Sydney Hobart - Etihad Stadium dismasted - now the work begins

10:59 PM Fri 11 Dec 2009 GMT

'Skandia Wild Thing, Skandia Geelong Week 2008' Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

One of the seven supermaxis entered in the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, Grant Wharington's 98 foot Supermaxi, Etihad Stadium, (formerly Skandia Wild Thing) has lost its rig on its delivery to Sydney

It is felt that it was a D2 giving way that has caused 'Etihad Stadium' to lose her towering rig yesterday.

Thankfully all onboard are OK and that there is a replacement mast on offer, which the insurance company can buy. As you could imagine, these are not exactly off-the-shelf items, so this is very fortunate indeed.

When the accident occurred, 'Etihad Stadium' was reaching with delivery Main, Headsail and Staysail, somewhere in the vicinity of Gabo Island, doing the delivery as their pre-race qualifier. So with the race main tucked away and a new headsail ready for use, the only real loss from the wardrobe was the Staysail.

We really hope they can get Neville Crichton's spare mast out of the South of France quickly, so that they can be a part of this massive clash at the front of the very large field for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

However, this is where the real work begins, because replacement sails would seem to be the smallest issue.

The mast in question is set up for 'Alfa Romeo's multiple inline spreaders, whereas 'Etihad Stadium' had a swept back set-up of just two spreaders.

There's a mountain of PBO to be found for the rigging, everything has to be installed/fitted/modified and then the boat will have to be weighed, all the sails recut and get a new 'ticket'. It's a lot of things to do just typing it, let alone doing it all in the two remaining weeks!

In the end, good luck to Grant Wharington and the 'Etihad Stadium' team.

We hope you can make it to the start line in your Australian designed and built (Don Jones and Mal Hart respectively) supermaxi and of course, repeat your Line Honours success from 2003.

by John Curnow

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Sydney Hobart - Etihad Stadium dismasted - now the work begins

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