Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race - Interesting changes

by Peter Campbell on 29 Aug 2012 The winning yacht in The Good Guys Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race this year will receive full recognition for its performances under all handicap categories, while yacht owner/skippers will select the winner of a new award for an outstanding skipper.

These are a couple of the interesting changes to the 2012 race, with electrical retailers The Good Guys coming aboard as naming rights sponsors of the 285 nautical mile offshore race along the eastern coastline of Tasmania. The race starts from Beauty Point on the Tamar River on December 27 and finishes off Hobart’s historic Battery Point about two days later.

In recent races, the Derwent Sailing Squadron’s rules for the Launceston to Hobart have precluded the Overall Winner from receiving the trophy for any other handicap division win, nor has its divisional performances been recorded on the club honour roll.

Last year, for example, Masquerade was named Overall Winner after being placed first on corrected time in the AMS category, but did not receive the trophy for first place in AMS. She did not receive the trophy for being placed first in the PHS category.

For this year’s L2H, as it is known, the Overall Winner will be eligible to 'collect all' for their successful placing’s in the handicap categories for which the yacht is entered.

'We believe the most successful yacht in the race, on corrected time, should receive due recognition not only as Overall Winner but for her Divisional win or wins, be they AMS, IRC or PHS,' DSS Commodore Ron Bugg said today.

The Overall winner of the L2H will again be the first placed yacht in the AMS handicap category, while other categories will again be IRC and PHS.

Commodore Bugg also welcomed the introduction of a special trophy for a skipper judged by his/her peers for an outstanding performance or contribution to the success of the L2H. 'I understand that this will not necessarily be based on race performance but could be for any special actions during the race or contributions to the event,' he commented.

Commodore Bugg welcomed the new sponsor. 'The Good Guys recently opened their first Tasmanian store in Moonah, and we are thrilled that they have come on board as naming rights sponsor for this terrific event,' he said.

The Notice of Race for The Good Guys L2H will be available shortly from the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart, the Tamar Yacht Club in Launceston and online at www.l2h.com.au. In fact, the DSS has already received seven firm expressions of interest from yacht owners in Tasmania and Victoria.

'Royal Yacht Club of Victoria member David Ellis, who competed in last year’s L2H with his Archambault 31, Penfold Audi Sport, has confirmed that he will take part again this year and he is also encouraging other Victorian yacht owners to enter,' Commodore Bugg added.

Tasmanian yacht owners who have also confirmed their entries include Wayne Banks-Smith with his Farr 40, War Games, inaugural race winner Jeff Cordell with his Mumm 36, Host Plus Executive, David Allen with his Sydney 38, Obsession, and Peter Masterton with Pirate’s Pride.

Former Geilston Bay Boat Club Commodore Ian Marshall will be sailing Hot Prospect in its seventh consecutive Launceston to Hobart while a newcomer will be the Eureka 31, Twitch, owned by Clive Anning, who previously raced Easy Street.

To encourage less experienced yacht owners to compete in this year’s L2H, the Derwent Sailing Squadron and the Tamar Yacht Club plan to hold seminars to explain the requirements of this coastal race, with experienced yachtsmen available to act as mentors in preparing the boat and its crew.

Derwent Sailing Squadron will hold its seminar this evening, starting at 7pm.

Speakers will include Jeff Cordell, the chairman of Yachting Tasmania’s offshore committee, who will talk about the L2H race in general, while Ian Marshall will discuss preparing the crew and the boat for this event. Fred Barratt will explain the safety requirements for a Category 3 offshore race, including liferaft compliance, with its course along Tasmania’s North-East Coast and East Coast to Tasman Island and Storm Bay.