Yacht: Shockwave could smash world record: skipper

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2000
Yacht: Shockwave could smash world record: skipper

By Joe Hildebrand

SYDNEY, Dec 19 AAP - Sydney to Hobart line honours favourite Shockwave could slash
up to five hours off Nokia's record time in the right conditions, its skipper said today.

Boosted by a stunning performance during the Telstra Cup, Neville Crichton said his
boat's only real challenge was Swedish-owned Nicorette which did not compete in the regatta.

And he dismissed the chances of Grant Wharington's Wild Thing, which came second behind
Shockwave in Sunday's Big Boat Challenge.

"I don't rate Wild Thing at all," he said.

Crichton said his was probably the fastest yacht in the world and with the same winds
as last year it could "easily" carve Nokia's one day, 19 hour, 48 minute record down to
about one day and 15 hours.

"It would be my dream come true if we had last year's conditions because we know we're
much quicker than Nokia downwind, much quicker," he said.

"If we had similar conditions to last year we'd take four or five hours off."

In these conditions he said Ludde Ingvall's Nicorette was the only real threat.

"I don't think we've seen anything like their performance yet," he said.

"They've got a very good team of people coming in to sail the boat. I think she'll
be very, very competitive."

With a headwind, however, Crichton said Sydney-based Brindabella and the smaller Volvo
60 fleet - of which Nokia is one - could provide a strong challenge.

He said a strong southerly could be a real problem for the 24.4 metre maxi and could
even force it to pull out from the race.

"If we copped a southerly like they did in 1998 I think we'd have to look at the option
of turning around and coming home," he said.

"The thought of trying to drive this particular boat though it would be madness.

"If we get a decent front on Tuesday we're capable of running with it absolutely but
if it's a southerly we've got a big problem."

Crichton said the fact the boat was so hi-tech and only built last year meant anything
could go wrong - or right.

"Every time we go out we learn something new about the boat," he said.

"The boat's got a heap of improvement in it that we haven't learned about. Absolutely
(anything could happen)."

The New Zealand skipper also took a shot at critics who have said the line honours
victor overshadow the real overall (handicap) winner of the race.

The skipper of the race's smallest entry, Urban Guerrilla, yesterday said the bigger
boats attracted too much media and sponsorship attention.

"I don't even remember a handicap winner ever," Crichton said.

"People aren't interested to sit around and wait for some slow old 30 footer that comes
in four days later.

"If they think they can go and get publicity because they can go and sail a slow 30
footer to Hobart they're in dreamland."

But despite Shockwave's hi-tech navigational equipment, water ballast and carbon hull,
Crichton said it would be good old-fashioned seamanship which would determine the winner.

"It all comes back to the guys sailing the boats," he said.

"It comes back to people."

AAP jh/jds

KEYWORD: YACHT SYDHOB NIGHTLEAD

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