- The Maritimo 100 crew will enjoy five-star opulence on their voyage
- Vessel features marble ensuites and a professional chef’s kitchen
Not even Maritimo 100’s crew expect the supermaxi will push her rivals for Sydney to Hobart line honours.
But with the five-star luxury they’ll enjoy on board, you mightn’t blame the sailors for just wanting to enjoy the trip.
Entering her first Sydney-Hobart, Maritimo is one of only two 100ft supermaxis made by the British luxury yacht designer Oyster. The other, Serafim, was listed for sale in 2022 for €6,300,000 ($A10.5million).
Maritimo can lay claim to being the most decadent boat in the race fleet of 104 boats, boasting marble ensuites, stunning views and separate lounge and dining spaces.
As her rivals chow down on freeze-dried food or whatever they’ve cooked at home this week, Maritimo features a professional chef’s gallery with an elaborate menu.
‘It’s roast ham tonight and a potato bake,’ skipper Peter Jones said of the menu on Thursday.
The Maritimo 100 (pictured) is so opulent it may as well be a floating five-star hotel
Maritimo’s Sydney to Hobart sailors couldn’t be blamed for wanting to take their time getting to Tasmania when they’re enjoying luxury like this
The vessel features marble ensuites and a professional chef’s kitchen – but the eye-opening level of sumptuousness could harm the crew’s chances of taking line honours
The array of features means Maritimo weighs in at more than 100 tonnes, a major stumbling block in the push to reach Hobart before rival supermaxis LawConnect, Master Lock Comanche or Wild Thing 100.
The world’s most impressive 100-footer, Comanche is the favourite for line honurs, but the varied conditions forecast will also suit her nearest rival and reigning champion LawConnect.
But bookmakers aren’t even offering a price for Maritimo to claim the John H Illingworth Challenge Cup as first past the post, with her rivals similarly sceptical of her chances.
‘Maritimo 100 will certainly be having better food and a more enjoyable ride than us but she won’t be anywhere near the leaders as we head into Bass Strait in the early hours of tomorrow morning,’ said Comanche co-skipper Matt Allen.
That won’t surprise Maritimo, with the crew keen to prioritise enjoyment over accolades.
‘We’re not in any hurry,’ Jones said.
The state-of-the-art craft was built by the British luxury yacht maker Oyster
While other crews will be cooking their food in plastic bags, the sailors on the Maritimo 100 will enjoy meals like roast ham and potato bake
‘We really are out just to compete this time and make sure we change back down through the gears and get through the first couple of days of weather and enjoy our trip down there.’
That said, the forecast appears favourable for a big boat like Maritimo.
The fleet was expected to travel down the NSW coast in north-easterly winds before a west-southwesterly change comes through over the Bass Strait.
That’ll make for heavy gusts and possibly showers.
‘(The forecast) will actually be quite good for us,’ Jones said.
‘The boat’s quite heavy and it’ll handle the bigger seas a lot better than a lot of the lighter boats so we should be able to cruise down through tonight.’
The crew needn’t fret if the weather becomes too wet and wild.
‘Each of the cabins have all got hot showers in them. We’ll be able to sneak a shower in occasionally,’ Jones said.
