FOR the past four months, Wollongong’s Ty Oxley has been entrusted to make Sydney to Hobart contender Perpetual Loyal as bulletproof as possible.
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After two heartbreaking retirements in as many years, Oxley has taken on a project manager role, to oversee major structural modifications to ensure the crew make it to Constitution Dock.
The glamour yacht of the race, having featured a cast of celebrities on board in past campaigns as part of their charity fundraising efforts, is all business this year.
It all starts with the Sydney Harbour Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday, as the Hobart-bound heavyweights face-off, before the race starts on Boxing Day.
“We sailed it down from Newcastle last week and it felt really good,” Oxley said.
“It’s been in the shed up there, I’ve taken on a bit more this year, with some of the modifications we’ve done.
“We’ve had hull damage two years in a row, we’ve done some structural work with the bow, it’s all been of a very high standard.
“Hopefully with a bit more luck we’ll be right in contention in Hobart.”
Wild Oats XI, also forced to withdraw last year, as American yacht Comanche took line honours, was listed as an almost unbackable $1.35 chance with Tabcorp, with Scallywag at $4.50 and Perpetual Loyal third favourite at $12. Oxley admits another Supermaxi called CQS, which was sailed over from New Zealand this week, looms as the dark horse of the race.
CQS was originally the 27-metre (90 feet) craft called Nicorette, which Oxley won the Sydney to Hobart on in 2004. It’s been rebuilt as 30-metre (100 feet) Supermaxi, which could be well placed for line honours if the fleet face high seas and head winds.
In contrast, Oxley is hopeful to have the wind at his back, as soon as Perpetual Loyal turn right out of Sydney Heads. A tactical masterstroke from Oxley and skipper Anthony Bell result them being first out of the Heads last year, but it came unstuck when two attempts to unfurl their spinnaker failed.
They then limped back to Sydney the next day when bad luck struck for the second year in a row.
“It’s been disappointing, especially two years in a row, so we’ve been pretty determined to get it right,” Oxley said. “But there’s still a lot of work ahead and the Big Boat race will help us prepare for Boxing Day. We’ve certainly got the pace, so it would be great to have the right conditions to head south.”
Tuesday’s Big Boat Challenge is a tactical battle, maneuvering from Shark Island, around Fort Denison and out to Middle Head, then completing an inner circuit of Sydney Harbour, before the dash to the finish line at Farm Cove.