Weather could ruin fortunes of many

If talk around the dock in the last 24-hours is anything to go by, the big boats are genuinely concerned about keeping their craft in one piece. The skipper of multi-million dollar, newly launched Comanche will have a rough sleep tonight, “It is crazy to do this as the first race and it could end in tears, you can get some weather that breaks an unproven boat.” The race record looks off the table according to the five skippers of the supermaxis in this years race, and Wild Oats XI don’t want to even think about setting a new race record for eight line honours wins. “To get any sort of record you’ve got to win. You got to finish the race. If we do a good job this week we will be in contention, who knows mate it’s the kiss of death we have to stay away from it,” says her skipper Mark Richards. The mind games are nearly over, it’s almost time for racing to take the spotlight.

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No rest for the super-maxi crew

Most people think of sailing as a leisurely pursuit, but in race mode during the Sydney to Hobart, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Climb on board Rio100, the boat carrying SBS reporter Nick Vindin to Hobart, to find out what it’s like in “training mode” on one of the biggest competitors in this year’s fleet.

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Behind the scenes with the biggest and bravest at the Sydney to Hobart

For the second year in a row SBS’s own Nick Vindin will be reporting and competing in the world renowned Sydney to Hobart Yacht race – bringing viewers as close as they can without getting wet. After vowing he would never do it again Nick’s done an incredible backflip and will take to the start line on boxing day aboard on of five Supermaxi’s Rio 100. The entrant from the USA is crewed and skippered by professional sailors from all over the world and is a highly tuned racing machine. As part of SBS’s All Access Coverage of the Sydney to Hobart climb aboard the biggest and smallest entrants competing in this year’s great race south.

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Manouch makes it 70 for 70th race edition – Rio 100

RIO 100, an American entry known better to locals as Zana, Konica Minolta and Lahana, is the 70th entry received for the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race; tying in nicely with the 70th running of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s famous 628 nautical mile event. Built as a 98 footer named Zana for its New Zealand owner in 2003, RIO 100, according to new proprietor Manouch Moshayedi, has been extensively modified and lengthened to 100 feet. She is also sporting a new silver/grey paint job, magnifying an undeniably sleek appearance. Moshayedi, a computer technology magnate from the USA, who is basing his new acquisition at Newport Beach, California, said: “Brett Bakewell-White did a great job of redesigning his old boat; anyone who sailed on her before would probably not recognise her now. The yacht’s water ballast was removed by cutting off the back 50 foot section and a new wider, longer stern has made it six to seven tons lighter than it was as Lahana. It also sports a new, longer boom, a new longer bowsprit and the wheels have been pushed back. Some other modifications, undertaken by Cooksons in New Zealand and overseen by Moshayedi’s boat captain […]

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Rio 100 enters the Rolex Sydney Hobart!

RIO 100, an American entry known better to locals as Zana, Konica Minolta and Lahana, is the 70th entry received for the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race; tying in nicely with the 70th running of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s famous 628 nautical mile event. Built as a 98 footer named Zana for its New Zealand owner in 2003, RIO 100, according to new proprietor Manouch Moshayedi, has been extensively modified and lengthened to 100 feet. She is also sporting a new silver/grey paint job, magnifying an undeniably sleek appearance. Moshayedi, a computer technology magnate from the USA, who is basing his new acquisition at Newport Beach, California, said: “Brett Bakewell-White did a great job of redesigning his old boat; anyone who sailed on her before would probably not recognise her now. Rio 100 First Sail. Photo: © Brad Davies / LiveSailDie.com Media The yacht’s water ballast was removed by cutting off the back 50 foot section and a new wider, longer stern has made it six to seven tons lighter than it was as Lahana. It also sports a new, longer boom, a new longer bowsprit and the wheels have been pushed back. Some other modifications, undertaken […]

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