When Jim Cooney bought Maserati for the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart, it became a family project with his daughter Julia, 19, and son James, 18, joining the crew for the great race south.
After a quick turn around, they were on the start line for the Sydney Gold Coast Race but were still learning the boat and finished 11th overall. With Michael Coxon of North Sails joining the team they were on the right track. They also lined up some experienced Volvo sailors to help them out.
“We have brought on some Volvo experience just to balance the crew so it is about 50/50 of experienced Volvo sailors and good competent and local sailors,” said Coxon.
They went on to win line honours in the Botany Bay, Port Hacking and Cabbage Tree Island Races ahead of the Sydney Hobart Race.
While Coxon is the tactician on board, the role of navigator goes to Andrew Cape, he has his fair share of Volvo experience.
“I am tactician and working with Andrew Cape who is, I think these days the navigators are tactical navigators, you have to have pretty good reason not to agree with them.
“He has very good experience, and what I bring is many years of doing this race so if it’s not straight forward it is good to share the years of experience. But I think this is a fairly straight forward race,” explained Coxon.
As the battle to the finish line conitinues, the Volvo 70s are pushing the 100 footers. While Perpetual Loyal holds the lead, at the time of writing, Giacomo is 16nm behind the leader in second and leading on IRC. Maserati is sitting in fourth a further 10nm back. Scallywag is sitting in third.
To follow the race head to rolexsydneyhobart.com/tracker.
– Kimberley Wilmot in Hobart
