What they said: Perpetual LOYAL were fizzing after winning line honours

• NEWS
• 29 Dec, 2016 06:25:00 AM

What they said: Perpetual LOYAL were fizzing after winning line honours

If the crew of Perpetual LOYAL were exhausted from their record run from Sydney to Hobart as they came to a stop at Constitution Dock in Hobart, you wouldn’t know it.

The crew, skippered by Anthony Bell, greeted an enthusiastic crowd with equal amounts of energy and ecstasy as their feat of slashing the Rolex Sydney Hobart race record by four hours 51 minutes and 52 seconds began to sink in. 

In the moments after celebrating their line honours victory, here’s what a selection of the crew had to say about their race.

Quick stats:

Yacht: Perpetual LOYAL

Number of crew: 19

2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Result: DNF

2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Result: Line honours winner in race record time

Old race record: One day, 18 hours, 23 minutes, 12 seconds

New race record: One day, 13 hours, 31 minutes, 20 seconds

Time of arrival: 2:31.20am on Wednesday December 28, 2016

Average speed: 16.7 Knots/ 30.9 Km/h

What the Perpetual LOYAL team said:

I didn’t really have any nerves at the start of the race…we had nothing to lose. (Anthony Bell, skipper)

Mostly I was awake and aware…I probably had two hours of sleep. (Anthony Bell, skipper)

I knew we could win when Wild Oats XI retired…before that it was a 50/50 chance in my mind. (Tom Slingsby, tactics)

Every time I mentioned the race record the conditions changed…I had to stop bringing it up. (Tom Slingsby, tactics)

We weren’t allowed to get excited…the focus was on getting the job done with no flair or fanfare, but I was quietly cheering. (Erin Molan, sail team)

There was lots of banter on board…we didn’t stop laughing at each other and with each other. We gave everyone a bit of grief. It shows our camaraderie. (John Flannery, bowman)

Fizzing…that’s how I felt as soon as we were across that line, physically fizzing. It’s pure elation. (Justin Clougher, pit)

It’s very emotive…My first thought was that I overcame a fear from 2015. I really felt a part of this team. (Erin Molan, sail team)

We knew Wild Oats XI would lead early…Minimising our losses and setting up for good moments was our strategy from the start. (Tom Addis, navigator)