5:28 AM Sat 26 Dec 2009 GMT
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'Etihad Stadium was left in the harbour testing their rig, before announcing their retirement shortly after 2pm. - Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2009'
Teri Dodds ©
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As Grant Wharington and his Etihad Stadium supermaxi crew sailed under the Harbour Bridge, on their way to the start of the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart start, the owner/skipper turned to his after guard and asked - 'Does anyone else feel like we are off to war?'
It had been a tough two weeks for the Victorian crew, after the boat was dismasted on her way north to the Sydney startline. She was now sailing into battle very much ill-prepared.
Ten minutes before the start, the crew realised that they were not holding the high ground, as they hoisted there mainsail and then their headsail - all was not well.
'There were two issues; the first on these high tech masts, mast alignment is critical.
'As soon as we loaded up the mast we were losing jack pressure, as we loaded up the sail the mast was bending sideways, that is we were 'unable to keep column'. We expected we could fix that in a few hours.
'However the really stopper was an equipment one. We discovered our set up with our runner blocks was not right with the new four spreader mast; with the existing blocks we were unable to hold runner tension...we need to use blocks of a different design.
'Given the fact that our mission was to sail 628 nautical miles to Hobart, the combination of the two problems stopped us.
'Two weeks ago we knew we needed all the planets to line up to be 'race ready' and ultimately we just ran out of time.
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Grant Wharington - Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009 - Etihad Stadium -
Andrea Francolini
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'I am enormously disappointed for my team, a great deal of effort from 50 individuals, just to miss out by the last few points. And next year? Well it will be my 25th Hobart race, have to sail it to get my name up on the board.
'Right now I am just so proud of this crew and there are a number of good things to come from this whole incident.
'What we have already seen is that the boat will certainly be much faster going forward. We might have the fastest boat in the world now, with a new keel and a new mast. so we will be keen to test ourselves.
'In a week's time, on January 2nd, the 226 nautical mile Pittwater Coffs Harbour race will start. A race record to Coffs Harbour might make us all feel better.
'We know Wild Oats XI is planning to turn round in Hobart and speed north for this race, so we'd love to have the opportunity to sail against her going north.'
by Rob Kothe
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