Didn't Konica Minolta try the same strategy last year? Only then they took such a beating going to windward further offshore that the boat cracked transversally across the deck...I saw it when they got to Hobart, they had screwed wooden boards on to reinforce it...pretty impressive...Last year staying closer to shore was a winning bet because the boats were more sheltered...Shouldn't matter with this years ideal conditions though...Let's see how this works out!