Big Time
SA advertisers McConaghy have a story for you about their boats, their races and their stuff. Sure it’s promotional, but much of what they do is really at the very top of the game.
Prior to the start of the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour today Jono Morris and Mark
Evans, co-owners of McConaghy announced the first annual McConaghy Cup as part of the Rolex
Sydney Hobart race. Makers of the some of the fastest yachts on the planet from Mach2 Foiling
Moths to Supermaxis and everything in between, McConaghy will be recognizing their winning
yachts when they cross the line in Hobart at the end of this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart race. On
offer is line honours for the first McConaghy boat across the line in Hobart and the second for
the best McConaghy handicap winner.
With a minimum of 6 Supermaxi’s in the game, the real race and the one everyone is talking
about is the battle between the three “winningest” Supermaxis the world has ever seen – Alfa
Romeo II, ICAP Leopard III and Wild Oats XI.
The 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart will be the very first
time that these three McConaghy built Supermaxis, considered the most prolific winners in Maxi
history, have ever been together adding yet another element to this world class prize fight. Also
in the mix are McConaghy built Minimaxi’s Loki built by McConaghy co-owner and Managing
Director Jono Morris in their Sydney, Australia facility and Yendys built by McConaghy co-owner
and Managing Director Mark Evans in their Zhuhai, China facility. Nothing like a little friendly
competition between business partners!
Befitting a global leader in marine technology, this cup is not just another piece of silver or glass.
It is in fact a very cool carbon fiber powerboat steering wheel for the campaign owners tender.“We’re known for our innovation, in fact it’s something very much imbedded in our culture at
McConaghy. Coming up with a products and prizes of this nature is not only essential to our
brand, it’s an important way to acknowledge our clients and the passion we all share for the
sport and the technology that enables it”, said Jono Morris today. “The McConaghy Cup
recognizes the race that’s going on within the Rolex Sydney Hobart race adding an exciting
element for McConaghy owners and fans”, said Mark Evans who heads McConaghy in China.
Determined to defend and better her speed record while adding to her historical four consecutive
Sydney Hobart wins, Bob Oatley’s McConaghy built Wild Oats XI has undergone several
modifications including increasing her overall length to 100 ft matching that of Alfa Romeo 2
and ICAP Leopard.
With 142 line honours and wins to her name and most recently smashing the Transpac record in
July, Neville Crighton’s McConaghy built Alfa Romeo 2 has left a trail of race records across the
Pacific as she heads towards Sydney determined to put an end to Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart
dominance.
Fresh from taking their second line honours in a row of the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Slade’s
McConaghy built ICAP Leopard has been racking up wins at a blistering pace of almost 1 every 6
weeks over the last several years. ICAP Leopard has their sights set on line honours in all three of
Rolex’s offshore events in this calendar year – the Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race and
now the Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Most recently Stephen Ainsworth and his McConaghy built Loki smashed the Cabbage Tree Island
Race record slicing more than one hour off the time set by Bob Oatley’s Supermaxi Wild Oats XI
last year. Her performance since launch just a year ago puts Loki’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht
Race rivals on notice to beware of this 63 foot speedster.
Geoff Ross’ purpose-built 55 foot Yendys was the first grand prix yacht out of McConaghy
International’s boatyard in China. Winner of the IRC Racing division at the 2007 Audi Hamilton
Island Race Week Yendys carries a sail number of 1836 – the year Geoff’s ancestors first arrived
in Hobart via convict transportation.
Dr Tony Fisher raced his McConaghy built Adams 20 Helsal III with great success in the late
1980s and early 1990s, including breaking his own record for the Gosford to Lord Howe Island
and scoring line and handicap wins in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race. Tony and his son Rob
bought back the boat in 2007 in a totally rundown condition. They have completed a major
refurbishment under the direction of Tasmanian designer Fred Barrett, including replacing the
centreboard with a fixed bulb keel and bigger rig.
Father & son will co-skipper the boat in this
year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Jono Morris and Mark Evans, owners of McConaghy Boats since 2000 and builders of these mega
sailing machines, are thrilled to have Alfa, Oats and Leopard and their owners in town for this
historical homecoming event. When asked why so many of the top race yachts come from the
McConaghy shed, Morris and Evans agreed that it’s their passion for, and understanding of high-
performance yachts combined with their companies culture of innovation that makes the
difference..
