When MaxZ86s Were Big Boats
December 20 - Sydney, Australia
Remember way back when - March of this
year to be exact - when Roy Disney's Pyewacket and Hasso
Plattner's Morning Glory, a couple of new MaxZ86s, first
squared off in what were considered really big racing boats?
It's almost incomprehensible, but they are almost small boats
now. For example, in this weekend's Sydney to Hobart Race, officials
are expecting as many as 10 100-footers! And there are more big
ones being built.
As for the now relatively small 86s, Plattner,
who broke off competition with Pyewacket at Cork Sailing
Week in Ireland and put his boat up for sale, looks as though
he may be back in the game. Morning Glory is in San Diego,
and is expected to do the TransPac with Russell Coutts, Mr. America's
Cup, at the helm.
If it seems like big boat fever has struck the sailing world,
you can't imagine what's happened in the world of motoryachts.
Guys who used to cruise the world in 120-footers are being humiliated
by one 200-ft+ yacht after another. Then there is Larry Ellison's
recently-launched Rising Sun, which is reportedly 450
feet, making her the largest private yacht in the world. She's
recently been in St. Thomas and the British Virgins.
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