The chance to sail on Wild Oats XI is now available on eBay Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

The exclusive opportunity to bid for a place on one of Australia’s best known ocean racing thoroughbreds for charity is now open. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia today listed guest places on Wild Oats XI, Skandia, Ichi Ban and Andrew Short Marine Brindabella for its SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 11 December 2007.

One of the most exciting days on Sydney Harbour each year, the annual big boat dash around some of the Harbour’s most famous foreshore landmarks will again bring together a number of Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours contenders for this pre-Boxing Day showdown.

This year the fleet will be racing to raise awareness and money for the CYCA’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Trusts, which support search and rescue organisations Australia-wide.

For the high profile Wild Oats XI, skipper Mark Richards is anticipating the 30m monster and its top crew will only be back on the water for their first training sail with the new mast a couple of days before the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.

Despite the stress that is being felt in the Oatley/Richards camp as they race against the clock to reassemble Wild Oats XI in time for the maxi’s attempt at a third consecutive Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours win, they have still generously offered two places on ‘the Oats’ for the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, for the highest bidder and their guest.

Wild Oats XI - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320186018586&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:AU:1123

Two places on Grant Wharington’s 30m maxi Skandia from Melbourne were also posted on eBay today. The Rolex Sydney Hobart 2003 line honours winner, Skandia, is for the fifth time making the trip from Melbourne to Sydney for the Boxing Day start of the 63rd race to Hobart. Come the 11th of December, Wharington and his Victorian crew will be charging around Sydney Harbour at breakneck speed attempting to be one of the front runners across the finish line off the Opera House.

Skandia - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320186025422&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:AU:1123

CYCA Commodore Matt Allen has offered two places aboard his Jones 70 Ichi Ban, which finished second across the line in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart and is backing up this year. In the right conditions and on an open ocean, this modified Volvo 70 is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots or 55 kilometres per hour.

Ichi Ban - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320186028579&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:AU:1123

Two places on arguably Australia’s most recognised maxi and a five-time line honours winner of the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, Andrew Short Marine Brindabella, are also up for auction. A household name and line honours winner of the 1997 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Andrew Short Marine Brindabella made its racing comeback this year under new owner Andrew Short who also sponsors the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy through this business.

Andrew Short Marine Brindabella - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320186030538&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:AU:1123
 

	Skandia during the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Daniel Forster/Rolex

The fifth and final eBay item posted today is the opportunity to fire the 19th century replica cannon - the same cannon used to start the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race each year - to send the expected fleet of up to 20 maxis and pocket maxi yachts off on the 14 nautical mile course around Sydney Harbour at 12.30pm on Tuesday 11 December 2007.

Start the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320186034284&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:AU:1123

As well as firing the cannon, the highest bidder and one guest will join a three-hour charter on Sydney Harbour on the official spectator boat which will follow the race including an on board commentator, lunch and limited wine, thanks to Oatley Wines, with a cash bar thereafter.

Bidding for all five items will close on 2nd December 2007. All monies raised from the auction will be donated to the CYCA SOLAS Trusts. Terms and conditions apply, see the individual URL’s for details. - Lisa Ratcliff