Two True wins handicap honours

Australian yacht Two True yesterday won handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart ocean classic, some three days after the first boats finished the race, officials said.

Two True won the event on handicap after a series of protest hearings cleared skipper Andrew Saies over a collision in Sydney Harbour when the race began on Saturday.

That collision ended the race of fellow Australian entrant She's the Culprit while another yacht Kioni was disqualified in the events which followed the collision rounding the first mark in the harbour.

"This is a race that is difficult to win," said Saies, who crossed the finish line on Wednesday afternoon after three days, 23 hours, 49 minutes and three seconds at sea.

"It's something that all yachties want to be involved with and maybe dream one day about winning."

New Zealand supermaxi Alfa Romeo was first across the finish line in the 628 nautical mile Sydney to Hobart ocean race down Australia's east coast late on Monday, taking just two days, nine hours, two minutes and ten seconds to reach Hobart.

Only one boat in the 100-strong fleet which started Saturday was yet to finish the race where final rankings are determined by a handicap system based on the boat's dimensions.

The Sydney to Hobart can be a dangerous race, with six sailors perishing in the 1998 contest when a powerful storm sank five yachts and forced 66 of the 115-strong fleet to retire.