Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2003 - Zana Arrives In Sydney For Boxing Day Classic
Sydney/ Hobart, AUS

As Zana's owner Stewart Thwaites left the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia this morning to greet his New Zealand super maxi at Sydney Heads, he cast a side-glance at his major threat for line honours for the first time.

"We've been spying on lots of photos. It looks like a powerful boat and they are going to be incredibly hard to beat," Thwaites said, referring to the Victorian super maxi Skandia, owned by Melbourne property developer Grant Wharington, which is berthed at the Rushcutters Bay yacht club.

Named after Thwaites' 13-year-old daughter, the 98-footer Zana, sailed by a delivery crew of eight, arrived in Sydney this morning after sailing more than 1,200 nautical miles from Auckland for the Boxing Day start of the 59th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Thwaites, a Wellington based property investor, admits he is more nervous than confident about lining up with the 57-strong fleet next week, but revealed he isn't concerned about the fact that Zana is yet to compete against another boat, due to the fact she was only launched in October.

"I'm not too worried that we haven't raced yet because the crew is so experienced," he said, referring to the crew of 24 that includes America's Cup and round-the-world sailors as well as two Australians, including naval architect Alex Nolan from Tasmania who was involved in the design of Zana.

"From thinking about it to getting the boat here has been a two and half year project," Thwaites said this morning while watching the crew pull the enormous sails down before heading into the CYCA to clear custos.

"This boat was built for the Hobart Race. It's the best race I've been in, particularly with the three segments - the NSW and Victorian coast, Bass Strait and the east Tasmanian coast".

Thwaites will fly home to New Zealand today before returning tomorrow with the rest of his crew to commence some intense sail training over the weekend and on Monday.

Next year Thwaites plans to campaign his boat overseas on the European circuit where last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours winner Neville Crichton has achieved remarkable success with Alfa Romeo.

On Thwaites' 2004 calendar so far is the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the Giraglia Rolex Cup and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.