Honey edges ahead of Murray into Hobart
Posted on 29 December 2011
UPDATE: The International Jury has dismissed the protest against Investec Loyal who are confirmed as line honors winner of the race...
It came down to the final moments of the race, but Stan Honey, Director of Technology for the America's Cup, and his team on Investec Loyal have edged out Wild Oats XI to cross the finishing line first in the Sydney to Hobart race. AC Regatta Director Iain Murray is among the crew on Wild Oats.
For Honey, who was navigating on board Investec Loyal, the result will be especially sweet. Unlike Murray who has competed in several Hobart races, Honey had never finished one of sailing's classic blue water regattas. In 2006, his only other start, his team dismasted. So today he's a winner on his first finish.
"Lots of good team mates and good luck and I think we went the right places," were the reasons given by Honey for the team's performance after the race.
Previously, Honey has won the Volvo Ocean Race as navigator as well as the Jules Verne Trophy for fastest time, non-stop, around the world, the latter leading to a US Yachtsman of the Year award.
The race for line honors has been a see-saw battle since the start, and at the finish just three minutes separated Loyal from Wild Oats, making for the closest finish in nearly thirty years.
“This was one the greatest experiences of my life," said Anthony Bell, the skipper of Honey's boat, Investec Loyal, after reaching Hobart first. "It was exhilarating… It was an amazing trip. It was a nervous trip, all the way.”
ORACLE Racing team coordinator Ian Burns was with Murray on Wild Oats, and as the teams approached the finish line, he spoke of the excitement on board: “I think everyone on our boat, and I'm assuming everyone on Loyal, has had a great lot of fun out of it. It’s about as good as it gets. It’s everything we could hope for in a race.”
When he's not navigating race boats, Honey is playing a critical role the evolution of the 34th America's Cup. Stan and his team have developed the cutting edge Liveline graphics that superimpose information and graphics over the live television pictures, making it easier to understand the subtleties of Cup racing.