It appears one boat owner and crew will not be having a happy Christmas this year. The 90-foot maxi boat Diabetes, a leading contender for
2006 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race due to start on December 26, was dismasted on Wednesday, December 20 off Sydney Heads while on a training run. The boat was reportedly engaging in sail testing in a 17-knot easterly wind when he mast failed. The crew spent the next 15 minutes chopping away the mast and sending it by the boards. With only a few days before the start of the race, Diabetes owner Ludde Ingvall is said to have little chance of finding a new mast that can power a 90 footer. Ingvall named his boat Diabetes to raise awareness of the disease after he was recently diagnosed with the ailment.
