The 12 boats competing in last Friday’s Canon Big Boat Race were the main source of competition for the Sydney Hobart race which starts tomorrow.

In the ominous looking weather with clouds scudding on the horizon the race got underway off Piper Point at 1230. Nicorette, with her tip top crew including Ludde Ingvall, Owner and Skipper, Navigator Adrienne Cahalan, Super Lightweight Boxing Champion of the World Kostya Tszyu, and British yachting journalist Bob Fisher, rounded the first mark in third position and continued to grind down Brindabella’s lead.

Grundig was hot on their heels, with Spirit, Bumblebee and the rest of the fleet keeping the heat on the leaders. Nicorette overtook Another Duchess at the bottom mark. Another Duchess approached on port tack, and during the gybe to fall in behind Nicorette, ended up with a twisted headsail. It took Duchess a few minutes to regain their compusure, but by that time, Nicorette had left them in the dust. And, after a great workout, she held onto the lead, to finish first across the line.

So, with yet another major title under her belt, Nicorette is hot favourite for this year’s Sydney Hobart race which starts tomorrow. Although she’ll have plenty of hot competition including the VOR boats, she’s going to be a tough one to beat.