Fed: Skandia overcame near disaster to claim victory - Oxley

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2003
Fed: Skandia overcame near disaster to claim victory - Oxley

Skandia's navigator WILL OXLEY says the vessel's Sydney to Hobart yacht race victory
is a credit to an experienced crew who were able to overcome near disaster when the boat
ran into a sunfish en route to Tasmania.

The Victorian 98-footer crossed the line at 4.14am (AEDT) today, sealing its victory
in the 58th Sydney to Hobart after two days, 15 hours, 14 minutes and six seconds at sea.

Arch rival and constant challenger, New Zealand's Zana, trailed by just 14 minutes
after shadowing Skandia all the way from Sydney.

OXLEY has told Sydney radio 2GB Skandia overcame a number of challenges on its voyage
-- not the least of which was running into a sunfish, which brought it to a complete
stop.

AAP RTV smb/dl

KEYWORD: SAIL SYDHOB OXLEY (SYDNEY)

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