RSHYR: YuuZoo sailing in minefields

Ludde Ingvall's 90ft maxi YuuZoo wrestling with the weather conditions in Bass Strait. Image copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster.

by Bruce Montgomery

Ludde Ingvall, the former Finnish round the world sailor who gave away maxi yacht racing to run an equestrian business in NSW, has had a frustrating 24 hours searching for horsepower in Bass Strait as they chase the line honours leaders in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Sailing his revamped 90-foot YuuZoo, the formerly named Nicorette won line honours under Ingvall’s guidance in the 2004 race; his second line honours win.

This afternoon, Ingvall is frustrated. Sailing east of Flinders Island he’s eighth on line in the 95-strong fleet, and 120 nautical miles behind current race leader, Neville Crichton’s 100 foot supermaxi Alfa Romeo. YuuZoo just keeps falling into windless holes.

“We are sailing in minefields,” he said. “We seem to find all of them. We sat still for a couple of hours, we saw Investec LOYAL, Ran, Ichi Ban and Lahana just sail past us and away from us!”

Ingvall’s frustration is compounded by having blown out one of his largest jib headsails. It split in two and is irreparable. Now he is left with a lighter maxi than the leading trio, but is too underpowered to make any impression on them.


Niklas Zennstrom's JV72 RAN heading for Hobart. Image copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster.

Meanwhile, boat crews in YuuZoo’s vicinity saw his dilemma as they sailed around him, not sure if they will find themselves in the same situation, as many have already done.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race