Sydney to Hobart Race - for any sailors out there

Giant fish leaves Wharington reeling - Sport - www.smh.com.au Skandia, last years winner, stopped to check damage from the collision with a sunfish (about the size of a double-mattress), ceding the lead to Konica Minolta. Grant Wharington, skipper of Skandia, said they could do with some speed, and that the steering is a bit 'funny'.

A sport that still values sportsmanship:

Competition is tough in a Hobart race, but Konica Minolta proved that camaraderie between sailors is stronger.

"Skandia stopped to check any damage to the rudder and when Konica saw them stopped, they radioed and asked if they were OK," [a race spokesman] said.

It was only when Skandia radioed back an all clear that Konica Minolta continued her charge towards Hobart. The 30-metre super-maxi climbed to a lead of 9.6 nautical miles over Skandia by 11pm last night after 34 hours of racing.

These boats are built to go fast, not take a pounding. Then again, every skipper has a legal obligation to render assistance to a vessel in need - unless doing so would endanger your own ship. These guys are several hundred miles off shore, and this race has a history of tragedy. (1998, 70 of 115 boats "withdrew," which means that they didn't complete the race, 5 boats sank, and several people died.)

The photo is of the boat in 4th place, AAPT.