Yachting: Kiwis aim to size up Aussie super maxi

Two New Zealand contenders for the Sydney-Hobart yacht race line honours should get a feel for the challenge posed by a new Australian super maxi when the Big Boat challenge is held on Sydney Harbour on Tuesday.

Konica Minolta, skippered by Wellington businessman Stewart Thwaites, will seek to defend the title after the boat made a trouble-free transtasman crossing last weekend.

Veteran New Zealand yachtsman Neville Crichton also has another opportunity to put his new A$10 million ($10.74 million) high-tech Alfa Romeo through her paces before the blue water classic to Tasmania starts on Boxing Day.

Apart from undertaking their own training regimes, the New Zealand duo will also keep a close eye on Australian Bob Oatley's 11th incarnation of Wild Oats - a sleek new 30m vessel complete with canting keel.

Wild Oats 11 was launched last week and had her first outing on the harbour yesterday.

However, Oatley has not confirmed he will compete on Tuesday and could instead compete in the Rolex Trophy Rating Series - which also involves the New Zealanders - on Thursday.

Skandia, the fourth super maxi in the Sydney-Hobart, will miss the Big Boat Challenge as skipper Grant Wharington is competing in the Volvo Ocean Race.

- NZPA