Jim Clark the billionaire founder of Netscape is an avid sailor and superyacht owner. He holds a strong desire to win the Sydney Hobart yacht race later this year and has commissioned a 100ft pre-preg carbon racing yacht to do the job
Launched at Hodgdon’s shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine, just a few short weeks ago and christened COMANCHE she now officially on the way to Australia.
After a few brief days of sea trials in Newport, Rhode Island, she set sail for Charleston, South Carolina, the first leg of the passage to Sydney, Australia.
The weather in Newport during the sea trials and for the offshore passage south was anything but glorious, but by all accounts, the boat is already starting to deliver impressive performances.
Although her performance data is still being kept under wraps, racing skipper Ken Read has been wearing a rather broad smile.
Hodgdon CEO Tim Hodgdon said “all of us at Hodgdon are proud to have been associated with this important build, and we wish Jim, Kristy, Kenny and the entire crew all the best for Sydney-Hobart and all of their racing ventures.”