EBS Yachting - New Zealand Supermaxi Race Yacht

EBS Yachting Image Galleries ... The EBS Yachting Media Zone is packed full of images from throughout the opening stages of this exciting campaign.
With several galleries from throughout the design and build process and more recent images from the official launch and the first sea trials of Maximus there are plenty of fresh images here for your viewing pleasure.

Proudly supporting EBS Yachting
and Maximus throughout the
2006 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
Ocean Race .

Sydney Hobart Disaster for Maximus

[ 22 / 01 / 2007 ]

At approx 3 am on Wednesday the 27th of Dec 2006 whilst competing in the Rolex Sydney – Hobart race in what could be described as moderate to mild weather conditions, the forestay of the mast on Maximus separated from the mast resulting in a catastrophic rig failure in which the 40m wing mast fell directly back into the cockpit injuring 5 crew members.

The crew took immediate action to ensure the injured crew members were properly cared for and an airlift for 3 people was arranged for 1st light as the severity of the injuries could not be ascertained without the help of medical professionals.

The crew stabilized the remaining mast section and cut away all the loose rigging to prevent further damage to the vessel then began the motor back to Sydney under her own steam.

The mast fell to the deck in one piece and subsequently broke in the water when stay tension was lost. The cause of the failure is yet to be determined.

The injured crew members are all recovering well and thankfully the injuries eventuated to be of a less serious nature than was first reported with cracked ribs and bad bruising and strains.

The disappointment for the crew and owners is immense as a lot of work and modifications including new sails had been performed on the boat and the conditions were perfect for Maximus The race was setting up to be a real match race with Wild Oats XI with whom we were trading positions frequently prior to the failure.

Maximus has since been hauled from the water at the Noakes North Sydney yard where she will undergo some repairs and be delivered by ship back to Auckland, NZ near the end of February, where she will undergo more repairs and modifications to the hull, foils and systems to improve her performance around the board. A new rig will eventually be stepped and is likely to be a significantly different concept to the previous mast.

Stay tuned for more updates!

13.5 Knots As The First Watch Takes A Break

[ 26 / 12 / 2006 ]

We are now sitting comfortably in 2nd position with Wild Oats still within sight 2.5nm (4.63kms) ahead and outside us.The first watch is getting ready to go below and take a four hour break. The start was uneventful.

A small drama unfolded as we came through the heads, we blew the webbing on the number 3 jib. We put up the number 4 while repairs were carried out below deck.

The number 3 is back up now pushing us along at 13.5 knots of boat speed. The sun is shining and we are running into a swell of about 3 metres with a small amount of water coming across the deck. Dolphins were following Maximus for a while this afternoon and the boat has now settled and we are making good progress. We are all looking forward to our freeze dried Teriyaki dinner and some rest.You can follow our progress using Yacht Tracker on the official Sydney Hobart race site.

By Dallas Kilponen - Sydney Morning Herald.

Christmas Eve ... Full Race Start Run Through

[ 25 / 12 / 2006 ]

Practice for pre start and the run up the harbour and out the Heads.....

Its 5pm on Christmas Day and ive enjoyed a relaxing day with my family looking forward to the race tomorrow while the rest of the crew had Christmas Lunch at a private home overlooking the Sydney Harbour where in less than 24 hours the action will be intense for a clean start and good run out through the Heads and south to Hobart.

Yesterday we had a great training session where we ran through the full race start from the 10 minute gun to the run out of the heads to about 2 miles offshore. It was a great opportunity to go through the full drill and even though it was only practice there was plenty of intensity on the boat and even a bit of adrenalin running. There is something about the start of this great race that gets you going.

The huge specator fleet and crowds that line the harbour is unmatched anywhere around the world. This year i had the pleasure to compete in the Centenary Newport Bermuda Race on a Transpac 52 and whilst the atmosphere was good it cant compare to the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart

So all is on track with the crew, sails and the rig looked great with the session we had. We also had the pleasure of Sir James Hardy joining us onboard to check out this amazing yacht at close range. He certainly needs no introduction in the world of sailing and he was thrilled to see this supermaxi and the speed and power she can reach that just seems so effortless.

On our return into the heads we were drenched by the Southerly change that appeared across the horizon with everyone soaked to the bone that soon had the mood on the boat from serious race mode to soaked smiles after a good test run for Boxing Day.

Right now im totally psyched for the race ahead and while the latest reports put more emphasis on the sea state it sets up perfectly for seeing just how hard everyone pushes in the first 24 hours. With the speeds the supermaxis reach its not hard to launch them of the short steep swells that will be sweeping up the coast. A fascinating race is about to unfold......

By Dallas Kilponen - Sydney Morning Herald.

Sail Testing Outside The Heads

[ 23 / 12 / 2006 ]

Today we went outside the heads for about 5 hours of sail testing.....

An early start today as we left the dock at 9am to head out through the Heads to do some sail testing. With a crew of 23 we have two watches for the race and today we ran through the drills of putting reefs in the main for each watch.

On a boat this size communication is crucial in performing any sail changes or manouvres when sailing and today was a good opportunity to run through all the positions and who will be calling the shots during any sail changes.The wind was pretty light, only about 5-10 knots and we sailed north off Manly about 2 ks offshore and checked out one of the new spinnakers we'll take to Hobart.

As the breeze died down we headed back to the CYCA where the boys are working on the last of the jobs before a day off for the crew before Boxing Day. We might head out again this afternoon as there is a southerly predicted so that might give us a chance to press the boat a bit more and to check more of the sails and to fine tune the crew work and communication.

By Dallas Kilponen - Sydney Morning Herald.

Dockside Preparations

[ 22 / 12 / 2006 ]

Well today was pretty full on with setting up all my communications on the boat for the race. I will be using a Globalstar phone that requires full testing within the confines of the boat. The biggest problem is the carbon fibre blocks all the signals from the satellite and its not always possible to have the phone exposed to the elements that you get in a Sydney Hobart Race. So its a fine line as to where to position the phone using dual lock tape so i can set it up and get back to my job on the boat (grinders) or in the bunk for more sleep. So after all the testing i am up and running and ready to go.

Today we had planned on going outside the heads to give the boat a full go in the howling nor' easter but where we are berthed made it difficult for us to get of the dock without damaging the hull. It was decided to stay tied up to the dock and to complete the long list of jobs to do before the boat is finally ready for Boxing Day. All our safety inspections are done and now its just general maintenance and checks of all the systems and fittings.

Tomorrow we plan to head outside for most of the day to give the boat a good workout and test out all the sails. Just moving the sails around this boat takes a heap of blokes as they are huge and heavy.

All the wet weather gear and safety gear is ready to go and we loaded on the 3 life rafts that will be strapped down the back in a cavity under the deck.

Its a good atmosphere down at the CYCA as there is plenty of people around and always someone to catch up with that you have'nt seen for a while. So the work continues on all the yachts while the beer, rum and wine flow freely to the buzz of weather reports and old friends catching up.

Part of the attraction of this sport is the great friendships that are made and it seems the more ocean racing you do the more friends you have to share a beer with at the end of the day.

By Dallas Kilponen - Sydney Morning Herald.

2006 Race Day Nears

[ 21 / 12 / 2006 ]

EBS Yachting has a new crew member for the 2006 Sydney to Hobart Race. Dallas Kilponen from the Sydney Morning Herald will be making the trip south aboard Maximius and will be posting reports twice daily once the race is underway. The first posting to the Sydney Morning Heralds Sydney to Hobart Blog is available below.

Another year has passed and once again I have the pleasure of competing in the great offshore race that is the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

After a great ride to finish third overall on the NZ super maxi, Konica Minolta last year, I am again joining ranks with the New Zealanders onboard Maximus. She is also 30m (98ft) and will compete for line honours with the other 30m supermaxis, Wild Oats and Skandia.

Maximus had its first sail out on Sydney Harbour today to have a look at the mainsail and to do some fine tuning of the rig. With only a short time on the water we sailed with only the mainsail and did a couple of short runs around the harbour. All looks well with only five days until the start of the race.

This will be my third Sydney Hobart and it was good to meet up with the crew, some of which I have sailed with before in the Hobart Race. We will have a crew of 23 and with the weight and size of the sails onboard all hands are needed just to haul the sails on deck with every sail change.

My job on the boat will once again be on the grinders but, as is the norm for a Sydney to Hobart, everyone chips in to do whatever needs to be done especially through the tough stretch of the Bass Strait.

The forecast looks good for us and only time will tell to see how hard the big boats push in the tough conditions predicted through the first 36 hours before conditions are expected to lighten. Either way it will be a great spectacle for viewers to follow the race online through SMH Online and the brilliant yacht tracker set up by the CYCA using Google Earth.

In the days leading up to the start, Maximus will be out testing and fine tuning all of the systems on the boat and we look forward to getting out there for the race south.

My aim is to update the blog twice a day using satellite phone and I will try to respond to any questions should time and conditions permit.

Between Sydney Morning Herald photographer Andrew Meares onboard Helsal IV and myself on Maximus, we hope you enjoy the coverage that aims to bring the readers onboard in this famous ocean race.

By Dallas Kilponen - Sydney Morning Herald.

Lava Flows, Light Winds and Gladiatorial Battles

[ 24 / 10 / 2006 ]

Under a vibrant blue sky at 16.36 (Italian time) yesterday, Thuraya Maximus sailed across the finish line at Marsamxett Harbour, Malta, just 1hr 52 minutes after Alfa Romeo to take second line honors for the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race.

The match race course had more twists and turns than ‘The Maltese Falcon’ story around the 608 mile course, with Thuraya Maximus and Morning Glory battling it out for second place. The delighted crew were jubilant that the battle had ended with them finishing just 15 minutes in front of their rivals Morning Glory. “We passed each other so many times, it definitely gave the race some more intensity,” commented Paul Caynard after 72 hours of challenging sailing around some incredible places and with some frustrating winds that had seen Morning Glory edge in front and then fall behind frequently.

“It was an amazing race with some of the most stunning scenery even with the frustrating wind and current conditions. We were first across the start line and had hoped to stay in that position, but Alfa Romeo managed to pull ahead and we were left to chase and had them in our sights around the top of Sicily only for them to find the wind first.” said Maximus owner Charles St Clare Brown, “The challenge then was to beat Morning Glory. The whole crew battled hard to gain advantage of any wind and we’re pleased with our result.”

The last race for Maximus in the northern hemisphere with a WSSRC record, line honors and a Transatlantic win, they will be looking to continue their SuperMaxi campaign back home for the Southern Sailing Series.

For further press information or interviews, please contact Jo Taylor @ Watermark Communications
T: 0044 7941019505 E: jo@watermark-comms.com - Photo Credit: Carlo Borlenghi

Media Room Archives ...

[ 20 / 10 / 2006 ]	Thuraya Maximus Sights Set on Rolex Middle Sea ...........................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 10 / 10 / 2006 ]	Le Frustrazione della Trieste! ............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 21 / 09 / 2006 ]	Paul Cayard Joins Maximus ..............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 09 / 09 / 2006 ]	Blow Out The Cobwebs Not Batten Down The Hatches .................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 08 / 09 / 2006 ]	Spreading your Wild Oats .................................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 06 / 09 / 2006 ]	Maxi Worlds, Minimum Wind ..............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 05 / 09 / 2006 ]	More Light Conditions For Day Two ..................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 04 / 09 / 2006 ]	Light Winds Make Heavy Work For Maximus ....................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 03 / 09 / 2006 ]	The Worlds Best Gather In Sardinia ..................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 04 / 08 / 2006 ]	An Interview With The Maximus Record-Breakers ...........................................................................................................	[ read article ]

[ more archived news ]