January 2011: Woolwich Dock

1 January 2011

Woolwich Dock: the home of ocean racing legends

Proving that they are miles ahead of the competition when it comes to supermaxi yacht services and facilities Woolwich Dock has assisted in preparing the 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race line honours winner, runner-up and second runner-up yachts for the race, as well as overall handicap runner-up.

Line honours winner and current race record holder Wild Oats XI, who this year won her fifth line honours in six years, has called Woolwich Dock home since 2005. Wild Oats XI holds a permanent berth at Woolwich Dock and uses the site as a base. Owned by Bob Oatley, Wild Oats XI is a state-of-the-art 100 foot supermaxi yacht. Making her Sydney to Hobart debut in 2005, Wild Oats XI immediately became a boat to go down in the racing history book, crossing the line in 1 day, 18 hours and 40 minutes which remains the fastest time to date. Going on to win line honours in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Wild Oats XI is the only boat to win four consecutive line honours titles.

Runner-up Investec Loyal has also made her permanent berth at Woolwich Dock after undergoing an extensive refit at Noakes North Sydney in preparation for the 2010 race. In 2009 Noakes CEO Sean Langman and Bell Partners CEO Anthony Bell hatched a plan to use the opportunity to take on the mighty Bass Strait to raise money for fourteen of ‘the most needy charities in Australia', including the Children's Cancer Institute and the Matthew Talbot Hostel. After forming the Loyal Foundation and getting a slew of high profile sporting stars involved the charity managed to raise $700 000. After placing fourth in the 2009 race, Sean Langman and Anthony Bell decided to buy and become co-owners of the boat, former Maximus, which they had been chartering so that they could make the boat more competitive for the 2010 race. The result was a boat which was extended to 100 feet, made 2000 kg lighter and the canting keel was given an overhaul. Bringing together a team of Australia's yachting elite and sporting personalities, the Loyal Foundation has to date raised $850 000 for the year 2010 with a continued aim to reach its goal of raising $1 000 000.

For the past three years Woolwich Dock has also been the home of Lahana who placed third in this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart. Lahana, owned by Peter Millard and John Honan, is a 98 foot fixed keel water ballast supermaxi yacht that was built in 2003. The boat has spent the year preparing for the race in a series of offshore passage races and in August took out line honours while setting a new race record in the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Island Yacht Race.

Also holding a permanent berth is Chris Bull's canting keeled Cookson 50 Jazz who placed second under the IRC rating as well as first in IRC div 0 and ORCi. Jazz has had a successful year winning line honours in the 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Race for the second time, and three second places in the Brisbane to Keppel Island Race, Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks.

Woolwich Dock is one of the great historic shipyards of Sydney Harbour, offering quality repair and maintenance service and berthing facilities. With its 100 tonne marine travel lift, Woolwich Dock is the preferred lift and hardstand facility for the many super maxis that visit Sydney's waterways.