-
Investec LOYAL - Source: Reuters
Victory for a Kiwi designed and built yacht in the Sydney-Hobart race is being hailed today as another major shot in th e arm for the New Zealand marine industry.
The win is making sporting headlines around the world for the Auckland-built Investec LOYAL cementing New Zealand's position at the top of the game.
Prolific Kiwi yacht designer Greg Elliott has been enjoying looking at the lines of his 30-metre vessel which pipped hot favourite Wild Oats XI at the post to take out one of ocean racing's most prestigious titles, despite LOYAL being dismissed pre-race as an also ran.
"I just write that down to the Oz factor (being written off by the Australian media)," Elliott said.
"I think they are somewhat one-eyed. All the reporting I read, the papers the TV and certainly I heard somebody say it's unbeatable the other boat (Wild Oats XI). I don't know of any yacht that is unbeatable."
The LOYAL crew paraded their winners' medals to amplify their boat designer's viewpoint at a victory ceremony this afternoon, putting the initial 'spying' protest behind them.
Soon after crossing the finish line a protest accusing a LOYAL crew member of seeking outside assistance was logged, but dismissed yesterday.
An international jury meeting at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania accepted that LOYAL tactician Michael Coxon was not seeking help from an ABC helicopter pilot when he asked about rival super-maxi Wild Oats XI's sails off the NSW south coast on Tuesday.
LOYAL skipper Anthony Bell said his boat did well downwind, but upwind they struggled.
"The general feedback on our boat wasn't that we weren't fast enough downwind," Bell said.
"We weren't fast enough upwind. And we weren't fast enough across wind. Except for these three main problems we were a good chance to have a go at this race."
LOYAL was originally built at Cookson Boats in Glenfield, Auckland, as was her superyacht sister MAXIMUS.
"More than anything it just keeps reinforcing the fact that New Zealand can do it," Elliott said.
"We just continue to prove through results that we are one of the best in the world in this game.
"I think it helps everybody. New Zealand is connected to that branding."
Elliott will continue to spread the word next year with his six-metre designed boat being used for match racing at the Olympics.
