Under the bridge

Austrlian VO70 Premier Challenge plays limbo with Melbourne's Bolte Bridge

Waterfront City’s rather grey Melbourne day was brightened considerably today by the arrival of the Premier Challenge yacht, Australia’s only entrant into the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006.

The crew’s arrival into Waterfront City, all dressed in red with their construction partner ING Real Estate’s logo emblazoned on their chests, marked the successful completion of their 'Bolte Bridge limbo test'.

The yacht, with Watch Captain Barney Walker at the helm, was tipped over by 25 degrees to starboard, using her revolutionary canting keel and helped further by a large bag full of water winched up her mast. The yacht heeled over beautifully and with Grant Wharington nudging her along in his 12m tender, and Andrew 'Hendo' Henderson at the top of the mast checking for height, the Premier Challenge yacht glided effortlessly under the bridge, with meters to spare.

One might wonder what the point of this exercise is. Indeed a valid question but with seven Volvo Open 70 yachts due into Waterfront City during the Melbourne Stopover on January 17 2006, and all needing to perform a similar limbo to join in the month long festivities, the race organisers felt it important to test the modus operandi and ensure that there will be no hitches.

“I love it when a plan comes together!” exclaimed Wharington, with a customary grin, “after racing all the way here across the Southern Ocean I am sure everyone will be pleased to know they won’t get held up going under the bridge. We will all be ready for a hot shower that’s for sure!”

“I agree,” said Mark Turnbull, Gold Medal winner in 2000 and now Operations Manager of the Melbourne Stopover, “we knew that it worked on paper but it’s a really nice feeling to know for sure that it works in practice too.”

Owner of Waterfront City, and yacht sponsor ING Real Estate’s CEO Mark Broomfield, was also delighted with the result. “It’s great to be assured that the yachts will be able to get under the bridge easily. We are really looking forward to seeing the spectacular and somewhat unusual arrival of all seven yachts into Melbourne from the race’s most arduous leg, and welcoming the crews into Waterfront City for a well earned rest.”

The Premier Challenge yacht can be seen sailing on Port Philip Bay for the next week or so before she heads off to New Zealand to board a ship bound for Spain, and the start line of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 in November.

More photos on page 2...