2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Long trek to take part was just a warm-up
by Steve Dettre/RSHYR media 24 Dec 10:15 NZDT
26 December 2024
Damien Fleury, Cocody's boat captain preparing the boat after its long delivery © CYCA | Salty Dingo
Sailing some 17,000 nautical miles to take part in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race may not seem like the perfect preparation for a race that is a mere 628 nautical miles (1,170km) long.
But Damien Fleury of French boat, Cocody, says the hard part had already been done in training before the trip.
"We are not afraid to face big waves... because we know the boat," he said.
Fleury said the crew had sailed in many events and know the boat intimately.
They had pushed the boundaries on the boat, testing its limits and occasionally breaking things during training.
"The biggest chance from our team is... the experience we have with the same boat and that we are not afraid to break (things) because we already break everything," Fleury said.
He said that gave them an intimate knowledge of the boat.
"The final trip from France to Australia was just a task of getting here... it was not a race."
Cocody will be one of six entrants from overseas ports in the Sydney Hobart.
Others include Antipodes from Hong Kong, Bacchanal from the USA, Caro of New Zealand, Poulpito out of New Caledonia and Centennial 7 from the Philippines.
Centennial 7 owner, Ernesto Echauz, said it had been a dream to participate in the Sydney Hobart.
"We have really wanted to join the Sydney Hobart race," he said.
"We've been doing the China Sea Race for the last 20 years and for us, it will be a great achievement for the Centennial team of 15, which are composed of Filipino sailors and coaches."
Echauz purchased Celestial - the 2022 winner and runner up in 2021 - and renamed it Centennial 7.
His original plan was to bring their own boat, Centennial 3, but it was a logistical challenge to bring the boat to Australia from the Philippines.
"There was an opportunity last September when Celestial was for sale. So, we immediately took the opportunity to buy it. And received support from the CYCA to get 90 day visas to participate in our first Rolex Sydney to Hobart," he said.
Matthieu Landrieu of Poulpito said their boat was more than prepared for its second attempt at the race.
"The boat is in better shape; the crew in better shape," he told the media conference at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
He said that even if most of the crew arrived just yesterday from New Caledonia, there was still time to be ready.
"Regards preparation, almost everything is done, so we can just focus on how we'll deal with the weather and strategies," he said.