The one-boat race
The Sydney to Hobart has never pretended to be an egalitarian free-for-all, particularly when it comes to line honours winners. Put quite simply, the best-financed super-maxi is likely to win.
The perfect storm of financial conditions has pretty much ensured only a far more literal perfect storm will stop Wild Oats XI taking out her sixth Sydney to Hobart line honours title in 2011.
With cash drying up for the big boats and a dearth of serious international competitors because of the global financial crisis, Wild Oats has firmed as one of the shortest favourites in the 67-year history of the event. At $1.30 it is even shorter than when she won the 2010 edition by more than three-and-a-half hours. Investec Loyal, the runner-up last year, is the second favourite at a distant $4.00, while you could almost pick your price for the rest of them.
But if you’re looking for a bit of value in the ‘blue water classic’ as you think about reheating your Xmas leftovers, there’s certainly plenty of it in the handicap section of the race.
While it never garners the attention of the line honours title, in many ways it’s a far more interesting and decidedly more open affair. Explaining the science of winning handicap honours is a little tricky in 30 words or less, but in layman’s terminology it’s awarded to the boat with the best corrected time. The handicap system takes into consideration factors such as size, expected speed and the equipment used on the boat.
So where does this leave punters? Victoire is one of the early favourites and justifiably so given her lead over five races in the Blue Water Pointscore series. Midnight Rambler and Ragamuffin currently fill in the placings. But having taken the final Rolex windward/leeward race of the Rolex Ratings Series, Living Doll will be a big chance too. Given she also won the longer Sydney to Gold Coast race earlier in the year that pushes her right up the pecking order. Loki and Jazz will be there or thereabouts, but it is difficult to see Wild Oats backing up for the double like she did in 2005 – unless there’s extremely favourable weather conditions the whole way. As the prices indicate, it’s a tough one to call.
14 views
Recent Comments