Zanzibar skipper Mahony has faith in 'strategy' over luck in Rolex China Sea Race defence
Jonathan Mahony had already mapped out the best way to skipper Zanzibar to a successful title defence at the Rolex China Sea Race which got underway in Victoria Harbour on Wednesday.
"It will be straight down the rhumb line for the first day and then we will have to hedge our bets in the middle and decide which way to go," he laughed.
The Humphreys 42 was among a 34-strong fleet which sailed off in the 565 nautical miles Category 1 Offshore Race to Subic Bay in the Philippines. Mahony's boat won on corrected time in 2012 and the 46-year-old banker is hoping for a repeat.
"Last time [2012] was the first time I did the race and we are back hoping we can defend our title. If we lose, it will be down to bad luck but if we win, it will be definitely down to having a good strategy," he joked.