Rough seas stop Rosebud’s Pittwater Bid

by Rob Kothe on 31 Dec 2007 It’s always been a tall order for a Sydney to Hobart racer to turn around in Hobart and get back to the Pittwater 645 nautical miles away in time for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race.

Roger Sturgeon’s STP Rosebud, the 2007 Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner left Hobart on Saturday morning aiming to do just that.

However a building seaway with winds on the nose gusting into the mid 30’s has today put paid to the American boat's bid to take a fourth race title in her ‘down under’ season.

Sailing master Malcolm Park explained today. ‘It has been a rough Bass Strait crossing and this now just not enough time to get the boat to Sydney and have her properly prepared for the Coffs Harbour race, which is now less than two days away.

‘The crew is heading for Eden now. '

In 2006 Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI managed to get back to Pittwater after taking Hobart line honours to then take the Pittwater Coffs Harbour line hours, a historic first, but no handicap boat has made it to the Pittwater Coffs Harbour startline, the tyranny of distance and the Tasman ocean making the task too difficult.