So I thought we should have a thread on this!!
Who's your pick?
Line Honours? IRC?
Know people on boats?
Do you care?
Since the media ONLY ever shows the largest boats, with a total focus on who is WINNING by being the fastest (and nothing relating to simply participating) I don't care.
If any media exposure was given to related topics such as the smallest boat, the oldest boat, the boat with an interesting crew mix, different rigs, etc then I'd be keen to watch it. I don't ever see that happening. The mindless masses in this country are more interested in the biggest/fastest and that is what the mindless media promote.
I care... I was supposed to be going as crew on a boat this year, but there was a tragedy that prevented it. I was soooo excited at the start of the year about it, then so disappointed.
Who knows.. maybe I'll get a chance one day. 
Beau Geste was impressive in the Solas Big Boat Challenge last week once she was clear of the start line shemozzle.
Not sure how she rates on IRC though.
lost interest in Hobart race once they bought in the professionally crewed motor sailors even ior was better than that
CQS will be the first one finished, unfortunately it'll be finished by Botany bay or maybe a bit further south, probably not Eden... 
Select to expand quoteGravy7 said..
Beau Geste was impressive in the Solas Big Boat Challenge last week once she was clear of the start line shemozzle.
Not sure how she rates on IRC though.
Anyone see the irony here in this bottom picture.
Front approaching Cape leewin early on the 24th.
Blocking highs not far enough south yet.
See who has a sense of history.
Comanche not being there is a massive hole in the fleet.
Hope to see Black Jack right up there.
CQS im not sold on....looks a bit "gimmicky"
I'm staying local, and cheering for BlackJack.
But I have a soft spot for the RP66 Alive too, that is just simply a lovely boat.
Couldn't care less but will be keeping an eye on any S&S34s in it. Azzuro is going. Every time they are in the news there is more buying interest.
I,m hoping Blackjack goes well !
Looks like the fleet may get a good run down the coast as well ...
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
Couldn't care less but will be keeping an eye on any S&S34s in it. Azzuro is going. Every time they are in the news there is more buying interest.
It is hardly an S&S 34, really.
You ever seen it.
Select to expand quotelydia said..MorningBird said..
Couldn't care less but will be keeping an eye on any S&S34s in it. Azzuro is going. Every time they are in the news there is more buying interest.
It is hardly an S&S 34, really.
You ever seen it.
Yeah, met Shane Kearns in November at Woolwich.
It is a standard MkII S&S34 hull built by SWarbricks out of the same mold as my boat, it just has a different deck.
Quite a few S&S34s have non Swarbrick decks, I nearly bought Ricochet II years ago and it had a flush teak deck. A couple I have seen on Yachthub etc over the years have non Swarbrick decks.
Azzuro is spartan inside but then so are most racing boats. I sailed Huckelberry a couple of times, she did very well in the 2007 S2H, and she was a bare boat to save weight. Even the original Morning Cloud, Edward Heath's winner of the 1969 S2H, was lightened somewhat from the later boats. She also had the taller double spreader mast which became a mod a few years later.
Azzuro is an S&S34.
I am going to be in Sydney for the start and not sure whether to watch the start live or on the telly
Any thoughts on a good spot to watch from would be appreciated
Regards Don
I'm (as always) interested in the Tassie boats plus after living in WA know some guys on boats from there.
Just a thought, would people be interested in a little competition?
Guess the line honours winner, IRC winner and the time for the line honours winner?
Brierley Marine might even throw a few goodies at the winner?
Will start another thread for it if I get some interest....
First out the heads - Loyal, just from WO1X
Line - WO1X
Handicap - Downhill
WO1X
Ichi60
Any of the leading TPs/Cookson50s - Balance, Ichi 52 etc
Handicap - Blow
WO1X
Any of the TPs/Cookson50s
Beneslow40, there's a good bunch of them
Love and War
Little boats
Local Hero
Azzuro
Maluka
Select to expand quoteDonk107 said..
I am going to be in Sydney for the start and not sure whether to watch the start live or on the telly
Any thoughts on a good spot to watch from would be appreciated
Regards Don
Donk, have you listened to or watched Nic? Whether via audio or video she is good value for the yachtie.
If you have an internet connection that is.
www.nicdouglass.org/join/
I wonder how far out they will be around Jervis Bay. Might consider going out to have a look.
Dunno if you'd call it irony, but some connection to the '93 LH winner? ... I was 11 at the time, but remember it well.
... that was meant to be a response to Lydia's riddle, not sure if the page makes the link.
No, I think the irony is the racing number of 1997 for a Hong Kong registered boat.
1997 marked the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China.
A red letter year. 
We have a winner.
Well done.
The front approaching the west needed to be quicker for a repeat of 1993.
Bg would be about the right size to get line honours in the event of big boat carnage.
Hi Donk,
The best place to watch the start is on Neilson Point which is on the starting line. Before that around 10am go down to the CYC and look at all the boats as they leave the dock. Give yourself ninety minutes to get to Neilson Point.
I will be cruising up from Bundeena to around Coogee when I plan to meet and greet the leaders.
I have a very competitive crew.
Di is preparing the main, Glenn the cake queen is in control of dessert. Ken will be handling the cheese tray and bickies
Gas has open reign to deliver something very special.
We have had a few practice runs and will prepare well with the champs and beer well chilled.
We must still rely on the weather gods to give us the perfect day.
Anyone else leaving around 10am?
Isn't Two True a past winner? I seem to remember having drinks aboard chatting to a rocket scientist post race.
Select to expand quoteAll@Sea said..
Isn't Two True a past winner? I seem to remember having drinks aboard chatting to a rocket scientist post race.
Correct
Yes they won in 2009.
Only 3 of the same crew from that year including the owner. No rocket scientists though.
Apparently Sportsbet has us at $26 which is a lot shorter than I would have thought....
Looking at the forecasts we are just going to see a downwind slide. Where is the dreaded southerly buster!
Select to expand quoteRamona said...
Looking at the forecasts we are just going to see a downwind slide. Where is the dreaded southerly buster!
The S&S boats need a southerly to be competitive.
