launceston to hobart yacht race entrants

2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron

Willie Smith's

Updated:  25/12/2022  9:39:24 PM

Race Officer Tom Bain | Start Boat Stolly

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Porco Rosso (pictured here under her previous name Oskana) ready for action in the 2023 Launceston to Hobart - Andrea Francolini

Launceston to Hobart Race Preview

Words: Liz Rountree

The 17 th annual Willie Smith’s Launceston to Hobart kicks off Wednesday at 11:30am. The 20 entrants start off Beauty Point before heading out the Tamar River and turn right, keep outside of Swan Island through Banks Straight, sail down the East Coast coming inside Maria Island then outside Tasman Island before turning up towards Hobart to complete the 285-nautical miles off the Castray Box in Battery Point.

And while the forecast may not deliver a race record performance (1 day, 19 hours, 30 mins and 52s set by Alive in 2020), the fleet packs a competitive punch in the line-up.

Gary Smith’s Fork in the Road is after a 10 th Line Honours, but they will have to earn it from Paul McCartney’s Proco Rosso who have entered as the first step in their 2024 Sydney to Hobart campaign.

Four previous over-all winner skippers return to the start line, including Stewart Geeves on Footloose, Smith and Fork in the Road, Peter Haros who will crew for his son aboard Wings Three, and last year’s winners Alice Grubb & Tom Stearnes on Sundowner. No stranger to the podium, Matthew Keal’s Heatwave Fish Frenzy and Andrew Sinclair’s Kraken 42S will be in the hunt.

A few boats to watch: Orla Gray, skippering Lawless with the race’s first ever all-female crew including Launceston’s own Jodie Sullivan; another first-time entrant, Launceston based team of Just Farr Love skippered by Scott Lovell; long in the game, but with some new scrappy crew, Geeves takes on a few from the UTAS Sailing Club aboard Footloose; and finally the one entry from Victoria, Patrick Clarke with Yolla, sailing with the smallest crew of only 4 aboard. Any of these untested teams could surprise the competition.

The Dog House, skippered by Peter Coad, Haros’ Wings Three and Douglas Reid’s Mako all have sailors under 18 in their crew, an essential part of training the next hotshots in offshore racing.

All teams are fitted with live trackers that can be followed via the Launceston to Hobart website , as well as the Willie Smith Race Village at the Elizabeth Street Pier.

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Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race, [1] commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River , with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania (eastern Bass Strait), through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island , across Storm Bay , to a finish line in the Derwent River . The race departs on 27 December each year. The race is known as the L2H race (Launceston to Hobart) despite the race commencing at Beauty Point, some 45 kilometers north of Launceston .

Race history

The proposal for a Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race originated with the Geilston Bay Boat Club (in southern Tasmania ) and the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) (also in southern Tasmania) supported the proposal. The Tamar Yacht Club agreed to cooperate in the staging of the race.

The race was named the Launceston to Hobart and it was to be an annual race held to coincide with the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race . The ORCV conducts the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the DSS conducts the L2H and finishes both events in Hobart. In 2007, for the first time, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (M2H) allowed entrants to sail to Hobart via the East Coast of Tasmania , now called a Melbourne to Hobart East Coaster. Previously, this race had sailed the treacherous Tasmanian west coast only. A Launceston to Hobart race, means Tasmanian yachts could race over the Christmas to New Year period in a multi day race in Tasmanian waters. It also meant Tasmanian yacht owners avoided the costs and time required to deliver and moor yachts in Sydney and Melbourne prior to the race start dates of 26 December (Sydney to Hobart race) or 27 December (Melbourne to Hobart race).

The plan was that three yacht races, Sydney to Hobart , Melbourne to Hobart and Launceston to Hobart, would a finish at the time of the popular Hobart Summer Festival , which includes the Taste of Tasmania.

On Tuesday 30 October 2007, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, launched the race at a ceremony held at the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Attending the launch were the Commodores from the Derwent Sailing Squadron, Bellerive Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania ; Life Members of the Derwent Sailing Squadron; competitors and race officials; and representatives from Clive Peeters sponsor.

Race Details and Sailing Instructions

The race distance is 285 nautical miles (528   km) and commences on 27 December off Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point. Prior to the 2009 race started at Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River in Launceston and race distance was 285 nautical miles (528   km) . The race commences mid river, adjacent to the docks at Inspection Head at Beauty Point and the course is north and out the month of the Tamar River at Low Head into Bass Strait, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait, then south along the east coast, through Mercury Passage (as Maria Island is a mark of the course requiring competitors keep the island to port), around Tasman Island, across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to a finish line off Castray Esplanade. The Launceston to Hobart shares the same finish line as the Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.

The Sailing Instructions [2] require yachts to be a minimum of 8.5 metres in length, although those who do not meet these requirements may be granted permission to participate in the cruising division. The race is governed by the rules of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) together with the prescriptions and safety regulations of Yachting Australia, the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the International-Rule Club (IRC) where rules 1, 2 and 3.

Race Divisions

The race offers several divisions for yachts. These are International Racing Certificate (IRC) , Australian Measurement System (AMS) , Performance Handicap System (PHS) and cruising division for monohulls and multihulls.

Under L2H race rules, the Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC handicap. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result, the next three boats moved up one place in the AMS and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2012 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.

Race Trophy

The overall winner of the race, or the handicap winner, collects a perpetual trophy known as the Sphinx Tea Trophy. The trophy is affectionately known as "The Teapot" due to its original use serving tea to the Governor of Tasmania . It was later awarded to George Chevert, the skipper of a yacht named Mabel that won a Derwent Sailing Squadron pennant in 1893.

Sponsorship

The major sponsor for the inaugural race was furniture retailer Clive Peeters , thus the official naming of the event as the Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race . The race in 2008 was also known as the 2008 Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race , in 2009 the Sargisons Jeweller L2H Race , in 2010 the Sargisons Jewellers and Natuzzi L2H Race , in 2011 the Optus L2H Race , in 2012 The Good Guys L2H and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race . The 2017, 2018 and 2019 events were known as the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H . The 2020 and 2021 races were sponsored by TasPorts.

Inaugural Race - 2007

In the inaugural year in 2007, [3] 17 yachts participated in a number of classes. The inaugural race produced one winner for both line and handicap honors, Host Plus Executive .

Host Plus Executive achieved in the inaugural Launceston to Hobart race what Rani did in the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1945 , winning line and handicap honors.

Line honors winners

1 Race distance was increase in 2009 (280 to 285 nautical mile course). The 2009 race started from Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point instead of at Low Head at the mouth of the river, increasing the length of the race to 285 nautical mile.

2 Only seven finishers in fleet.

3 Due to lack of wind the start line was changed to a new line six nautical mile down the Tamar River and out of the river at Low Head. There were 8 retirements in 2018.

4 The 2022 race started from Lagoon Beach at Low Head due to tide and light weather conditions. There was no result awarded for the race from Beauty Point to Low Head for this year

Yacht Clubs: BYC (Bellerive Yacht Club), RYCT (Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania), DSS (Derwent Sailing Squadron), TYC (Tamar Yacht Club), RYCV (Royal Yacht Club of Victoria), KYC (Kettering Yacht Club), PDYC (Port Dalrymple Yacht Club)

Overall winners

1 Emotional Rescue was the provisional overall winner, but Mr Burger (Wings Three) lodged an appeal with the jury, seeking redress for time lost in going to the aid of follow competitor Rumbeat. Rumbeat had lost steering near Waterhouse Island in Bass Strait and was towed by Mr Burger. The L2H jury granted Mr Burger redress for the time lost. Both yachts had the same corrected time after the application of the redress and were declared joint overall winners. [4]

2 Philosopher was granted redress of 20 minutes after standing by the dismasted RAD off Tasman Island at the height of the 50–60 knot north-westerly storm in the early hours of morning of the 29 December 2018. [5]

3 The Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under AMS Handicaps. Previously, the Overall Winner has bee eligible for only one trophy and , as a result the next three boats moved up one place in the AMS and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2021 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.

All results

BYC - Bellerive Yacht Club; DSS - Derwent Sailing Squadron; GBBC - Geilston Bay Boat Club; KYC - Kettering Yacht Club; PDYC - Port Dalrymple Yacht Club; RYCT - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania;

• [2] "National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2016 Sailing Instructions" (PDF) . Derwent Sailing Squadion and Tamar Yacht Club . Retrieved 17 February 2017 .
• [3] "Race History" . Derwent Sailing Squadron . Retrieved 19 February 2017 .
• [4] Campbell, Peter. "Wisdom of Solomon prevails" . YY Online Services Ltd . Retrieved 22 February 2017 .
• [5] Campbell, Peter. "2018 Riverdale Estate Wines Launceston to Hobart Race overall" . Sail-World . Retrieved 23 October 2019 .

External links

• National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race - Official site
• Live Race Tracker on OceanTracker.net
• Derwent Sailing Squadron - Race's official organising authority
• Tamar Yacht Club
• New Offshore Classic - The Mercury newspaper

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Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race: Forty years old and still a winner

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Launceston to Hobart yacht race led by late entrant Alive

Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine, is leading the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race on line honours.

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A late entry in the race, Alive, a Reichel-Pugh 66, sailed by a Tasmanian crew pulled together from some of the boat's regulars when in Hobart, was the first boat to Low Head, and is expected to break the race record of one day, nine hours, 33 minutes and 58 seconds, which was set in 2009.

It was a tough start for the 31-boat fleet which started the race in very light conditions at Inspection Head, Beauty Point, on the Tamar River, at 11:30 on Sunday.

Talofa, a Northshore 38 owned by Rob and Judi Cawthorn and a regular in the L2H race, was squeezed out on the start line and had to restart the race, while Black Magic, skippered by Bellerive Yacht Club Commodore, Graham Mansfield, was becalmed before the race, giving the fleet a 10-minute advantage.

The L2H is one race of a three-race series sailed over the Christmas and New Year period.

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Race one is from the start of the L2H to Low Head, the second race in the series is the race to Hobart, while race three is the King of the Derwent, sailed in Hobart on January 2, 2021.

Victorian entry, Dream, skippered by Robert Green, had a solid start to the race after a long absence from racing due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, winning the race to Low Head on PHS and ORCi overall.

The Quest Syndicate, sailing from the Lindisfarne Sailing Club and skippering Quest in her first L2H race, was the first to Low Head on AMS, while The Dog House, skippered by Ambrose Coad and with Benjamin Coad, the youngest competitor in the race on board, was first overall on IRC.

It was a disappointing day for Windrose with skipper Ashok Mani retiring the 1961 Admiral's Cup winner 90 minutes after the start as a precautionary measure after identifying a few issues of concern with the boat.

At 5pm, Alive was leading the race to Hobart on line honours and ORCi.

FULL GALLERY: Pictures by Phillip Biggs

Rumbeat, skippered by Justin Barr, was leading on PHS in division 2 and overall, while Quest was leading on PHS in division 1.

Talofa had recovered well from her slow start and was leading on AMS overall and division 2, as well as on IRC in division 2, while Jeff Cordell's Mumm 36, B&G Advantage, was leading on AMS in division 1.

The forecast for the rest of Sunday is for west to south-westerly winds averaging 25 to 35 knots for Banks Strait and adjacent areas, very gusty in the late evening and persisting into early Monday morning before easing to 10-15 knots (average) by 8.00am Monday.

The fleet will take on the challenges of Banks Strait overnight before heading down the spectacular east coast of Tasmania.

MELBOURNE TO DEVONPORT

Paul Buchholz's Cookson 50 Extasea started towards the back of the fleet but the race favourite hit the front only 1600 metres into the only interstate yacht race taking place across the Christmas period.

Poised to compete with the race record thanks to strong south-westerly winds, Extrasea is expected to hit Devonport after first light Monday morning.

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VERTIGO DIZZY WITH SUCCESS

Its official, Victorian sailor Tim Olding and his crew sailing the Summit 35, Vertigo, was this afternoon declared the overall winner of the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H 2019. Official results were announced at today’s prize-giving at the Derwent Sailing Squadron with the trophy for overall winner and IRC divisional winner presented by Her Excellency Kate […]

Emotional Rescue, Mr Burger share L2H victory

Emotional Rescue (Michael Hutchinson) and Mr Burger (Wings Three) have been declared joint overall winners of the National Pies 10th Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

Philosopher crowned King of the Derwent

Shaun Tiedemann’s Philosopher yesterday proved herself to be this summer’s champion yacht of Hobart’s River Derwent, out-sailing a crack fleet to become King of the Derwent for 2016.