This will be Natelle II's seventh Hobart start but the first under new owners Dennis Leitch and John Solomon, from Hobart. A Doug Peterson design built in New Zealand, she has an outstanding record and with her very experienced crew could secure a top place in this race. A 6th in 1976 and 5th 1977 have been her best Hobart efforts: she was the outright winner of the 1976 Montague Island race. Long periods of windward work will suit her best and the harder it blows the better these 'Apple Islanders' will prefer it.