The S2H countdown has started for Southern Spars

11:19 PM Wed 17 Dec 2008 GMT

'Wild Oats XI will be chasing another line honours win and race record using Southern Spars' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Eight days from now 104 boats will approach the start line for the 64th annual Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

This year's headlining act is the '05, '06 and '07 line honours winner, Wild Oats XI, chasing a record fourth consecutive line honours victory and making a tilt at breaking her own course record for the 628nm bluewater classic. The supercharged maxi carries a Southern Spars ultra-high modulus hybrid mast that shed 80kg off her previous rig and a full set of EC6+ continuous carbon rigging.

Challenging Wild Oats XI will be maxi, ASM Shockwave V, who took line honours in the St David's Lighthouse Division of the 2008 Newport-Bermuda Race. Launched in 2000, she sports a 31.8m Southern Spars mast.

Stephen Ainsworth’s new Loki - running a Southern Spars and North Sails package - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Also rigged by Southern Spars is IRC 55 Yendys. Launched in 2006, Yendys wasted no time in notching up some very notable performances, winning the 2007 IRC Racing division at the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and placing 2nd in division 1 in the 2006 Rolex Trophy. She sports a 27.11M high modulus carbon fibre rig, recently retrofitted to accommodate an upgrade from PBO to EC6+ rigging.

A number of new boats grace this year's start list, two of which are powered by Southern Spars.

Limit beats up the harbour - SOLAS Big Boat Challenge - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

The 63 footer Limit designed by Reichel/Pugh and built in Melbourne carries an ultra-high modulus hybrid mast that stands at 31m, 3 sets of sweptback spreaders, and a full set of EC6+ rigging.

Limit has another newly built Reichel/Pugh 63 footer, Loki, to measure herself against.

Loki ducks behind Limit - SOLAS Big Boat Challenge - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Loki utilises a Southern Spars/North Sails package - the owner's decision influenced by the limited time to prepare Loki for the start line. Shared proprietary design software between the two companies allowed for integration of the rig and sail package during design. The accurate simulation meant that Loki's rig could be tuned precisely in a matter of hours, reducing sea trialling time significantly and allowing her to line up on the start line in Sydney.

Southern Spars would like to wish every yacht racing a 'fast and safe passage'.

Happy Christmas and Good Sailing from the team at Southern Spars

Yendys cracks sheets - Sydney Gold Coast Race - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

EC6+ carbon rigging is produced by Composite Rigging, a division of Southern Spars, for more information click here

For the low-down on the race visit: www.rolexsydneyhobart.comor the rigs of these yachts, www.southernspars.com

by Southern Spars Media