Alfa Romeo takes 74th and final win!

In the days following the race, the disappointment of the loss of $200,000 worth of sails was compounded further when Alfa Romeo skipper Neville Crichton found a change to international shipping schedules had ended his chances of competing in the 2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, and capturing the boat's 75th win since its launch in 2002.

"It really is very disappointing," says Neville Crichton, who captured the line honours win in the 2002 Rolex Sydney to Hobart. "There was just one ship that could get Alfa Romeo back to Australia in time for race and even then with little time to properly prepare for what is one of the toughest and most demanding yacht races in the world. But that ship has now pushed her schedule out another ten days and that has ended any hope of getting Alfa Romeo back to Australia in time for the race."

"All our efforts are now focused on the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart," says Neville Crichton. "Construction is now well underway on the successor to Alfa Romeo, which will be as advanced over Alfa Romeo as she was over her predecessor. We plan to launch the new yacht in July next year and we have set ourselves the target of beating the record set by Alfa Romeo, 74 line honours wins in two and half years."