SNIPER
| Design | Elliott 1050 |
| Sail Number | 8019 |
| Length overall | 10.50m |
| Beam | 3.7m |
| Draft | 2.4m |
| About the boat: | Sniper is a wooden Elliott 1050, designed by Greg Elliott and built by Seathwaite. Sniper is one of 4 Elliott 1050’s in the 2020 RNI. Sniper is carrying a shiny new main from the team at Evolution Sails and a recently installed prod. Sniper will be skippered in the 2020 RNI by Phil Clark & Max Hawkes who will be keen to give the other 1050’s a run for their money. |
| Home base | Gulf Harbour |
| Beware Sniper in action |
PHIL CLARK
| Name | Phil Clark |
| Age | 47 |
| Relationship to Co – Skipper | Mate |
| Have you ever done the RNI before? | Yes on Marshall Law in 2017 |
| Yacht Club | SSANZ, Manly Sailing Club, Multihull Yacht Club |
| Tell us a little about your sailing history/ background | In 2018 Phil’s father, Charles was looking for an upgraded racer cruiser with a hot shower and a bigger engine. Phil found him Sniper the only wooden Elliott 1050 in the world, with all the fine characteristics of Elliott 1050’s she fit the bill perfectly. Since purchase Sniper has undergone a continuous development process of converting her from a Inshore harbour racer/cruiser to a shorthanded coastal racer. Charles has generously helped with the purchase of a new main and number 2 jib and allowed the boys to fit a cruising prod and a few other mods. Sniper still retains her cruising pedigree but should hopefully be competitive with the other Div 2 hotshots. This program wouldn’t be possible without Charles support and generous use of his boat. After years of keelboat racing, sailing in the SSANZ triple series and dinghy racing Phil jumped at the chance to compete in the RNI in 2017 on Marshall Law. After this he brought a half share in Freedom an 8.5 catamaran and has been enjoying multihull speeds lately with some success. After enjoying the sunrises, sunsets, highs and lows of the first RNI when the opportunity to run a campaign for a second RNI happened he simply couldn’t turn it down and put Sniper on the waiting list for entry pretty much as soon as the sale & purchase was agreed. |
| What appeals most about doing the RNI | Sun rises, sun sets, wildlife and camaraderie of the competitors and co skipper |
| What are your essential food items during the race? | Freeze dry |
| What will your meals be like during the race? | We’re still working that out. A mix between freeze dry and bacon sandwiches |
| What’s your favourite point of sail and why? | Gennaker reach with a A2 |
| What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? | She’s made of wood and sails beautifully |
| Describe your skipper/co-skipper in 5 words | Quiet, dependable, no fuss kinda guy |
| Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? | Lots of gym work and sailing freedom ( the gbe cat) for fitness. Gold cup races 2 handed so we’re pushing our selves against fully crewed boats on long courses. White island race. |
| What’s your favourite drink and why? | Beer – cause its perfect recovery drink , and Rum obviously |
| Will you be taking any luxury items on the race? – If so, what is it and why? | Berocca – for rehydration and stopover parties |
| What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? | Hitting something in the dark |
| Who’s your biggest opposition and why? | Katana, Galeforce and Kick. All well sailed boats of similar performance, it will be on!! |
| Tell us about your biggest supporters | My Dad for letting me use his boat and fully supporting the campaign. My widfe and kids for getting right behind the campaign too. |
| What’s most exciting/challenging about this race for you? | The competition! |
| What sound system do you have on board? What’s likely to be playing? | I like listening to music on my phone at night. Everything from Verdi aria’s to Linkin park |
| It’s the night before the big race – how do you get your head in the game? | Big feed of pasta with a BBQ and red wine with family and friends. |
MAX HAWKES
| Name | Max Hawkes |
| Age | 38 |
| Relationship to Co – Skipper | Enemy |
| Have you ever done the race before? | 2017 on Arbitare |
| Yacht Club | Bucklands Beach Yacht Club |
| Tell us a little about your sailing history/ background | Well I went to opti learn to sail back in 1989 and still haven’t graduated…30 years later and still won nothing! |
| What appeals most about doing the RNI | Finishing |
| What are your essential food items during the race? | Pizza |
| What will your meals be like during the race? | Somewhere between skinny and anorexic! |
| What’s your favourite point of sail and why? | Probably the clew as I have know clue what I’m doing |
| What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? | It doesn’t leak |
| Describe your skipper/co-skipper in 5 words | Lots of effort, low expectations |
| Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? | Drinking shit loads of wine in preparation for the Napier stop over |
| What’s your favourite drink and why? | Kingfisher extra strong! $7 can give you a pretty good buzz |
| Whose your biggest competition and why? | Ken on Gale Force because he is a better yachtie than me, and can drink me under the table! |
| Will you be taking any luxury items on the race? – If so, what is it and why? | Is Vaseline a luxury item? Asking for a friend… |
| What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? | Running out of wind, by wind I mean rum… |
| Tell us about your biggest supporters | N/A only have unsupporters. |
| What’s most exciting/challenging about this race for you? | Not wanting to quit sailing for life as it seems like a good idea at the time you sign up and then about halfway in you think wtf is this madness?!? |
| What sound system do you have on board? What’s likely to be playing? | VHF…mayday mayday mayday |
| It’s the night before the big race – how do you get your head in the game? | Watch that clip on YouTube where pirates of the Caribbean are sending it! |