J/133 PATRIOT Sailing Rolex Sydney-Hobart

PATRIOT was purchased by owner, Tony Love in February this year, having previously been campaigned on the Great Lakes of USA. She is the second US built J/133 to be imported into Australia. A number of her European sisters have performed successfully in RORC races and the Fastnet Race. She will be sailed competitively by an experienced crew and, with a favorable rating a top result is possible, given the right conditions. Applications to enter this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race have officially closed with 102 yachts nominated for the great race south and a thrilling battle for overall honours on the cards.  Organising club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, and sponsor Rolex are delighted with the roll-call which includes numerous legends and luminaries and plenty of newcomers as well as the regulars now synonymous with the legendary blue water race.  The CYCA anticipates a final tally of 90-95 yachts will be on the dual Sydney Harbour start line at 1pm on December 26 with the largest in the fleet launching off the front row and the rest from the second line, allowing all boats clear passage to Sydney Heads before crews knuckle down for the tough 628 nautical mile passage to Hobart.  For you armchair J Sailors, be sure to bookmark this link and cheer on PATRIOT past the heads, past the extraordinary "Hornpipes" formation off Taz Heads to the finish- http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/