Giant slayer

James Neill's Super 30 shows her form in Australia's Sydney to Mooloolaba race

James Neill’s spectacular speed sailing yacht The Cone of Silence silenced a number of critics when the Super 30 ‘ocean racing dinghy’ power sailed to another impressive result in the 469n/ml Sydney to Mooloolaba race last night.

The Cone of Silence, measuring only 9.6m LOA, gave her crew a wet thrill a second ride that was spiced with a number of dramatic broaches, spray drenched electronics and two spinnaker blowouts to complete the race with a 8.2 knot average speed.

Her crew sailing most of the race with line of sight navigation after the electronics failed finished with a deserved third over the line result which was further enhanced in the term of time and the number of big boats they beat in a very demanding race.

Skipper James Neill who has plans to represent Australia in the grueling 2,200 n/ml Trans Pac from Los Angeles to Honolulu race later this year was the event giant killer.

The relatively small 9.6m sloop showed exceptional speed to finish only 1 hour 34 minutes astern of line honours winner the 18.29m Wild Joe while leaving the Volvo 60 (18.29m) Seriously TEN and Ichi Ban (15.7m) to follow her wake to the finish.

This history making performance will be carried into the 308 n/ml Brisbane to Gladstone race starting on Good Friday at 11am off Sandgate where skipper James Neill and his crew are hoping for another chance to race in spinnaker sailing south east winds and become the smallest yacht to finish with a major line honours place in the 57 year history of Queensland’s premier blue water classic.

Sean Langman’s 2004 Courier - Mail Cup champion the 19.9m AAPT is the race line honours favourite.

However the AAPT crew who finished only 1 hour 18 minutes ahead of The Cone of Silence in the race to Mooloolaba may be forced to place a cover on the smaller challenger when the crews racing on the high performance fleet of 43 yachts place their tactical strategy on the line for race honours.