Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Meet Derwent, spirit of fickledom

by Crosbie Lorimer on 28 Dec 2007
Rosebud finds the wind - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Crosbie Lorimer http://www.crosbielorimer.com
On the long passage from Sydney to Hobart probably the most unreliable stretch of water for any form of wind predictability is the River Derwent.

Derwent is one mean spirit who, over the years, has tested the patience and resilience of the world's best racing yachtsmen.

Just ask Matt Allen of Ichi Ban or Roger Sturgeon of Rosebud. At one point or another both of their respective boats were either becalmed or over-canvased in a matter of minutes as the breeze on the route from The Iron Pot to Constitution Dock ranged from zero to thirty knots and back to zero.

Ichi Ban, minus one rudder, finally crossed the line this evening at 6.01pm with Rosebud following almost exactly an hour later.

Crosbie Lorimer captured these images of the two boats handling the capricious spells of the spirit Derwent this afternoon.




Excess CatamaransFestival of Sails 2026Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTER

Related Articles

The Famous Project CIC Jules Verne Trophy Day 6
A long, fast tack in the trade winds We like to repeat it over and over again: to date, no 100% female crew has managed to carve its name on the Jules Verne Trophy.
Posted today at 8:58 am
2026 RORC Racing Programme unleashed
The season spans more than a dozen major offshore races and championship events The 2026 RORC Racing Season will deliver one of the most diverse, challenging and internationally connected offshore programmes in the sport, designed for owners and skippers looking to race across a full ten months of competition.
Posted today at 8:23 am
Sailing Grand Slam publishes 2026 Notice of Race
Full series of Olympic-class events after a successful pilot season in 2025 Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) announced the publication of the 2026 Notice of Race (NOR) for its full series of Olympic-class events, marking the first complete edition of the international circuit after a successful pilot season in 2025.
Posted today at 6:05 am
A Thrilling Weekend at the Manly Cup
High winds, high energy O'pen Skiff racing If there was one thing not in short supply on Day One of the Manly Cup, it was breeze! A punchy 20 knots lit up the racecourse from the very first gun, setting the stage for an electrifying weekend.
Posted today at 5:56 am
Globe40 Leg 3 Update
An unforgettable week in the Roaring Forties Having set off on their third leg on November 22nd from Saint Paul Bay on Reunion Island, the eight competitors in the second edition of the GLOBE40 were initially confronted with the calms of the Mascarene High.
Posted today at 5:32 am
VX One Class achieves World Sailing recognition
Official International status confirmed The VX One International Class Association is proud to share that World Sailing has officially recognised the VX One as an International Class, following a vote by the World Sailing Council at its recent Annual Conference.
Posted today at 5:21 am
Thorpedo set to launch into Rolex Sydney Hobart
Ian Thorpe to join the crew of LawConnect for the 80th edition Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe is set to dive into unfamiliar sporting waters after it was announced today that he would join the crew of LawConnect for the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Posted today at 12:10 am
America's Cup: New US Challenger
Long established Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club announced as a potential US challenger Riptide Racing has announced in partnership with Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, an attempt to challenge for the 38th America's Cup in 2027., an attempt to challenge for the 38th America's Cup in 2027.
Posted on 4 Dec
Vaikobi Launches the Impact Protection Series
A New Era of Lightweight Head Protection for Surf and Watersports Vaikobi has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Impact Protection Series of Headwear, a new collection of lightweight, EN 812-certified impact hats engineered to protect watersports athletes from head knocks, bumps and scratches.
Posted on 4 Dec
Maximize Performance with Proper Care
Sail care should start the minute your get your new sails Sail care should start the minute your get your new sails. Whether in season or off season, there are sail care basics to follow that keep sails in peak condition.
Posted on 4 Dec