Grand prix yachts line up for final pre-Sydney Hobart Race regatta

Many of the leading contenders for IMS and IRC handicap honours in next week 's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2002 will sail in a concentrated four day final lead-up regatta in Sydney starting today.

The British Trophy Regatta comprises eight short windward/leeward races, two each day, with racing off Sydney Heads and in the Harbour from today through to Saturday. The Rolex Sydney Hobart starts on Boxing Day, 26 December.

Highlight of the IMS and IRC rating divisions of the British Trophy regatta will be the first race clash between the Farr 52s, Hollywood Boulevard and Ichi Ban, two striking-looking, state-of-the-art grand prix racing yachts.

The fire engine-red Hollywood Boulevard, owned by Ray Roberts, was launched just over a year ago, with Matt Allen's metallic-gold Ichi Ban going in the water last month.

Both yachts have internationally experienced crews and are considered among the favourites for the IMS and IRC division of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, with yachts this year being able to contest both rating divisions.

Other grand prix contenders for the Sydney Hobart competing in the British Trophy include rival Farr 50s, Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin and Terry Mullens' Sting, along with Howard de Torres' IMX40, Nips N Tux, and Australian IRC champion yacht, Loki, skippered by Stephen Ainsworth.

Interest will centre on the performance of one of the smallest boats in the Sydney Hobart, Toecutter, a 31-footer designed, built and skippered by Melbourne yachtsman Robert Hick.

Toecutter finished third in the IRC Australian championships earlier this year and impressed with her performance in the recent JPMorgan Regatta in her Sydney debut.

Apart from the IMS and IRC rating Divisions, the British Trophy Regatta has divisions for the one-design classes, the Farr 40s, Sydney 38s and Mumm 30s.

Among the competitors in the Farr 40 OD division is American Jim Richardson, a former Farr 40 world champion who has chartered a local yacht and racing it as Barking Mad.