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  • Abbots Vamp take up the challenge

Abbots Vamp take up the challenge

Abbots Vamp take up the challenge

Abbots Vamp take up the challenge

Paul Eldrid and Chris Higham are delighted to announce the entry of Abbotts Vamp in the 75th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2019.

Paul Eldrid and Chris Higham are delighted to announce the entry of Abbotts Vamp in the 75th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2019. With thanks to David Fuller who has lent his Carbon Fibre Corby 49 racing yacht to Paul and Chris, the team have commenced preparations for this iconic platinum edition of the race. Having won its division in previous races and given the right weather conditions the yacht will be a serious contender for the Tattersall Cup.

World Champion sailor Paul Eldrid leads the team, supported by Chris Higham with his extensive offshore racing background. World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Nathan Wilmot will be Tactician with Sydney to Hobart veteran Bryan Northcote as Navigator competing in his sixteenth race.

Other members of the team are all highly skilled sailors with a mix of youth talent and offshore racing experience. Young match racing champion Will Boulden and aspiring Volvo competitor Josh Wijohn from New Zealand join the team for their first Sydney to Hobart Race. Western Australian sailors Rees Howell and Darren Palmer re‐join Paul and Chris adding a depth of offshore racing skills and experience to the campaign.

Co Skipper Eldrid said “It is very exciting to have this opportunity and we thank David Fuller greatly for the loan of his beautiful boat. Having good friend Chris as co‐skipper and his company Abbotts on board as a sponsor gives us the opportunity to contest this iconic anniversary of the race with close mates.”

Co Skipper Higham added “The opportunity presented by David and Paul to mount a Western Australian challenge for the race based out of the heartland of yachting in Sydney was too good to miss. Adding in the historic nature of the 75th race, coming on the back of the iconic WA Geraldton Ocean Classic’s 50th race last year and the Fremantle to Bali Race in May 2020 makes for a yachties bucket list.”

Preparations have commenced to service the hull, rigging, safety equipment and prepare the team for their first race and qualifier, the 180 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Race starting on Friday 8th November. An in-depth analysis of the performance and IRC rating of Abbotts Vamp has begun by the team at OneSails and the new sail inventory will include OneSails 4T Forte™ Thermo moulded composite sails.

Navigator Bryan Northcote added “As a navigator it’s always exciting when you are able to use existing high-performance navigation and instrumentation systems which we will network with Expedition performance software set up on a Clarity Cloud marine Toughbook. Our Marine IT co‐partners Oceanic Satellite Communications including Jeff Lenton who is joining the team on board will install the latest Iridium Certus high speed satellite voice & data supplied by AST Australia which will ensure 24 hour streamed data which is critical in monitoring the weather and fleet positioning.”