun - DNC
ALFA ROMEO II RESULTS
Skipper: Neville Crichton
| Oct 2009 | SOLAS Big Boat Challenge | Line Honours |
| Oct 2009 | HSBC Coastal Classic | Line Honors (Race Record) |
| Jul 2009 | TransPac | Line Honors (Race Record) |
| Oct 2008 | Barcelona Race | Line Honors |
| Sept 2008 | Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup | 4 x Line Honours, 2 x Corrected time wins |
| June 2008 | Boat International SuperYacht Regatta | 3 x Line Honours, class & event wins |
| June 2008 | Rolex Giraglia Race | Line Honours, new race record |
| June 2008 | Rolex Giraglia Cup | 3 x Line Honours, 2 x Handicap win |
| May 2008 | Rolex Capri Race Week Maxi Class Event | Win, 2 x Line Honours |
| May 2008 | Pirelli Cup Maxi Class Event | Win, 4 x Line Honours |
| Oct 2007 | Barcolana | Line Honours, race record |
| Sept 2007 | Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup | 5 x Line Hons, 1 x Handicap |
| August 2007 | Rolex Fastnet | Retired |
| August 2007 | RYS Trophy, Scandia Race Week | Line Honours, Class win |
| June 2007 | Superyacht Cup | 1 Line Honours Win |
| June 2007 | Rolex Giraglia Cup Offshore Race | Line Honours |
| June 2007 | Rolex Giraglia Cup Regatta | 2 x Line Honours to take event |
| April 2007 | Hublot Palmavela Regatta | 5 x Line Honours to take event |
| October 2006 | Rolex Middle Sea Race - offshore race | Line Honours |
| October 2006 | Barcolana Race | Line Honours |
| Sept 2006 | Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup | 4 Line Honours, event win |
| June 2006 | Rolex Giraglia Cup Offshore Race | Line Honours |
| June 2006 | Rolex Giraglia Cup Regatta | 2 Line Honours, 1 Handicap win |
| April 2006 | Hublot Palmavela | 4 x Line Honours wins |
| Dec 2005 | Rolex Sydney to Hobart | 2nd Overall |
| Dec 2005 | Rolex Trophy Regatta | Win |
| Dec 2005 | CYCA Big Boat Trophy | Line Honours |
| Dec 2005 | Savills Short Ocean Championship | Line Honours/Handicap win |
| Nov 2005 | Cabbage Tree Island Race | Line Honours |
| August 2005 | South Molle/Daydream Islands Race | Line Honours/Handicap win |
| August 2005 | Edward Island Race | Line Honours |
| August 2005 | Lindeman Island Race | Line Honours/Handicap win |
