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The Ramblers—Run-Up to the Race

The crew in the ’98 race included two relative newcomers to the Midnight Rambler team—Chris Rockell and Gordon Livingstone. Chris was the resident “Kiwi.” He was untested, but New Zealanders came equipped with reputations for being superb sailors.

This would be Chris’ second Hobart race. Chris’ boat had pulled out the previous year, retiring with damage. Not only was Chris a sailor, he also played front row on a provincial New Zealand rugby team. And he was the picture of what people might imagine a rugby player would look like—or maybe a Marine on a recruiting poster.

Behind his rugged good looks, Chris exuded ...

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