The Yachts

Komatsu Azzurro

Komatsu Azzurro

 

Veteran Sydney based sailor Shane Kearns came across her in Queensland in early 2014, unearthing a jewel in an idle and sadly unloved state.

He bought the boat on his credit card for $23,000 and kicked off a major resurrection project, restoring pride and respect to this feisty little S&S 34.

In July 2015, Azzurro continued to improve by winning the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in both IRC and ORCI overall.

In 2016, now sponsored by multinational mining machinery company KOMATSU Australia, Komatsu Azzurro won both her IRC and ORCi divisions in the slowest Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in memory.

In her first race of 2017, Komatsu Azzurro again won the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, placing 1st in both IRC and ORCi overall.

Azzurro's first race of 2018 was the PONANT Sydney Noumea, resulting in 3rd place in her division.  This was followed up by the round New Caledonia Groupama race, resulting in a 1st in her division.

In the 2018 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Azzurro finished 1st overall ORCi and won both of her divisions and was 12th overall in IRC.

Now the crew embark on the 2019 Sydney Gold Coast and Rolex Sydney Hobart races where Komatsu Azzurro will continue to be "the little boat that could"!

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Komatsu Azzurro
Sail Number 3430
Owner Shane Kearns
Skipper Shane Kearns
Navigator Duncan McRae
Crew A Herington, J Nixon, M Doherty, T Oxley
State NSW
Club CYCA
Type S & S 34
Designer Sparkman & Stephens (USA)
Builder Swarbrick Bros
Construction GRP
LOA 10.1
Beam 3.1
Draft 1.9