Ingvall’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Comeback With A Cause

Two time Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours winning skipper Ludde Ingvall is heading south to Hobart – and this time it’s personal.

Given the presence of the three 30m maxis and two Volvo 70s, he’s realistic about his chances of a third line honours win. Instead, he’s hoping the presence of the 27m maxi he is co-skippering in the race will draw attention to what he calls the “biggest epidemic of modern time”.

This year Ingvall was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This was in addition to the death of his father and the loss of his long term sponsor.

“Rather than going home and getting depressed and angry, I woke up one morning and decided to do something about it,” Ingvall says.

“We are racing south this year as a way of communicating a message about diabetes, which is a huge global problem.

“I feel like I am coming out of retirement to bring forward this very important cause which is close to my heart,” Ingvall said at today’s announcement at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

“Our target is a top five finish over the line in the Rolex Sydney Hobart but, more importantly, this year we are a bunch of enthusiasts wanting to sail for the benefit of a charity”, says Ingvall.

According to the Diabetes Australia website, diabetes is Australia’s fastest-growing chronic disease and the seventh highest cause of death in Australia.

Adrian Dunphy, who had applied for entry under the name Dodo, has teamed up with Ingvall and they will co-skipper the Simonis – Voogd designed 2004 line honours winning yacht which sailed as Nicorette for that race. His first line honours win in Australia’s premier bluewater classic in 2000 was with his previous Nicorette.

Ludde Ingvall will bring some of his Australian Big Boat Racing Team crew to the table and also joining Ingvall and Dunphy’s race for a cause is well known yachtsman Andrew Short.

Dunphy and Ingvall have just over two weeks to prepare for the Boxing Day start of the annual 628 nautical mile race from to Hobart. A typical Rolex Sydney Hobart campaign can involve up to six months preparation.

Ingvall says the boat and the crew are race ready but admits a heavy program awaits. The crew will spend the next fortnight crew training and testing the boat before they line up on the front start line in Sydney Harbour at 1.00pm on Tuesday 26 December 2006.

Due to the tight timeframe, at this stage Diabetes’ isn’t planning to enter tomorrow’s CYCA Big Boat Challenge. Their first test sail with the boat’s new livery is scheduled for this weekend.

The 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet remains at 82 with the application for entry for Dodo now racing as Diabetes.

About Ludde Ingvall

Finnish born Australian resident Ludde Ingvall is one of the most experienced and successful ocean racing yachtsmen on the international scene. His notable achievements include line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2000 and 2004 (two different boats), the Fastnet Race in 1995, World Championship titles in 1997 and 1998, and the transatlantic monohull record in 1997. For his remarkable efforts, Ludde has twice been awarded the title of Yachtsman of the Year by the Swedish Sailing Association, both in 1995 and 2000.

For more information about the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, visit www.rolexsydneyhobart.com 

For further media information please contact:

Rolex Sydney Hobart Media Centre (Sydney):   02 8292 7835

Lisa Ratcliff                   0418 428 511    

Nicole Browne               0414 673 762

Copyright free hi-res photographs of last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (2005) are available to registered media to download from www.regattanews.com