Skandia aims for handicap win

3:01 AM Sun 14 Dec 2008 GMT

'Skandia - Rolex Sydney Hobart 2007' &copy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Victorian skipper Grant Wharington says the focus of his supermaxi Skandia crew is to race for the Tattersall's Cup, the prestigious handicap prize, rather than chase Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI for line honours in the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

Wharington, a veteran of 19 Sydney to Hobart races, believes his Don Jones designed 30 metre (98 foot) Skandia has an excellent chance to win overall handicap honours in the 628 nautical mile ocean race.

Today he told Sail-World.com that Skandia does well off shore, and their handicap should place them well against the other big boats.

Grant Wharington at helm of Skandia - Ian Mainsbridge

"Off shore I think we're pretty competitive, reaching and running. The boat's fantastic offshore, it really is. We were leading on handicap last year when we had the mast damage so we know the potential is there," Wharington commented.

He said that Wild Oats XI is focused on speed, and due to the upwind code zero configuration of their boat, Wild Oats must beat Skandia by six hours to beat them on handicap. He said that Skandia's contrasting situation put them in a good position; Skandia must beat Jack Halberg's RP 66 Black Jack and Matt Allen's 70 footer Ichi Ban by about two and a half hours.

Wharington says "In theory it we've got all the bugs ironed out of our boat. We're just happy with how the boat performed last year, the rating that it had. We think that we're a very good chance this year, racing against the fleet," he said.

The Mornington Yacht Club sailor has had plenty of highs and lows in this event. In 2003 Skandia took line honours, but in 2004 her canting keel hydraulics failed. Her keel jammed to starboard and the crew was forced into life rafts. The boat capsized and her keel fell off, but the boat was back in 2005 after an expensive refit.

In 2005 Skandia was third across the line behind Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo. In 2006 she was again third behind Wild Oats XI and Ichi Ban, after breaking her forward canard when she hit a giant sunfish.

According to Wharington, "Sunfish have been a big problem in recent times. I think we've all hit them. Rikko (Mark Richards- Wild Oats XI) hit a couple last year I think, and the year before. They're a pretty bloody easy target, that's for sure. Unfortunately when you've got a canting keel you've got three foils in the water and you've got plenty of chance of hitting them."

In 2007 Skandia was a well placed second on line honours until she broke her mast tip and limped into Hobart, finishing well back in 10th place.

However Wharington is not expecting to see a repeat of that problem.

Liferaft leaves Skandia -2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race - Ian Mainsbridge Click Here to view large photo

"The mast tip broke when the cap shroud dragged down the side wall of the mast. We had laminate spinnakers on the boat, and obviously they were pretty rigid and we had a little broach and the spinnaker flogged and it dragged the shroud down the side wall of the mast," he said.

Skandia's skipper said that another set of spreaders have been added to the original three and more carbon has been put in the side walls of the mast, which should fix the problem.

Wharington is philosophical about the weather for the 64th annual race. "This year the weather systems have been pretty powerful and it seems we are overdue for belting. If we keep thinking that way we might be pleasantly surprised," he said.