Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2003 - Top US Entrant For Rolex Sydney Hobart
15 September 2003

The successful American yacht Zaraffa, winner of this year’s TransAtlantic Race, will contest the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2003.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia today received an Application for Entry from Zaraffa’s owner, Dr Huntington (“Skip”) Sheldon, a member of the New York Yacht Club who lives in the East Coast State of Vermont.

Zaraffa is a Reichel/Pugh 65, built of carbon fibre and launched in 2000. She carries the sail number USA 16.

Since being launched Zaraffa’s successes have included finishing first in the Super Zero division of the 2001 Fastnet Race and second Overall, winning her class in the 2002 Bermuda Race, winning the prestigious St David’s Lighthouse Trophy in 2002 in the USA, and winning the IMS and IRC divisions of the 2003 TransAtlantic Race.

She was also first to finish of the IMS and IRC divisions fleet of the TransAtlantic Race, sailed over 3,600 nautical miles from Newport, Rhode Island, USA, to Cuxhaven, near Hamburg, Germany. She also was third boat in the fleet to finish, astern of two maxis.

Dr Sheldon has put together an outstanding crew for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, including Volvo Ocean Race skipper Neal McDonald who sailed Assa Abloy to a line honours win in the 2001 Sydney Hobart Race.

McDonald will be watch captain along with Richard Clarke, while the crew also includes Ted Hood Jr and navigator Mark Rudiger who was navigator for McDonald aboard Assa Abloy.

McDonald also sailed as a watch captain on Mike Slade’s maxi, Canon, in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, finishing third across the line.

American yachts have been regular participants in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race but the last one was the cruiser/racer Icon in 2001.

The CYCA has now received 11 Applications for Entry for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2003, representing all Eastern Australian States and the USA, with the deadline for applications being 7 November.