Ways to follow the Sailor Girl this Hobart
Wrapping it up in Hobart for 2018
Tasmanians claim Tattersall Cup in home port
With all boats still racing now outside their handicap times Phillip Turner’s Alive Yachting representing Derwent Sailing Squadron Inc has won the double for the 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart; the George Adams Tattersall Cup for Overall Winner on IRC and the Charleston Trophy for Overall Winner on ORCi.
Navigator Wouter Verbraak has won the Bill Owen Memorial Trophy – for the navigator of the overall winner on handicap and the City of Hobart Trophy – for the Navigator of the first Tasmanian yacht on handicap.
Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design have won the Alan Payne Memorial Trophy – for the designer of the overall winner on handicap. They not only designed Alive but also 2nd placed Ocean Respect Racing, 3rd Placed Voodoo Sailing and the 1st and 2nd Line Honours boats Wild Oats XI and Black Jack Yachting.
Next up the team will head to the USA.
Other celebrations have started to happen, as the division winners are also becoming more concrete. I was on the dock yesterday to greet Grace O’Malley and her female trio including Zoe Taylor (skipper and owner), Wendy Tuck (winner of the Clipper Race and main/tactician), and Emma May who ran the bow. They have taken out division 3 on the Cookson 12.
Meanwhile, we have spent a little bit of time exploring Tasmania, and I can’t wait for the 75th Anniversary of the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2019. There is so much to see and do around here, I am just going to have to take more time next year.
WOXI protest outcomes and comments from Black Jack Yachting
Conclusions:
- The Race Committee’s investigation and subsequent protest arose from the report from the owner of Black Jack, a competitor in the Race and therefore a person with a conflict of interest within the meaning of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
- The Race Committee’s investigation was prudent, however in these circumstances, for the protest to be valid under the Racing Rules of Sailing, a competitor with information about a potential rule breach must lodge the protest.
Rules that apply: RRS60.2 (a), Definitions – Conflict of Interest.
Decision: Protest Invalid.
My announcement at the Shipwright Arms in Hobart
The full protest findings
Comments from Black Jack Yachting skipper immediately after the announcement
Timing is everything in the Derwent
The Derwent can make or break anyone’s Rolex Sydney Hobart race, and yesterday was no exception.
As the southerly built to 18+ knots mid afternoon, the two RP66’s, Alive Yachting and Wild Oats X – Ocean Respect Racing, came around the Iron Pot within two nautical miles of one another.
Alive Yachting really stretched their legs into Hobart and the finish off Constitution Dock, and with an hour up their sleeve on handicap over Wild Oats X, looked good to take the top spot on Handicap.
I was live with Wild Oats X from the Iron Pot, and into the dock to talk about the amazing Ocean Respect Racing team.
One of the next to cross the line was Winning Appliances, the Carkeek 60 borrowed from Matt Allen. Some great stories out of this crew, including the sibling rivalry between the Spithills, but most importantly, the reason why the Winning family chose to sail the Rolex Sydney Hobart again, and together…
The finishes came in thick and fast overnight, but not first without delays following a shutdown on the Derwent in the evening on the 28 December.
Last year’s Tattersall Cup winner, Matt Allen and his crew on Ichi Ban, were leading by two hours when they entered the river, and for the second time in three years watched their lead evaporate.
I was on the dock to talk with Matt last night about their timing in the Derwent, their stellar defence, and what is to come for their year ahead.
Meanwhile, today we await the news from the protest lodged by the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Committee against Wild Oats XI and Alive Yachting sits neatly in the Clubhouse leader spot, looking almost certain to take out the win on IRC.
We will continue to keep you posted on this Great Race.
Rush hour with the maxis
It was rush hour on the Derwent this morning, with four maxis finishing within forty minutes of one another!
Here is all of the live action – including the live stream of the finish with Wild Oats XI, which we did officially with the Rolex Sydney Hobart team this year.
