Sydney Hobart Race – Looking for She’s The Culprit

by John Curnow on 27 Dec 2015 There’s 30 plus knots blowing at Gabo Island from the West Sou’west, which is where most of the fleet now is. The leaders have left the Australian mainland and the fleet stretches back up to Batemans Bay, with some centres along that stretch recording just half that strength.

One thing for sure is that it has been a hard night for all and we now number some 20 vessels that have retired from this year’s Sydney Hobart Race. Damage to rigs, sails, rudders, electronics and the like were common, but this morning the news that the first human to have been injured came through. It is unclear as to the state of the crewmember on Black Jack, which has retired, but it would seem to be stable, for they are returning to port now.

GYR Wot Eva and Dekadence were also on the HF radio retiring this morning, along with Haspa Hamburg and it was former overall winner, Victoire, that relayed in Black Jack’s information. Just before 10am an EPIRB or PLB was activated and Hobart Race Control was having difficulty raising She’s The Culprit at that time.

For most of the night the gap between Rambler 88 and the injured squaw, Comanche, was around 6-7nm, but this is more like just two nautical miles now.

With rudder and daggerboard damage her performance on one of the boards will be compromised, which is not so bad at sea, but will be tough when heading up the River Derwent.

Maserati continues to drive hard near the front, but it is the two 60-somethings in Ichi Ban and Chinese Whisper that impress for pace currently. As at writing they were heading out to sea, with some of the 50s tagging along.

The weather is meant to abate as the day goes on, so they may well be very tired, but reaching Tasmania would be handy, for if it goes quiet, then you’ll at least be able to use katabatic winds off the coast and the like to help you continue South.

Before all of that, further back, many are still finding the going tough. At around half past ten local time, the effort to find She’s The Culprit was being organised by the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia, as a result of her EPIRB/PLB being fired and not responding to HF calls. EPIRB fired at 36.09.00 South and 150.39.13 East.

She's The Culprit is a Jones 39 built by Hart Marine. Later on (1122AEDT) the accidental activation of the beacon was confirmed by contact with the radio relay vessel. This is terrific news and they are racing on with crew safe and well.