Comanche: Sailing on the Edge
The new 100 foot sailing beast Comanche is chomping at the bit to start the Sydney Hobart Race.
http://vimeo.com/114580388
When the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race starts on Boxing Day, December 26, 2014, there will be a brand-new beast of a boat on the line: Comanche, owned by Jim and Christy Clark and skippered by Ken Read. This modern 100-foot carbon race boat was built at Hogdon Yachts in East Boothbay, Maine. In just under 4 minutes of video, Ken Read gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the build and prep of this huge project, which due to a very tight time frame allowed for only seven days on the water in Newport, RI, before the boat shipped to Sydney to get ready for the race.
Ken also explains why the mast is so far aft in the boat, and what it feels like to sail a 100 foot raceboat with a 25 foot beam at the transom. "It's far more like a race car than you would ever imagine. At high speeds, two fingers and a tiny little movement—and you can make the boat respond."
We'll be watching Comanche responding on the starting line in a few days with a little bit more understanding of what makes her tick. For more information and to follow the race, visit the Rolex Sydney Hobart website.
