2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart

Notes : This French Archambault 40 will carry the New Caledonian flag with pride, as she heads to 41 degrees south and Hobart..

Over the years, several yachts have represented the Cercle Nautique Caledonian in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and it is pleasing to have 41 SUD, a competitive Archambault 40, returning for the second year in a row. Skipper Jean Luc Esplaas returns to the race for a third time with an experienced crew.
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Boat Name : Adventurer of Hornet

Sail Number : 7802T

LOA : 20.42M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.129)

Designer : Challenge

Launch Year :1992

Type : Challenge 67

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Steel

Skipper : Richard Tarr
Skipper : Richard Tarr

Club: JSASTC

Crew : I. Perryman, B. Martin, A. Wheal, S. Doran, R. Smith, W. King, J. Baker, C. Doran, C. Hilditch

“Adventurer of Hornet (GBR 7802T) (Royal Navy Sailing Association)- 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Adventure of Hornet is one of the yachts involved in the Tri-Service Adventurous Sail Training Exercise which is open to all UK service personnel, from both Regular and Reserve branches, (the other two yachts being Challenge of Hornet and Discoverer of Hornet).

The aim of the excercise is to develop the personal qualities essential to Regular and Reserve members of HM Forces through adventurous sail training in a Service environment.environment.

This Sydney Hobart race team joined yacht in Perth and have been training whilst making their way from Perth to Sydney in preparation for the race.

Over 500 service personnel will experience the highs and lows of ocean crossings from the heat of the Tropics to the Cold of the Southern Ocean. Transglobe will test their physical and mental stamina whilst building confidence in themselves and their fellow crew members.

Overall Standings to date:

Yacht Overall Position Points
Discoverer ARMY 1st 5
Adventure RAN = 2nd 9
Challenger RAF = 2nd 9

Boat Name : AFR Midnight Rambler

Sail Number : 8338

LOA : 12.20M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.159)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2002

Type : FARR 40 MOD (keel)

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Ed Psaltis (30)
Owner/Skipper : Ed Psaltis (30)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : B Thomas (21), C Rockell (11), T Barker (5), A Taylor (8)

“Ed Psaltis & Bob Thomas' modified Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler - Bird Island Race - Blue Water Pointscore Series”
Andrea Francolini Photography ©

Notes : The duo of Ed Psaltis (skipper) and Bob Thomas (navigator) have sailed together for over 20 years across six boats ranging in size from 30-40ft. AFR Midnight Rambler has been optimised for IRC and recently underwent modifications which paid dividends when she won the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in July 2009 – the only east coast yacht race the duo had not won.

AFR Midnight Rambler has achieved multiple divisional wins including a well deserved Blue Water Pointscore Championship in 2006/07 and Short Ocean Point Score champions in the same season. The owners have won every offshore race on the east coast including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, the Lord Howe Island Race twice, the Sydney Mooloolaba Race (twice) and finally succeeded in winning the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009 having previously won their division three times .

One of the duo’s more memorable wins is their overall win in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with six out of the seven crew who competed and won that year returning in 2010 as a farewell to the current boat. The 2010 crew has amassed 114 Hobarts between them and the experienced duo and their regular crew are looking to build on their successes with another podium finish this year.

Boat Name : Alfa Romeo

Sail Number : NZL80

LOA : 30.48M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.897)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2005

Type : Super Maxi

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : Silver

Skipper : Neville Crichton
Skipper : Neville Crichton

Club: New Zealand Yacht Squadro

Crew : W Morgan, L Jenkins, J Morris, G McPherson, D Rolfe, N Drennan, C Satterthwaite, B Clark, A Hutchinson, P Merrington, S Bannatyne, M Coxon, M Spence, E Williams

“Alfa Romeo (Neville Crichton, NZL) - 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Designed by the US firm of Reichel/Pugh and built of carbon fibre composite by McConaghy Boats in Sydney, Australia, 'Alfa Romeo' carries a towering 44 metre carbon fibre mast built by Southern Spars in New Zealand with the latest concept in 3DL and 3di designed by the Sydney loft of North Sails. Alfa Romeo was launched in July 2005 and the same designer and same factory delivered her fiercest rival Wild Oats XI in December 2005
Her mast just fits under the Sydney Harbour Bridge deck, which has a ship clearance of 49 metres

Alfa Romeo has a smaller tungsten keel (1.8 times the density) of WO XI lead keel.

With 143 line honours wins under her 100 foot belt, with a very impressive new race record win in the 2009 Transpac, the Reichel Pugh 100 Alfa Romeo is one of the most successful yachts in the sport.

Skippered by 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Neville Crichton with a previous boat, Alfa Romeo was beaten by Wild Oats XI in the 2005 race, but since then both boats have been substantially optimised.

She beat Wild Oats XI in the first race of the 2008 Maxi Worlds and was leading her in the second when the Oats big mast came down. She won again in the recent big boat series.

Boat Name : Another Fiasco

Sail Number : RQ999

LOA : 12.88M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.151)

Designer : Jutson

Launch Year :1994

Type : Jutson 43

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : Yellow

Hull Construction : Foam/Kevlar/Epoxy

Skipper : Damien Suckling (3)
Skipper : Damien Suckling (3)

Club : Abel Point Yacht Club Inc

Crew : R Alderdice (4), J Kibbis (2), B Wickens (2), D Fornasiedco (2

“Another Fiasco, the Juston 43 of Damian Suckling”
Sail-World.com /AUS ©

Notes : This much sailed boat has previously raced as Esprit de Corp and Maglieri Wines, competing in Rolex Sydney Hobart races between 1994 and 1999. She also competed in the Southern Cross Cup representing Adelaide and has numerous Brisbane to Gladstone and Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht races in her racing history

Her best results have been a 1st in the IMS Division of the 1996 Sydney Gold Coast Race and a 16th overall in the 1995 Hobart Race. Recently owner by another Queensland Peter Holm, she was a regular entrant in the Brisbane to Gladstone race.

Another Fiasco returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009, having finishing 1st in PHS Division in 2006 and a creditable 8th in IRC Division D in the 2007 race being OCS at the start. This will be Tasmanian born, now Queensland resident Damian Suckling’s and his crew third Hobart race with this boat.

Boat Name : Archie

Sail Number : A35

LOA : 10.59M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.038)

Designer : Joubert / Nivelt

Launch Year :2006

Type : Archambault 35

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP Foam Sandwich

Owner : Sally Rattle
Owner : Sally Rattle
Skipper : Mick Souter
Skipper : Mick Souter
Principal/starting helm : Scot Brain

Club : Derwent Sailing Squadron

Crew : Mick Souter (5), P Souter (5), A Davison (2), D Oak (1), S Brain, S Rattle, M Denney, T Edwards

“Archie (Photo: D. Willans)”
Derwent Sailing Squadron

Notes : Archie is an Archambault 35, designed by Joubert/Nivelt and built in France by Archambault Yachts. Archie is owned by Sally Rattle from the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart.

After taking delivery of Archie in October 2006, the boat has covered over 5000 nautical miles (including 7 Bass Strait crossings) and have collected numerous awards including 1st IRC Maria Island Race 2007, 1st overall 2007 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, Winner Sovereign Series 2007, 1st IRC Southern Tasmanian Offshore Championships 2007 and 2008, and 1st IRC Bruny Island Race 2009.

This is Archie's first Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and with a talented team from Hobart on board, owner Sally Rattle hopes to arrive in Hobart after a safe journey and will be looking for a good result.

Boat Name : Auch

Sail Number : A44

LOA : 13.35M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.114)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2006

Type : Beneteau First 44.7

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner : Jo Bean
Owner : Jo Bean
Owner/Skipper : David Bean (4)
Owner/Skipper : David Bean (4)
Principal/starting helm : David Bean

Club : Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Crew : P. Lilley (1), F. Read (2), J. Wells (3), R. Parker (1), D. White (5), S.Ibbott (2), G. Cumberbatch (3)

“David Bean's Sydney Hobart entry, Auch. - The Showdown Regatta Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania”
Jane Austin

Notes : AUCH is Bruce Farr (IRC) design Beneteau First 44.7 built in 2006 and was purchased by owner/skipper David Bean in 2008 (formerly Honeysuckle) and sailed her to Hobart to embark on her new life.

AUCH’s name was chosen to reflect the yachts racing and design heritage. AUCH is the historical capital of Gascony, in the south of France famed for its ‘douceur de vivre' (sweetness of life), its rugged coast and its love affair with the ocean.

The key driver behind the purchase of the boat was owner David Bean’s passion for competitive sailing over the past 30 years and his desire to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on his own competitive boat. David has completed three Hobarts aboard B52 (2000 and 2001) and Trump Card (1994).

During the past twelve months, the boat has been meticulously overhauled to optimise its peak performance. With a permanent crew of 12, David Bean has been able to secure some of Tasmania’s elite yachtsmen. AUCH’s crew has enjoyed outstanding success both in Australia and Overseas with crew members having achieved three World Titles, 14 Australian Titles and 24 State titles between them and competing in the Rolex Fastnet and Hong Kong to Vietnam Race with an impressive 30 Sydney Hobart Yacht Races combined between them.

AUCH is well prepared to take on the challenge and has already opened its account at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Summer pennant strongly.

Boat Name : Audi Centre Melbourne

Sail Number : SM2008

LOA : 15.00M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.314)

Designer : John Corby

Launch Year :2007

Type : Corby IRC 49

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : Silver

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Chris Dare (8)
Owner/Skipper : Chris Dare (8)
Principal/starting helm : Chris Dare

Club: Sandringham

Crew : R Hickman (32) M Hewitt-Park (4), B Murphy (5), P Meilhat (1), S Grice (2), P Inchbold (7), P Hodges (1), A Manders (2), N Harvey, S Magnusson (5), K Searle.

“Audi Melbourne Centre - As it was with single backstay set up - all crew jammed into the back corner - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship”
John Curnow - copyright

Notes : Under her skirts she is a Flirt.

Audi Centre Melbourne was built in 2007 and is a Corby 49 which is based at the Sandringham Yacht Club. Raced previously under the name Flirt, owner Chris Dare re-launched her in January 2008 and modified the boat in May 2008. Since the modifications, the boat has performed much better notching up IRC wins in the 2009 ORCV Melbourne Winter Series and Melbourne Geelong
Race.

Some of her other ocean racing results include 4th in IRC Racing Division in 2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week, second in Audi Top of the Bay Regatta; and 1st (line honours and IRC) in Queenscliff to Apollo Bay race.

This is an upgraded version of the previous Flirt, which was very successful under IRC over the past two years. Owner Chris Dare has teamed up with Roger Hickman after a very successful 2007/08 summer together. Paul Meilhat joins the crew after finishing second overall (Rookie Division) in the 2009 Le Figaro single hauled race.

Boat Name : Aurora

Sail Number : N3, 4057

LOA : 12.21M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.048)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1983

Type : Farr 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 14

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Jim Holley (23)
Owner/Skipper : Jim Holley (23)

Club: Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Crew : Mary Holley (12), Alan O’Connel

Notes : Aurora has now completed every Hobart since 1997, when Rob Kothe sailed her south as Witchcraft II, taking second place in IMS Division 2. (at one stage as she approached Tasman Light she was 12th overall on handicap)

She is one of the Bruce Farr designed IOR 40's which dominated the major race corrected time trophies in the early and mid 80's . Built in 1983 she still remains competitive in the right conditions

With good crew experience on board, including the husband and wife team of Jim (sailing in his 23nd Hobart race) and Mary Holley (sailing in her 14th Hobart race), this one-off Farr 40 is in a strong position to equal or better her 2007 results. This Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Aurora achieved great results in the two heavy weather Hobarts of 1998 and 1999, where she finished second and third in division respectively.

In 2007 she was OCS at start and failed to respond to re-call - 30% penalty, and finshed 10th in IRC Div E

Aurora, as Witchcraft II, with RPAYC skipper Bruce Staples on the tiller won more than her share of races including the Sydney-Southport, multiple Pittwater to Coffs and Brisbane-Gladstone Classics.

Boat Name : Bacardi

Sail Number : SM377

LOA : 13.34M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.043)

Designer : Doug Peterson (USA)

Launch Year :1978

Type : Peterson 44

No of Sydney to Hobart: 26

Hull Colour : White/Red

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Martin Power (9)
Owner/Skipper : Martin Power (9)

Club : Sandringham Yacht Club

Crew : L Forkes (3), T Crespin (17), S Humphries (3), J O'Keefe (2), Maree Beddoes (1), Mara Beddoes (1) M Power (7), L Dacy, M Mellington, P Beekman (1)

“Bacardi - 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Bacardi was built as an ocean racing yacht in 1978 and has started and completed 26 Sydney Hobart races, a record. In the horrendous 1998 race, Bacardi kept going to take out the first in her class. That was a tough year for ocean racing.

Bacardi came 2nd overall on handicap in the 2006 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, narrowly missing first place by minutes and a 1st in division in the 1993 race.

Bacardi was purchased in 2007 by Martin Power and he no stranger to Hobart. Martin was on Breakaway, a Swanson 36, in the 1998 Hobart. Martin finished at 2359 hours on New Years Eve to take out 2nd place overall. In the 1999 race, Martin, again on Breakaway, won the Gordon Marshall Trophy, the only Victorian Yacht to win this trophy.

Bacardi was built to last. She may not be your million dollar yacht now but she will get to Hobart where some other yachts may not, and with her very competitive IRC rating, Martin hopes he can match the previous owners winning ways.

In 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart - DNF - Broken Mast

Boat Name : Balance .

Sail Number : 7771

LOA : 13.68M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.126)

Designer : Philippe Briand

Launch Year :2007

Type : Beneteau First 45

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Paul Clitheroe
Owner/Skipper : Paul Clitheroe

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : TBA

“Balance, Owner-Skipper: Paul Clitheroe - Rolex Trophy, Sydney, 2009”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Balance is the fourth yacht of that name skippered and owned by money media commentator Paul Clitheroe. The new boat is a Beneteau 45, previously raced with great success in Europe as Lady Courrier.

Lady Courrier had a difficult race to Hobart last year, breaking three spinnakers and tearing her main. Paul, racing in his fourth Sydney/Hobart, hopes to arrive in Constitution Dock with his new sails intact. Balance had a strong start in her first regatta, winning overall honours in IRC Passage at the 2009 Hamilton Island Race Week with four seconds and a first.

Boat Name : Bear Necessity

Sail Number : MH115

LOA : 11.50M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.056)

Designer : C&C Yachts

Launch Year :2006

Type : C&C 115

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : Blue

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Andrew Dally (4)
Owner/Skipper : Andrew Dally (4)

Club : Middle Harbour Yacht Club

Crew : Andrew Dally (4), Bill Ratcliff (41), Phil Taylor (8), Luke Ratcliff (11), Pauline Dally (1), David Bridges (1), Geoff Greaves, Alex Tavenar (1)

“Bear Necessity - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Bear Necessity was launched in 2007 just prior to the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. In fact the Hobart start was the first time that Bear Necessity crossed a start line having arrived from Baltimore in late November 2007.

She raced in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008, followed by the Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Summer Pointscore 2009 where she finished first, and second in IRC in the Pittwater to Newcastle Yacht Race 2009. In the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009, Bear Necessity finished 6th in IRC Division 4.

Boat Name : Calm

Sail Number : SM5252

LOA : 15.85M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.353)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2005

Type : TP 52

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner : Graeme Ainley (26)
Owner : John Williams (27)
Owner : Graeme Ainley (26)
Owner : John Williams (27)
Owner/Skipper : Jason Van der Slot (6)
Owner/Skipper : Jason Van der Slot (6)

Club : Sandringham Yacht Club

Crew : R. Tyson (10), B. Averay (2), S. Schafer (2), B. Williams (5), M. Williams (2), H. Halliburton (20), A. Fairley (2), A. Mc Cole (2) C. Hall (3), C. Dale, R. Chapman, T. Phelan (4), C. Jeffrey

“Calm - the Farr TP 52, owned by Jason Van Der Slot, Graeme Ainley and John Williams”
John Curnow - copyright

Notes : Calm is replacement boat for owners Jason Van Der Slot, Graeme Ainley and John Williams following the loss of Georgia in the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Purchased in March 2009 from the UK, Calm is a fourth generation Farr TP 52, built by Goetz Custom Boats in Rhode Island (USA) and developed to compete on the European and US TP 52 circuits.

Designed and built beyond typical MedCup standards, this boat is an all purpose design and capable of offshore racing in any conditions. She was launched in 2006 as Stay Calm and immediately won Key West Race Week and showed great performance in the 2006 Global Championships and 2006 Med Cup Series. The boat was then optimised to the current IRC rules and has raced at Cowes Week / Cork Week and sailed all the major Solent regattas.

Calm took line and IRC honours in the ORCV’s 2009 Melbourne to Stanley race, then went on to finish 21st across the line and tenth in division in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart and is looking at finishing a lot higher up the leader board in 2010.

In the 2010 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Calm was performing exceptionally well until a broken bow sprit placed her further back in the field to finish 14th overall

Boat Name : Challenger of Hornet

Sail Number : GBR 7802T

LOA : 20.42M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.129)

Designer : lDevonport Yachts

Type : Challenge

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : Steel

Skipper : Darren Gale
Skipper : Darren Gale

Club: ASA

Crew : J. West, E. Lilyman, D. Hory, R. Greener, G. Lies, P. Lewis, R. Simpson, M. Smith, B. Seely, D. Boyls, J. Townsend-Rose

“Challenger of Hornet (GBR 7803T) (Army) rounds the seaward mark - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Challenger of Hornet is one of the yachts involved in the Tri-Service Adventurous Sail Training Exercise which is open to all UK service personnel, from both Regular and Reserve branches,(the other two yachts being Adventurer of Hornet and Discoverer of Hornett)

The aim of the excercise is to develop the personal qualities essential to Regular and Reserve members of HM Forces through adventurous sail training in a Service environment.

This Sydney Hobart race team joined yacht in Perth and have been training whilst making their way from Perth to Sydney in preparation for the race.

Over 500 service personnel will experience the highs and lows of ocean crossings from the heat of the Tropics to the Cold of the Southern Ocean. Transglobe will test their physical and mental stamina whilst building confidence in themselves and their fellow crew members.

Overall Standings to date:

Yacht Overall Position Points
Discoverer ARMY 1st 5
Adventurer RAN = 2nd 9
Challenger RAF = 2nd 9

Boat Name : Charisma

Sail Number : ESP 7100

LOA : 17.02M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.118)

Designer : Sparkman & Stephens

Type : S&S 57

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Blue

Hull Construction : Aluminium

Owner/Skipper : Alejandro Perez Calzada Perez Calzada
Owner/Skipper : Alejandro Perez Calzada Perez Calzada

Club: Real Club Nautico Barcelona

Crew : A Pérez Calzada, M Doreste, F Aranda, A Irala, C Grutte, A Lopez-Doriga, A Mir, C Sanmarti, F Souviron, J Manuel Valades, J Luis Wood, D Wood, A Serra, G Altadill. F Sticovich

Notes : Charisma will be the second Spanish yacht ever to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Starting in 2007 with the Rolex Fastnet Race, Charisma began a journey to complete a round-the-world trip, competing in key offshore yacht races along the way.

She finished 19th overall in the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race and in 2008 made her way stateside to contest the Newport to Bermuda Race, where she placed fourth in St David’s Division Class 7 (Best Corrected time). On her way to Australia, Charisma competed in this year's Transpac finishing first in Division 7, and is now ready to tackle the ‘Mount Everest of ocean racing’, the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Owner Alejandro Pérez Calzada is optimistic about his boat’s chances. “We have high hopes for Charisma's performance in this tough ocean race. She is a well campaigned yacht and we would like to achieve a good result in our division,” said Calzada.

Boat Name : Charlie's Dream

Sail Number : RQ1920

LOA : 13.70M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 0.9805)

Designer : Holland/Cole/Lowe

Launch Year :2008

Type : Bluewater 450

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Peter Lewis (2)
Owner/Skipper : Peter Lewis (2)

Club: RQYS

Crew : P Lewis (1), B Pozzey (1), R Dallimore (1), R Dawson (1), D Bradburn (1), G Boyd (0), R King (0), S Green (0), B Coulter (0)

Notes : In her first Rolex Sydney Hobart, Charlie’s Dream placed second in the Cruising Division; followed by a fourth place in the Cruising Division of the 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Race. In 2008, owner Peter Lewis entered the boat into PHS Division for the Gosford Lord Howe Island, where she finished into first position; following this with an eighth placing in PHS division 2 of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. This year, Charlie’s Dream is taking on the challenge of IRC racing.

Charlie's Dream was built in Australia by Bluewater Cruising Yachts and designed for comfortable cruising. The original design was modified to give a shoal draft keel of 1.7 m and extra aft deck space and storage. Extras include a self tacking staysail, hydraulic swim platform, electric winches, bow thruster, genset and air conditioning. The galley includes a microwave and separate fridge and freezer. A second fridge in the cockpit ensures the crew are well catered for.

Boat Name : Chutzpah

Sail Number : R33

LOA : 12.35M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.203)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2007

Type : IRC 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : GRP Carbon

Owner/Skipper : Bruce Taylor (30)
Owner/Skipper :
Owner/Skipper : Bruce Taylor (30)
Owner/Skipper :
Principal/starting helm : Bruce Taylor

Club : Royal Yacht Club Of Victoria

Crew : K Piesse (27), A Taylor (12), G Courley (23), J Bradbury (10), J Permezel (20), P. Sandles (6), M Bagley (3), P Fletcher (20) L Smith (8) b Taylor 28

“Chutzpah”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : This is Bruce Taylor's sixth Chutzpah, a Reichel-Pugh design built by Mal Hart.

In 2007, in her first Rolex Sydney Yacht Race, Chutzpah won Division C and placed 4th overall. In the 2008 Hobart, Chutzpah scored another IRC 2 divisional win. Over 29 years of competing in the ocean classic, Taylor has notched up an amazing nine divisional wins as well as one 2nd and one 3rd overall.

Chutzpah won the IRC/AMS handicap double in the ORCV’s 2008 Melbourne Stanley race; and IRC Division 2 in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008.

Boat Name : Colortile

Sail Number : 67

LOA : 13.70M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.236)

Designer : Sayer, Jon

Launch Year :2000

Type : Sayer

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White/Green

Hull Construction : Timber Epoxy Composite

Owner : Kristy Edwards
Owner : Kristy Edwards
Owner/Skipper : Warren Buchan
Owner/Skipper : Warren Buchan
Principal/starting helm : Warren Buchan

Club : Cronulla Sailing Club

Crew : B Ryan (9), S Williams (7), D Maddock (3), R Francis (2), T McGillaray (2), S Toolin, C Feldmann, K Edwards, R Varley, B Galwey K Downing(3)

“Colortile (Photo: John Weildemier - jweidphotos)”
. ©

Notes : Colortile will be representing the Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking and Cronulla Sailing Club combined fleets.

Kristy Edwards and Warren Buchan have made extensive modifications to this yacht to make her suitable for offshore racing. Jon Sayer built a great all round yacht and owner Buchan loves the downwind surfing capabilities.

Bucko is a former Cronulla Surf Club member and World/Australian Surf Ski paddling champion so doesnt mind a couple of waves to surf apon.

The crews a great mix with a majority of the crew capable of covering all positions on the yacht.

We are blessed to have a great team and sponsor in Tony Galwey. Colortile will be sailing hard inspired by past Port Hacking Sailing members Shorty and Johny Gettens

We also have a website http://hobart.colortile.com.au which will contain regular updates, photos and video footage during the race

Boat Name : Copernicus

Sail Number : 6689

LOA : 11.99M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.072)

Designer : Radford Yacht Design

Launch Year :2008

Type : Radford

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White Off

Hull Construction : GRP Foam Sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Greg Zyner (5)
Owner/Skipper : Greg Zyner (5)
Principal/starting helm : Greg Zyner

Club : Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron Ltd

Crew : M Doherty (11), D McRae (10), R Moore (22), F Nelson (14), J Nixon (15), A Seja (6), K Terrens (1)

“Copernicus - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week 2008 Day 2”
Sail-World.com /AUS ©

Notes : Owner Greg Zyner’s sailing highlights include 2nd in Division in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and 1st in Division Pittwater to Coffs Harbour 2007 with his previous boat, Morna.

Copernicus was designed by Radford Yachts, built by Dillon Boatworks in Taree and launched in January 2008 and since her launch, Copernicus has competed in most of the offshore races on the East Coast, including Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Hempel Gosford Lord Howe Island Race and Rolex Sydney Hobart races.

Copernicus won the Tasman Pointscore in 2008, placed 7th overall in the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and third in IRC division in the Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island in 2009
and again in 2010.

Boat Name : Cougar ll

Sail Number : SM5200

LOA : 15.85M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.347)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2005

Type : Farr

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Alan Whiteley (2)
Owner/Skipper : Alan Whiteley (2)
Principal/starting helm : Aaron Cole

Club : Sandringham Yacht Club

Crew : P. Williams (12), S. Whiteley (2), A. Cole (7), R. Leaper (8), J. Mackay (2), M. Wilson (3), F. Forbes (1) R. Richardson (10), N. Relf, P. Dowdney (3), C. Nolan (2)

“Cougar II racing on Day 8 of the 2008 Hamilton Island Race Week”
Jack Atley©

Notes : Since Sandringham yachtsman Alan Whiteley has brought this third generation high tech Cookson built Trans Pacific 52 (TP52) into Australia in 2006, Cougar II has enjoyed a relatively successful season with podium finishes in nearly every Victoria regatta and most recently taking the big one at 2008 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, winning the hotly contested Grand Prix Division. Finishing a close second IRC overall in the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, Cougar ll and her crew would love to go one better this year.

This will be the third Rolex Sydney Hobart for Cougar ll. In 2007 they were forced to retire from a front running position in the race due to a fractured chain plate. Alan Whiteley’s former boat, also named Cougar finished second in the Division D in the 2005 race. Cougar ll is one of five extremely competitive TP52 Grand prix boats entered this year plus several other 50 footers. If last year is any indication Cougar ll should enjoy close racing for the full 628 nautical miles.

Boat Name : Dekadence

Sail Number : SM46

LOA : 14.10M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.196)

Designer : Mills, Mark

Launch Year :2004

Type : DK46

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : David Creese
Owner/Skipper : David Creese
Principal/starting helm : David Creese

Club: Bellerive Yacht Club

Crew : P Copeland (2), R Mannering, R Salter (3), D Calvert (5), D Short, H McCallum, S Hyland (3), P Turner (6), C Wardrop, C Gray (3), J Bendall,R Lilley

“SAILING - Hog's Breath Race Week 2005 - DAY 1 - DEKADENCE - 12/08/05 - Photo : Andrea Francolini”
Andrea Francolini Photography ©

Notes : Tasmanian yachtsman David Creese has just purchased this DK46 for his first Rolex Sydney Hobart. A blend of youth and experience is combined in this all Hobart crew. Competing in its third offshore race under its new owner, Dekadence and her crew are hoping they can follow-up on their 2008 IRC win in the Launceston to Hobart race with their previous yacht, a Sydney 38, Creese Property. Dekadence recently competed the ORCV’s Melbourne to Stanley race, finishing 14th overall.

Dekadence, a proven heavy weather performer, was 10th to finish in the tough 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart and was sixth in IRC Division A.

Boat Name : Discoverer of Hornet

Sail Number : GBR 7802T

LOA : 20.42M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.129)

Designer :

Type : Challenge

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Skipper : Rebecca Walford
Skipper : Rebecca Walford

Crew : P. Cooper, T. Ryall, R. Harris, A. Whalen, A. Wright, K. McQuillian, N. Carter

“On board Discoverer. Exercise Transglobe.”
Exercise Transglobe

Notes : Discoverer of Hornet is one of the yachts involved in the Tri-Service Adventurous Sail Training Exercise which is open to all UK service personnel, from both Regular and Reserve branches,(the other two yachts being Adventurer of Hornet and Challenger of Hornet)

The aim of the excercise is to develop the personal qualities essential to Regular and Reserve members of HM Forces through adventurous sail training in a Service environment.

This Sydney Hobart race team joined yacht in Perth and have been training whilst making their way from Perth to Sydney in preparation for the race.

Over 500 service personnel will experience the highs and lows of ocean crossings from the heat of the Tropics to the Cold of the Southern Ocean. Transglobe will test their physical and mental stamina whilst building confidence in themselves and their fellow crew members.

Overall Standings to date:

Yacht Overall Position Points
Discoverer ARMY 1st 5
Adventure RAN = 2nd 9
Challenger RAF = 2nd 9

Boat Name : Dodo

Sail Number : 8848

LOA : 20.15M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.3643)

Designer : Nandor Fa / Steinman

Launch Year :1990

Type : Modified Open 66

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Construction : Kevlar composite

Nick Athineos
Nick Athineos
Owner/Skipper : Richard Christian
Owner/Skipper : Richard Christian

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : TBA

“Sailing Services Bet 247 - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Notes : Sailing Services Nick Athineos and Rick Christian co-purchased Broomstick from Michael Cranitch in late-2009, and have given the 'old girl' a new lease of life and for the 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart she will race as Dodo.

She started life as an Open 60, which competed in the Vendee Globe and the Around Alone races with Russian skipper Fedor Konyukhov .

As Broomstick she was re-built into a 66 footer in 2002, the first race she undertook was the Rolex Sydney Hobart and she was 8th across the line. Since then she has been a regular winter and twilight series competitor, winning the Winter Series three times including the Audi Winter Series 2009. Broomstick was also third over the line in the Ocean Pointscore Sydney Newcastle Race in February 2009.

In the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart she raced as Sailing Services Bet 247, coming 22nd over line line and 4th in PHS Division 1.

Boat Name : Eleni

Sail Number : MH60

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.107)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :2003

Type : Sydney 38 One Design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Tony Levett (6)
Owner/Skipper : Tony Levett (6)

Crew : D Swales (10), S Lipman, G Ormerod, S Wyatt, C Dalton, K Huisjes (2), E Helsper (1)

“Tony Levett’s Sydney 38 ’Eleni’ ”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : MHYC sailor Tony Levett has been campaigning his Sydney 38 hard since 2003. He raced in the 2004 Strathfield Pittwater to Coffs series, then the Sydney to Mooloolaba race and finished sixth in the 2004 Sydney to Goldcoast race in the Sydney 38 One Design Class. The boat has an excellent offshore record, winning the Sydney 38 OD Division in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race in 2005 and 3rd in the Sydney 38 Division of this year’s Mooloolaba Race.

Eleni (Horwath BRI) was one of the leading contenders for the 2006-2007 CYCA Blue Water Pointscore and finished 4th in the Blue Water Pointscore and third in the Tasman Performance Handicap series. .

Eleni returned to offshore racing with the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart, where she finished third in the Sydney 38 One Design Division.

Boat Name : Evolution Racing .

Sail Number : 8899

LOA : 15.24M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.357)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2006

Type : Cookson 50

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Don Buckley
Don Buckley
Owner/Skipper : Ray Roberts (18)
Owner/Skipper : Ray Roberts (18)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : TBA

“Evolution Racing - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Notes : The CYCA's 2006/7 CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year, Ray Roberts, has for the past 12 months been sailing this Cookson 50 with success winning the 2007 Skandia Geelong Week, 2007 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race, the 2008 Brisbane to Gladstone Race, the 2008 Meridien Airlie Beach Race Week and took the double in the 2008 Audi Gold Coast with Line Honours and IRC Overall.

In the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Quantum Racing finished 3rd IRC Overall and 1st in Division A.

For his 19th Rolex Sydney Hobart, Roberts is hoping for more typical conditions of reaching and running. Roberts has competed on the eastern Australian seaboard and in Asia with phenomenal success and he was the Asian Yachting Champion 2007 but the Tattersall's Cup is the one trophy that has eluded him and he and his top crew want that rectified.

Boat Name : EZ Street

Sail Number : 6814

LOA : 13.52M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0289)

Designer : Alan Warwick

Launch Year :1990

Type : Warwick 44

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Timber Cold Moulded

Skipper : Trevor Cosh (9)
Skipper : John Sturrock
Skipper : Trevor Cosh (9)
Skipper : John Sturrock
Owner/Skipper : Bruce Dover (4)
Owner/Skipper : Bruce Dover (4)
Principal/starting helm : John Sturrock

Club : SASC

Crew : T. Cosh (9), Bruce Dover- Nav (4) J. Sturrock (11), P. Robinson (16), R. Wilson (12), T. Purkis (9), C. Davis (5), T. Vooles

“EZ Street”
Bruce Dover

Notes : EZ Street is a cruiser-racer designed by veteran Kiwi designer Alan Warwick. Built (in 1990) from triple skin kauri she raced competitively in New Zealand before being purchased by her current owner, Bruce Dover, in 2001.

Over the years she has been extensively campaigned offshore including three Rolex Sydney Hobarts with her best result in last year’s race placing 7th in PHS Division; two Gosford to Lord Howe Island races; three Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht races with her best result a 7th in PHS Division in the 2008 race and an Auckland to Noumea race.

Her crew of grizzled veterans all hail from the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club who have been sailing together for over 20 years and come together to mount a Corinthian challenge in the truest sense of the word.

Boat Name : Flying Fish - Arctos

Sail Number : 7551

LOA : 16.36M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0122)

Designer : Radford Yacht Design

Launch Year :2001

Type : Radford 54'

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : GRP

Skipper : Martin Silk
Skipper : A Fairclough (4)
Skipper : Martin Silk
Skipper : A Fairclough (4)

Club : Middle Harbour Yacht Club

Crew : TBA

Notes : Flying Fish Arctos is the flagship yacht in the Flying Fish offshore training fleet. A strong and powerful cutter rigged yacht, that was built to race around the world which never eventuated. However Australian David Pryce sailed her around the world via the southern ocean, so she's very comfortable down in the roaring 40's.

This year’s crew will include a number of veterans from previous years as well as an international crew of trainees completing the race as a personal challenge. Skipper Andrew Fairclough’s best result in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, was in 2008 where he finished 2nd in PHS Division 1.

Boat Name : Geomatic Joker

Sail Number : M9000

LOA : 11.96M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.092)

Designer : Lyons, David

Launch Year :1998

Type : Lyons 38

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Grant Chipperfield (1)
Owner/Skipper : Grant Chipperfield (1)
Principal/starting helm : Grant Chipperfield

Club : Mornington Yacht Club

Crew : A Lewis, T Johnston, W Heron, P Young, T Humphrys, R Wade, M Marlow, F Shave

Notes : This well performed Victorian boat made her Rolex Sydney Hobart debut in 2009 under Mornington owners Grant Chipperfield and Tony Johnston with the ongoing sponsorship support of Geomatic Technologies Pty Ltd.

In 2008, Geomatic Joker became Mornington Club Champion and placed overall winner in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Salamanca Series. Competing in the prestigious IRC Handicap division, GeomaticJoker put together three solid performances (including second place in the Melbourne to Hobart) to secure a convincing Series win in inaugural event.

Designed by David Lyons and built by Jarken Yachts, with new keel modifications the crew are looking to build on their successes previous seasons.

Boat Name : Goldfinger

Sail Number : 8880

LOA : 15.85M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.291)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2003

Type : Farr 52

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Construction : Foam/Kevlar/Epoxy

Owner : Kate Mitchell (7)
Owner : Kate Mitchell (7)
Owner/Skipper : Peter Blake (9)
Owner/Skipper : Peter Blake (9)
Principal/starting helm : Peter Blake

Club : Sandringham Yacht Club

Crew : Kate. Mitchell (6), Nigel. Jones (9), Cam. McKenzie (9), Chris. Smethurst (6), Scott. Madden (3), Adam. Mannix (3),Dav Struge (3), Scott Escler (4) Brian Peterson (3), Simon Blake (2), Luke Lorback (1), Cath Wundle. Louise Kavanagh, Ben Mir

“Goldfinger - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Goldfinger has a glorious metallic gold hull and is a great name for the former Ichi Ban. In 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart she finished seventh in IRC Div B and in 2006 she was fourth

Peter Blake and Kate Mitchell bought the well-performed, former Ichi Ban just before the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race where they were 14th in IRC Div B and they and their crew have steadily got to know this powerful yacht .

As Ichi Ban she had an excellent racing record winning Sailing South Week 2003, she then took line honours in the Southport-Mackay race, third in Brisbane-Gladstone and Gosford to Lord Howe races. In 2004, she won IRC class at Skandia Geelong Week, second on line and third in division Syd-Mooloolaba race, fourth in division in the Gold Coast race, and second at Hog's Breath Race Week

In the 2003 Hobart race she finished first in division.

Blake previously has had great success with old boat, Kontrol.

Boat Name : Helsal III

Sail Number : 262

LOA : 20.00M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.395)

Designer : Adams/Barrett

Launch Year :1984

Type : Adams 20

No of Sydney to Hobart: 8

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Rob Fisher (18)
Owner/Skipper : Rob Fisher (18)
Principal/starting helm : Dr Tony Fisher

Club : Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Crew : T Fisher (10) R Fisher (16), G Roper (10), J Dwyer (6), G Davis , G Skennar (3), M Vosper (1), P McTaggart (1), K Lawrence (2), C Squires , B Perry (1), O Nicholas , D Nicholas (1), C Smith (1)

“Helsal III ”
Greg Maunder ©

Notes : Dr Tony Fisher raced Helsal III with success in the late 1980s and early 1900s, including breaking his own record for the Gosford to Lord Howe Island and scoring line and handicap wins in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race with Helsal !!. Tony and his son, Rob, bought back the boat in 2007 in totally rundown condition.

They have completed a major refurbishment under the direction of Tasmanian designer Fred Barrett, including a fixed bulb keel (she originally had a centerboard) and bigger rig.

2008 note :; while his sister, Sally Smith, will skipper Dr Fisher's other yacht, the cruising boat Helsal IV.

Boat Name : Holy Cow!

Sail Number : 6523

LOA : 15.10M

Division : Cruising Division (TCC : 0.0)

Designer : Group Finot

Launch Year :2005

Type : Beneteau 50

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner : Kim Clinton
Owner :
Owner : Kim Clinton
Owner :
Owner/Skipper : John Clinton
Owner/Skipper : John Clinton

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : K Clinton, B Huisman, G Arnold, L Arnold, P Owens

“Holy Cow!”
Monsta

Notes : Purchased in April 2009 Holy Cow! is John & Kim Clinton's latest 'cow' cruising yacht. She carries their distinctive black & white cow headsails and recently won the Boss Hog trophy for Yacht of the Regatta at Meridien Airlie Beach Regatta in August this year.

John is the proprieter of the successful country rock band, the Wolverines, who are well known on the East Coast for their irreverent sailing songs and childrens' fund raising activities. Last July Holy Cow!, with John and Kim on board (and the band & gear on the road), made their ninth pilgrimage to the North Queensland Regattas

Boat Name : ICAP Leopard

Sail Number : GBR 1R

LOA : 29.99M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.877)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2007

Type : Farr 100

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner : Mike Slade (2)
Owner : Mike Slade (2)

Crew : C Sherlock (3) G Salter (3) J Turner, R Davies (6) Z Gills (3) T Burnell (2) M Thomas (4) T Sellars (3) B Jackson (6) B Wylie (9) J Larrineen (3) H Agnon (1) J Salter, G Maguire

“Mike Slade, Owner Skipper of ICAP LEOPARD - Rolex Middle Sea Race”
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Notes : Fresh from taking his second line honours win in a row of the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Slade and his international crew, including a number of Australians, are one of five 100ft maxis competing in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Weighing 10 tonnes more than the lighter weight supermaxis Slade is hoping for hard running and reaching race.

ICAP Leopard finished second across the line behind Wild Oats XI in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart when both were 98-footers under the then maximum length overall limit of 30 metres.

Boat Name : Ichi Ban

Sail Number : AUS 03

LOA : 21.50M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.615)

Designer : Jones, Don

Launch Year :2005

Type : Jones 70

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Aluminium

Toni Curren
Toni Curren
Owner/Skipper : Matt Allen (21)
Owner/Skipper : Matt Allen (21)
Principal/starting helm : Matt Allen

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : M. Spies (32) D. McGain (6) N. Beadoin (2), T. Braidwood (14), A. McLean (0), G. Telford (12), P. Airey (5), D. Woods (3), R. Case (24), S. Lawson (10), C. Humphries (2), A. Meiklejohn (2), C. Garnett (7), M Pammenter (?)

“Ichi Ban - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Ichi Ban’s best results include second across the line to Wild Oats XI in 2006 and third over the line in 2007 and 2008. She also took line honours in the 2008 Brisbane Gladstone Race. In the right conditions this modified Volvo 70 is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots - or 65 kilometres per hour.

2010:
CYCA Immediate Past Commodore Matt Allen’s Jones 70 Ichi Ban is always well campaigned in this tough 628 nautical mile race. After losing her mast on the return journey to Sydney from Hobart in 2009, Ichi Ban has spent most of the year on the hardstand at Azzura Marine in Newcastle and has recently installed a new rig.

Boat Name : Imagination

Sail Number : 35

LOA : 14.50M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.123)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Type : Beneteau 47.7

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Blue Navy

Hull Construction : Foam E Glass

Owner : Annette Hawthorn
Owner : Annette Hawthorn
Owner/Skipper : Robin Hawthorn
Owner/Skipper : Robin Hawthorn
Principal/starting helm : Robin Hawthorn

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : H Hawthorn, C Hawthorn, Rohan Hawthorn, M Henderson (11), R Seageart (1), L Howard (10) T Vine, G Shennan (1), B Hicks, R Firth, I Bell, Phil Eadie (30)

“Imagination powers to seaward - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Imagination has been a regular campaigner of the Audi Winter Series and the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore series finishing with a second overall in IRC Division in 2008/2009 season.The Skipper Robin has his three sons sailing with him on this race.

Boat Name : Investec LOYAL

Sail Number : 99999

LOA : 30.48M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.864)

Designer : Elliott, Greg

Launch Year :2005

Type : IRC Supermaxi

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Sean Langman (19)
Owner/Skipper : Sean Langman (19)
Principal/starting helm : Sean Langman

Club: Huon Yacht Club

Crew : D. Dickson (10), J Alexander (8) S McKnight (4) T. Oxley (5) J. Dekock (8) P. Calligeros (9) R Field (10) J Crawford (11) L. Jamieson (23) B. Cormack (1) P. Schultz (1) J. Akacich (10) A. Bell, J. Dack, G. Hackett, P. Waugh, D. Green, P. Kearns, L. Emdur

“Investec LOYAL, SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2009 ”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Investec LOYAL (nee Maximus) has unfinished business to attend to regarding the Sydney to Hobart.

In 2006 Maximus was dismasted off Batemans Bay. In 2007 her complex keel mechanism failed during the delivery from NZ. She then underwent extensive modifications including lengthening from 98 to 100 feet, new 6.2m keel and new lighter weight and taller conventional mast to replace the wing mast.

With two seconds and a third from 19 Rolex Sydney Hobarts, Langman is hungry for his first line honours victory and in a decent blow, the boat’s a chance.

As Maximus, its results include 1st on corrected time in the 2005 Transatlantic and line honours and handicap honours in the IRC Super 0 division of the 2005 Rolex Fastnet Race.

Investec LOYAL is raising money for the LOYAL Foundation,(www.loyalfoundation.com.au )

Boat Name : Kioni - Sailing Services

Sail Number : 6146

LOA : 14.80M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0864)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2002

Type : Beneteau 47.7

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : Blue Navy

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Nick Athineos (8)
Owner/Skipper : Nick Athineos (8)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : P. Rogers, J. Black, T. Sharp, J. Geurts, U. Cochis, P. Taylor, C. Riddoch, B. Sheilds, J. Brogan, A lewis, C.Carter, G Cheyron, A Nisbet

“Kioni (Performance Racing) - Day 5 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week 2009 ”
Sail-World.com /AUS ©

Notes : Kioni is a Beneteau First 47.7 is owned by Sailing Services Pty Ltd and skippered by Nick Athineos. With five Rolex Sydney Hobarts, four Lord Howe Island races, three Mooloolaba races, five Gold Coast races, four CYCA Winter Series, Hamilton Island race weeks and many twilights on its sailing CV, Kioni is a regular campaigner and has introduced more than 170 sailors to the sport of ocean racing.

In the 2009 Rolex Sydeny to Hobart she was disqualified by the International Jury for an incident in Sydney Harbour after the start

Boat Name : Knee Deep

Sail Number : HY161

LOA : 16.54M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.259)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1999

Type : Farr 49

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner : Frank Van Ruth
Owner : Frank Van Ruth
Owner/Skipper : Philip Childs (4)
Owner/Skipper : Philip Childs (4)

Club: Hilarys Yacht Club WA

Crew : R Balding (2), S Hartley (4), A Hill (4), J Alp (4), N Holder (10), M Sanderson (3), M Dolling, L Jones, J Barr, D Armstrong, K Ireland, B Ackland, J Chaston

“SAILING - Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2007 - Sydney (AUS) - 26/12/07 - Photo: Andrea Francolini - KNEE DEEP”
Copyright Andrea Francolini
Buy this photo at Andrea Francolini Photography

Notes : Knee Deep is a 15.3m racing yacht that was purchased by its current owners in May 2008. Built in Sydney by Boatspeed, in 1999, she was launched in November of that year and went to win the Sydney Hobart yacht race and claim the Tattersall’s Cup (when she was raced by previous owner Geoff Ross under the name Yendys).

Knee Deep has raced for many years on the east coast before going into early retirement. Philip Childs discovered the boat at a truck company auction and making a bid for the boat at auction, given her lots of TLC including a new set of sails.

The crew of 14 consists of the core from previous Hobart challenges with the addition of several very experienced off shore sailors and skippered by Knee Deep Wines owner, Perth surgeon Phil Childs. Knee Deep recently claimed line honours in the 2009 Fremantle to Albany Race

In the 2007 Rolex Sydney to Hobart she placed 9th in IRC Div C

Philip Childs, previous yacht Courtesan won Division D in the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Boat Name : Krakatoa II .

Sail Number : 55555

LOA : 12.19M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 0.0)

Designer : Groupe Finot

Type : Pogo 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Rod Skellet (9)
Owner/Skipper : Rod Skellet (9)

Crew : M. Hunter (2), S. Wheelhouse (2), C. Pritchard (5), E. Hyde (1)

“Rod Skellett's Pogo 40 Krakatoa II at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.”
Jack Atley©

Notes : The first Pogo class 40 in Australia, Krakatoa II is part of an explosive class, which has taken Europe by storm. Designed as a stepping stone between a Mini 6.5 and the Open 60s, the class 40 is a fast seaworthy boat that is suitable for short handed sailing. Likened to a 40 foot version of a VO60, it carries 750 litres of water ballast each side which provides the required stability to carry the enormous sail area.

Not built to perform under IRC handicap, the boat should be a strong contender in the PHS Division and amongst the fast 40 footers for line honours in this size range.

In the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Krakatoa II finished 3rd in PHS Overall and Division 1 and fifth in PHS Division in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast 2008.

in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Krakatoa II finished 4th in PHS Division A .

Boat Name : Lahana

Sail Number : 10081

LOA : 29.90M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.66)

Designer : Bakewell-White Yacht Design

Launch Year :2003

Type : Supermaxi One Off

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White/Blue

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner : John Honan
Owner : John Honan
Owner/Skipper : Peter Millard (2)
Owner/Skipper : Peter Millard (2)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

“Lahana, (nee Konica Minolta, Zana - Sydney Hobart 2005 ”
Ian Mainsbridge

Notes :

Boat Name : Limit .

Sail Number : 98888

LOA : 0.00M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.497)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2008

Type : Reichel Pugh 63

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon, foam

Skipper :
Skipper :
Owner/Skipper : Alan Brierty (6)
Owner/Skipper : Alan Brierty (6)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : R. Keenan (6), B. Kellet (17), G. Prescott (24), P. Eldrid (5), B. Walker (23), G. Brady, D. Jones (14), A. Harry, D. Ward (10), D. Morrow (7), M. Hannon (4), M. Van Kretchmar (3), C. Main, J. Burrell (1), P. Cox (3)

“Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2009, 27/08/09 LIMIT”
Andrea Francolini / Audi ©

Notes : Update 2009-12-26: At approximately 2230 hrs, Limit was forced to retire due to rigging failure

West Australian yachtsman Alan Brierty launched Limit, a Reichel Pugh 63, three weeks prior to the start ofthe 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race where she finished a credible seventh on IRC.

She then sailed to New Zealand to compete in the Auckland to Noumea race, where Limit and her crew won line honours and every division (IRC, ORC and PHRF) in a very slow race. Upon returning to Australia, she went on to finish a nail-biting fourth in Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. After Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009, Brierty plans to take Limit to New Zealand and the USA to compete internationally.

Boat Name : Lion New Zealand

Sail Number : NZL 3900

LOA : 23.90M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.455)

Designer : Ron Holland

Type : Whitbred Maxi

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : GRP Foam Sandwich

Owner : LMDCT
Owner : LMDCT
Skipper : Alistair Moore
Skipper : Alistair Moore

Club: Davenport Yacht Club

Crew : C. Malcolm, N. Phipps, B. Smeal, J. Harper, B. Thomas, D. Jowlett, T. Stevenson, W. Goodfellow, S. Blake, C. Mclean, S. Cray, C. Gundry, J. Flynn

“Lion New Zealand - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Twenty-five years on from its line honours victory in the great Australian ocean classic, iconic Kiwi yacht Lion New Zealand returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009. This Ron Holland designed and built by Tim Gurr for the late Sir Peter Blake. Lion New Zealand was his entry in the 1985/1986 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. Lion also won the prestigious Sydney to Hobart in 1984.

In Sir Peter’s words “Lion was overbuilt to withstand the rigours of the southern ocean bordering Antarctica.” Measuring 79ft 6in and weighing in at a massive 40.1 tons, she is an extremely powerful yacht demanding strong teamwork.

Skipper for this race will be Alistair Moore who will be joined by a number of the offspring of those heroes from 1984 to commemorate the silver anniversary of Lion New Zealand’s win - one of only six Kiwi boats to have beaten the fleet to Hobart in the race’s colourful 64-year history. “Commemoration and celebration will be the theme on board Lion New Zealand when it embarks on the world famous 628 nautical mile race to Hobart,” said Moore.

Boat Name : Livewire.org.au

Sail Number : 6773

LOA : 11.20M

Division : Cruising Division (TCC : 0.0)

Designer : Group Finot

Launch Year :2008

Type : Oceanis 37

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : David Pring
Owner/Skipper : David Pring
Principal/starting helm : David Pring

Club : Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

Crew : G. Frazer (28), B. Campbell, S. Dunnett, H. Farmer (1), T. Rooney, D. Fisher, J. Ayton, D. Pring

“Livewire - Racing to Hobart for charity”
Angela Turnbull

Notes : Livewire.org.au is sailed by a group of mates with a goal of arriving in Hobart. We are all fathers and in Graeme and Terry's case, grandfathers. Helping sick children is front of mind for us all. If we can achieve our dream of sailing to Hobart and make a difference to sick children, then we wil be very pleased.

Livewire has one Cat 1 race to its name with a second place in PHS in the 2009 Hempel Gosford Lord Howe race.

The crew has been training since June with the idea to do Hobart arising from a sail to Coffs harbour in March by 4 of the crew. The crew is very cohesive and not a cross word has been said on the boat in six months.

Graeme Fraser is our rockstar having completed 28 Hobarts. Before he signed on he made us promise he wouldnt have to get wet. So far he hasn't!

The boat is welll prepared, the crew are well trained and we are ready to go.

Livewire is a great cause providing an online community for sick kids.

More info:

http://www.livewire.org.au/support-us

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/eight_men_in_a_boat

Boat Name : Living Doll

Sail Number : R55

LOA : 16.79M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.396)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2008

Type : Farr 55

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Michael Hiatt (6)
Owner/Skipper : Michael Hiatt (6)
Principal/starting helm : Michael Hiatt

Club : Royal Yacht Club Of Victoria

Crew : Michael Hiatt, Richard Breada, Rick Mcgiver, Michael Vanderwaker Gillian Kerns, Mathew Johns, Christian Barber, Steweeie Gray Andrew Cape, David Sweet, Robert Scrivio, Brad

“Living Doll - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : New in late 2008, Michael Hiatt’s latest Living Doll is aimed at giving him a speed and clear air advantage over the range of 50 to 52-footers now racing in Melbourne as well as in other major regattas.

Farr Yacht Design has put a lot into this boat and Cooksons have come up with a beautiful hull and excellent IRC fit-out. Features include twin rudders and a lifting prop.

North Sails have designed their latest 3DL sails, with a flat-top main for inshore, and a conventional main for offshore. She is a striking looking boat with a deep black/blue/sometimes deep green hull and the Living Doll insignia.

Having missed Hobart in 2008 due to a broken mast, Living Doll went on to win Audi IRC Division 1 at 2009 Skandia Geelong Week, followed by a close win at the Meridian Marinas Airlie Beach regatta in August and finally the IRC Grand Prix Division One at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Living Doll finished seventh across the line in the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and claimed third place in the Audi IRC Australian Championship.

She also finished 13th across the line inthe 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart and finished fourth in IRC Grand Prix Division at the 2010 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Boat Name : Loki

Sail Number : AUS 60000

LOA : 19.20M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.496)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2008

Type : Reichel Pugh 63

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner : Stephen Ainsworth (13)
Owner : Stephen Ainsworth (13)
Skipper : Gordon Maguire (16)
Skipper : Gordon Maguire (16)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : G Maguire (15), A Merrington, A Pratt (10), D Senogles (19), G Purcell (14), A Barnes (14), S Nolan (7), P Montague (9)

“Loki - Audi Sydney-Newcastle 2009, Sydney (AUS) - 27/03/09”
Andrea Francolini Photography ©

Notes : Loki was launched in December 2008 – just one week prior to the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. She was built by McConaghy Boats for Stephen Ainsworth whose previous 63’ Loki was wrecked after breaking her rudder during the 2007 Rolex Middle Sea Race in the Mediterranean.

Designed with a conventional bulb keel, she is a lot wider than the previous boat and has a long bow pole for asymmetric spinnakers. Loki has performed strongly in every race she has been entered into including podium finishes in Skandia Docklands Invitational (1st) and Skandia Geelong IRC Division 1 (3rd), and Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta (3rd).

Loki recently took the trifecta in the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race of line honours, IRC overall win and new race record of 15hrs 57 minutes and 53 seconds and was second across the line in 2010. She also finished second over the line in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009 to Wild Oats X.

In the 2010 Audi Sydney Harbour regatta Loki took line and IRC Division 1 overall honours. Loki finished ninth across the line in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart and was recently crowned the 2010 Audi IRC Australian Champion after winning the IRC Grand Prix division at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, the final event in the championship.

In early November 2009 she smashed the Cabbage Tree Island Race record setting a new time of 16 hours, 32min, 47seconds.

Boat Name : Love & War

Sail Number : 294

LOA : 14.22M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.02)

Designer : Sparkman & Stephens

Launch Year :1973

Type : S & S47

No of Sydney to Hobart: 11

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Timber / Fibre Glass

Lindsay May (36)
Lindsay May (36)
Owner : simon kurts (17)
Owner : simon kurts (17)
Principal/starting helm : Michael Heenan

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Simon Kurts, Phillip Kurts, Lindsay May (36), John Harris, Peter Harris, Michael Hesse, Bob Sunderland, Will Parker, Michael Heenan, Ed McCarthy

“Love & War - Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2006”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : This beautifully appointed S&S 47 classic timber boat is a three-time Overall (1974,1978 and 2006) and multiple division winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, including top placing in the 20 Year Veteran Division of the 50th anniversary race in 1994.

Simon Kurts together with well known navigator Lindsay May will campaign the magnificent Love & War south and will be joined by other experienced crew members

Boat Name : Matangi	Sail Number : 5350
LOA : 11.78M	Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.011)
Designer : German Frers	Launch Year :1989
Type : Frers 40	No of Sydney to Hobart: 6

Skipper : David Stephenson (6) Skipper : David Stephenson (6)
Crew : G. Alnay (10) S. Walker (6) C. Jones (2) J Gardiner (2) Peter Hildyard (2) N. Butler (1) M. Whitmore (3)
Notes : Owner David Stephenson, who was part of the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winning crew of Aera, has campaigned Matangi extensively in long offshore passages such as the Melbourne – Stanley and Melbourne – Launceston races, but it’s been two years since the boat took on a Rolex Sydney Hobart. Matangi was presented with the TasPorts Cup for being the first Tasmanian entrant to finish on corrected time in the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2007. She is one of seven Tasmanian entries this year and boasts a crew of experienced offshore racers.
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Boat Name : Menace

Sail Number : M24

LOA : 11.68M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.119)

Designer : Dennis Phillips

Launch Year :2009

Type : Phillips/Simpson 11.

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : Timber / Fibre Glass

Owner : Niven James
Owner : Niven James
Skipper : John Simpson
Skipper : John Simpson
Principal/starting helm : John Simpson

Club: LMYC

Crew : C Freeman (15), S Chapman (15), T Woods (4), N James, Jenny Simpson

Notes : Menace was designed by Dennis Phillips and built by John Simpson, Niven James and friends. Menace was launched on in June and is owned by Niven & Angi James and raced out of Lake Macquarie Yacht Club.

Her maiden race was the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and she is currently competing in the CYCA’s Blue Water Pointscore Series and the LMYC Offshore series. Menace is a sister to Sharkface and will be skippered by John Simpson and crewed by Lake Macquarie sailors who are looking forward to competing in the boat's debut Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Boat Name : Merit

Sail Number : 8679

LOA : 19.26M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.4638)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1997

Type : Volvo 60

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : Foam/Kevlar/Epoxy

Owner :
Owner :
Owner/Skipper : Leo Rodriguez (2)
Owner/Skipper : Leo Rodriguez (2)

Club : Whitsunday Sailing Club Ltd

Crew : D Watson (12), B Wells (4), E Haagh (4), C Mathews (1), M Cocks (1), M Crook (1), G Rodriguez (1), M Christiansen (3)

“Telcoinabox Merit, Leo Rodriguez, passing Tasman Island, 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart”
© Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Notes : This former Volvo 60 round-the-world racing yacht has contested many offshore races since coming to Australia, sailing under various names, including Telcoinabox Merit, News Corp and Line 7.

She won line honours in the 2001 race to Lord Howe Island race then set a record for the then 408 nm 2002 Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race (the race distance has since been extended slightly, almost seven hours off the course record set in 1988 by Helsal III).

In the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart she placed first in her division and first overall in PHS, after coming to the aid and rescuing crew members from Georgia just before Georgia sank.

.

Boat Name : Mondo

Sail Number : 6305

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.115)

Designer :

Launch Year :2003

Type : Sydney 38 OD

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Ray Sweeney
Owner/Skipper : Ray Sweeney

Club : Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

Crew : TBA

“Easy Tiger - 2006 Pittwater Newcastle Race”
Damian Devine

Notes : Update 2009-12-27: Mondo retired due to damaged rigging

Mondo has recently been purchased by Ray Sweeney of Royal Queensland Yacht Club. The boat was formally known as Easy Tiger, and will be campaigned in IRC Racing along the east coast. She finished 20th in IRC Division 3 in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009.

Boat Name : More Witchcraft

Sail Number : 8402

LOA : 13.94M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.1958)

Designer : Dibley, Kevin

Launch Year :1995

Type : Dibley 46

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : John Cameron (17)
Owner/Skipper : John Cameron (17)
Principal/starting helm : John Cameron

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : T. Peak (1), I. Fenna, K.Fenna, C. White (1), A. Peyaud, Daniel Cataldi, James Wheelan, Andrea Green, Erin Mander, Ian Krackour, Jeremy McMullan

“More Witchcraft - Lord Howe Race 2008”
Jeremy Hancock

Notes : CYCA Rear Commodore John Cameron has achieved some excellent results with this boat, including a 1st and a 3rd in the PHS division of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in 2004 and 2005 respectively and a 2nd in PHS in the Sydney Mooloolaba Race.

In 2006, More Witchcraft placed 2nd in PHS Division A in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Recently, More Witchcraft placed second in the Gosford – Lord Howe Island Race and 3rd in PHS Division of Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race. As usual he will be sailing with an experienced crew.

Boat Name : Namadgi	Sail Number : 6388
LOA : 13.95M	Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 0.9545)
Designer : J & J Design	Launch Year :2004
Type : Bavaria	No of Sydney to Hobart: 6
Hull Colour : White Off	Hull Construction : GRP
Owner : Canberra Ocean Racing Club Owner : Canberra Ocean Racing Club Skipper : Paul Jones (7) Skipper : Paul Jones (7)	Club : Canberra Ocean Racing Club
Crew : P Kavanagh (2), B Horwood (2), G Imashev, S De Lorenzo, G Haughey, P Ottesen
Notes : Owned by a syndicate of 26 owners who make up the longstanding Canberra Ocean Racing Club, the Bavaria 44 Namadgi, is the club’s seventh yacht. Namadgi usually competes offshore every second year and cruises the alternate years. Her best result to date is winning PHS Division 2 in Rolex Sydney Hobart 2007. The crew travels from Canberra to Pittwater on Sydney’s northern beaches to train and prepare the yacht for major ocean races.
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Boat Name : Next

Sail Number : 6081

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.099)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :2000

Type : Sydney 38 One Design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Richard Holstein (10)
Owner/Skipper : Richard Holstein (10)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : D Parkes (23), W Lee (1), M Cassidy, R McMahon (2), J Krehbiel, N Mrdjen, N Parkes (2)

“Next (sailed as Leukemia Foundation in the 2008 Sydney Hobart entrant (Photo unknown)”
© .

Notes : Next is a well-campaigned Sydney 38 and this year, her program has been put together by CYCA member Jay Krehbiel and a group of sailing mates who wanted some great racing in a competitive class. Skippered by Ian Mason, long-time CYCA member and chief RYA instructor with Pacific Sailing School, the crew has come together from different backgrounds, cities and yachts. Their mantra is to sail hard, race hard, and have fun.

Next is competing in both the IRC and Sydney 38 One Design classes, and will be looking to better her previous best 2008 Sydney Hobart result of second in the Sydney 38 division.

Boat Name : Ninety Seven

Sail Number : B9797

LOA : 14.32M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.181)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1993

Type : Farr 47

No of Sydney to Hobart: 10

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Kevlar/foam

Owner/Skipper : Alan Saunders (1)
Owner/Skipper : Alan Saunders (1)

Club : Royal Brighton Yacht Club

Crew : Noel May (2) - Sailing Master,Neville Rose (2) - Navigator David Bayliss - Mast,Ron Brown (2) - Main,John Donati (11) - Trim/Main,Matt Fahey - Strings,Scott Gladman - Mast Marcus Godinho - Bow,Kerryn Shrank - Strings/Trim John Weatherly - Bow,Nick White - Trim,Jeff Whiteside - Main

“Ninety Seven (Photographer unknown)”
. ©

Notes : Alan Saunders purchased Ninety Seven in September 2006 and brought her back
from Fremantle to Melbourne's Royal Brighton Yacht Club where she currently resides.

Ninety Seven took line honours in the 1993 Sydney Hobart and was the smallest boat in 45 years to achieve this.

Ninety Seven has achieved some good results Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races
including 1st overall (IMS) in 1994, 4th Overall (IMS) in 2000 and 2nd Overall (IMS) in 2001. Since 2006, after being optimized for IRC, Ninety Seven has competed in every ocean race out of Melbourne taking line honours in the Melbourne to Port Fairy race just outside of race record time.

Ninety Seven is ready for another Sydney to Hobart having completed a Melbourne to Hobart via the East Coast in 2007 and via the West Coast in 2008.

Boat Name : Nips N Tux

Sail Number : 5995

LOA : 12.10M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.092)

Designer : Jeppesen, Niels

Launch Year :2000

Type : IMX 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 6

Hull Colour : Blue Light

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Howard De Torres (8)
Owner/Skipper : Howard De Torres (8)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : M De Torres (5), J Allen (7), F Walker (5), J Dann, C Wilson (1), T Cutfield (1)

“Nips N Tux - Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2006”
© Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Notes : Aptly named by her plastic surgeon owner, this is the first IMX 40 in Australia. from Denmark, this design sailed up a storm in 2000 across the European regatta in 2000.

For de Torres, she was 1st IMS Telstra Cup, going on to win the 2000 Strathfield Pittwater to Coffs race. Continued her excellent form, was the overall pointscore winner in IMS and IRC for CYCA summer offshore pointscore 2001 to 2002 season.

Went on to win the 2003-2004 Bluewater Pointscore after a number of excellent offshore results, including 3rd overall, winning IMS B and 2nd in IRC B, in in the 2003 Hobart race.

Boat Name : NSC Mahligai

Sail Number : NZL1

LOA : 14.20M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.1993)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :1998

Type : Sydney 46

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : Foam E Glass

Owner : Jenny Kings (4)
Owner : Jenny Kings (4)
Owner/Skipper : Murray Owen (5)
Owner/Skipper : Murray Owen (5)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : T Spencer (2), M Gentry, S Gorrel (1), D Brown (1),C Price, Q Wright, J McSherry, C Neil, J Kings, M Owen, A McKay, J Findlay,

“Mahligai under kite Day 3 - 2005 Kings Cup”
Sail-World.com /AUS ©

Notes : Designed by Murray Burns Dovell, this Sydney 46 has spent much of her life racing in Asia. Mahligai was purchased by Murray and Jenny Kings some years ago and her home is now the CYCA.

Mahligai finished first in PHS Division 1 of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. She placed 9th in Division B of the Audi Winter Series 2009. In 2008, Mahligai was first on PHS and IRC in the Bird Island race.

Boat Name : One For The Road

Sail Number : N9

LOA : 12.13M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.035)

Designer : Jutson

Launch Year :2003

Type : Northshore 370

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : Blue Navy

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Kym Butler (2)
Owner/Skipper : Kym Butler (2)

Club: Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Crew : A. Kiely (2) A. Butler (2) G Bulmer (1)M Macdonald(1)Glen Picasso(6)Mark Graham(3)C Frost

“One for the Road - Audi Sydney-Newcastle 2009 - 27/03/09”
Andrea Francolini / Audi ©

Notes : Since acquiring the yacht in December 2006, CYCA Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year for 2008 Kym Butler and his crew including CYCA Crewman of the year Tony Purkiss, have contested most of the long races on the NSW coast including Audi Sydney Gold Coast in 2007 and 2008 - finishing fourth & fifth in their division respectively.

Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race in 2008 and 2009 – finishing third in IRC Division 3, Pittwater-Coffs Harbour 2008, Gosford-Lord Howe Island 2008 (3rd on IRC) and Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008.

One for the Road sails out of Newcastle Harbour with the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club where she was IRC offshore point-score winner last summer. Kym and the crew have been steadily improving and are hoping for a podium finish in their division

Boat Name : Paca

Sail Number : 6812

LOA : 12.24M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.084)

Designer : Bruce Farr

Launch Year :2009

Type : Beneteau First

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Philippe Mengual
Owner/Skipper : Philippe Mengual
Principal/starting helm : Philippe Mengual

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Philippe Mengual, P Peche, S Davis (1), C Warren (1), P Defloux, E Pherels, V Tarbet, W Burrell, R Williams, R Sturch

“Paca - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Notes : Paca was launched in 2009 and participated in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Paca stands for Provence Alpes Côte d’ Azure, originates from.

Participating in offshore races and particularly the RSHR is the primary goal for Paca which has been optimized for offshore races while staying within an amateur budget.

Its 10 crew, consist of five nationalities and come from different offshore racing and cruising experiences.

Philippe Péché the sailing master has a prestigious yachting career and won in 2005 the Jules Verne Trophy around the world in 50 days and 16 hours.

Boat Name : Papillon

Sail Number : N 40

LOA : 11.99M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.093)

Designer : Nivelt/Joubert

Launch Year :2005

Type : Archambault 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Phil Molony (20)
Owner/Skipper : Phil Molony (20)

Crew : K Jagger (30), R Makin (1), A Lawrence (4), B Kelly (2), M Blaxall (11)

“Papillon - Savills Regatta 2007”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Papillon was brought to Sydney, from Newcastle, early in 2007 by experienced ocean racing yachtsman Phil Molony to campaign offshore. Papillon is an Archambault 40, a design that has achieved great success on IRC in Europe and Australia.

Papillon has competed in the last two Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races and is currently contesting the CYCA’s Blue Water Pointscore Series 2009-10; having finished second in 2008-09 Tasman Pointscore Series (PHS).

Boat Name : Patrice Six

Sail Number : 360

LOA : 12.50M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.119)

Designer : Jeppesen, Niels

Launch Year :2007

Type : X41 one design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP Foam Sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Tony Kirby (27)
Owner/Skipper : Tony Kirby (27)
Principal/starting helm : tony kirby

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : A Young (18), D Doyle (16), A Foster (16), A McConaghy (3), M Formosa (21), B Searl (1), P Craig

“Patrice Six puts her competitors under pressure. - Huon Aquaculture Sailing South Regatta”
Jane Austin

Notes : Patrice Six is an X41 from Denmark built and launched just prior to 2007 Hobart. She finished fifteenth overall and 21st in IRC Div D. She then went on to win the January 2008 Sailing South Regatta.

Patrice Six finished fifth overall and third in IRC Division 3 in 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart. In the major testing of the ORCi rule in Australia, Patrice Six finished third in the 2009 Hobart.

She finished ninth in the CYCA’s 2009/2010 Blue Water Pointscore Series.

Boat Name : Pinta - M

Sail Number : NED 1261

LOA : 12.39M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 0.972)

Designer : Sparkman & Stephens

Launch Year :1972

Type : S & S 41

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : Aluminium

Owner/Skipper : Atse Blei (1)
Owner/Skipper : Atse Blei (1)

Club: WVL & RORC

Crew : B Visser, J Zijlmans (1), R Van Der Linden (1), B Leerling, R Van de Veen, D Waeckens, M Rueter

“Pinta - M - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Pinta-M has raced successfully offshore on the North Sea and placed fifth overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2005. Like the S & S 47 Love & War, which claimed overall honours in the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Pinta-M performs exceptionally well upwind in a stiff breeze.

The boat has remained in Australia since last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, where she finished third in IRC Division 4. Blei together with his keen crew will be pushing hard again this year to try and improve on last year’s results.

Boat Name : Pippin

Sail Number : 533

LOA : 11.40M

Division : Cruising Division (TCC : 0.0)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1984

Type : Farr 37

No of Sydney to Hobart: 13

Hull Colour : Black

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Roger Sayers (6)
Owner/Skipper : Roger Sayers (6)

Club: Noosa Heads Yacht Club

Crew : I Pizzey (5), A Bown (2), D Mair (3), C Holliday (4), P Deppler (1), S Minchin (2), C Doschert

“Roger Sayers Pippin after start”
Teri Dodds ©

Notes : Update 2009-12-26: Pippin has retired to due a high pressure hose failure on its engine for recharging batteries and it can not be fixed at sea

Pippin is a well sailed Farr 37 with 12 Hobart races to her credit. She finished second in the IRC B in Southport 2000, second on PHS in 1996 Hobart, second in 2000 Combined clubs and 7th in IRC in 2002 Hobart.

Boat Name : Polaris of Belmont

Sail Number : 5527

LOA : 13.30M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 0.9259)

Designer : Cole, Peter

Launch Year :1970

Type : Cole 43

No of Sydney to Hobart: 24

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP/Balsa Core

Owner/Skipper : Chris Dawe (6)
Owner/Skipper : Chris Dawe (6)
Principal/starting helm : Chris Dawe

Club : Manly Yacht Club

Crew : Greg Nosworthy (3), Bob McClung (1), Campbell Thomson (1), Deanna Smyth, Dena Hogben, Gerry Smith, Julie Means

“Polaris of Belmont - Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2006”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : One of the veterans of the race, this 40-year-old sloop entered this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart to have another crack at some silverware.

In her 25 races to Hobart this sturdy Peter Cole-designed 43-footer has scored several division wins and also placed second in the IRC division in 2001. Polaris won the PHS Division of the 2008 and 2010 Hempel Gosford – Lord Howe Island Race and finished third in 2009. She also won the 1997 Gosford – Lord Howe Island Race.

Her Hobart results alone include:
1st Overall IRC 2001;
1st B Div IRC 2000;
1st C Div IMS 1997;
2nd C Div IMS 1996;
1st C Div IMS 1995.

Boat Name : Pretty Fly III

Sail Number : 10007

LOA : 15.24M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.364)

Designer : Farr

Launch Year :2005

Type : Cookson 50

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Owner/Skipper : Colin Woods (4)
Owner/Skipper : Colin Woods (4)

Club: CYCA

Crew : S Grellis (17), G Marshall (5), G Clarke (4), B Schandevil (1), S Wilson, D Brown (3), D Eagle (4), S Merrall (3)

“Pretty Fly III (nee Pussy Galore) (Photo provided by CYCA)”
. ©

Notes : Pretty Fly III (nee Pussy Galore) This canting keel Cookson 50 is certainly to be reckoned with in the 50' class. Pretty Fly III finished sixth in IRC Divison 0 in 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart and 30th in the testing of the ORCi rating that was run parallel to the IRC rating system.

In the 2010 Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race in March this year, Pretty Fly III finished 6th across the line, fifth in IRC Division 0/1 and first in ORCi division and followed this up with a second in ORCi division of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in August.

As Pussy Galore she won an Auckland to Fiji race.

Boat Name : Quest

Sail Number : 52002

LOA : 15.84M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.343)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2004

Type : TP 52

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Bob Steel (18)
Owner/Skipper : Bob Steel (18)
Principal/starting helm : Michael Green

Club: CYCA

Crew : M. Green (30) N. Newton (4) S.Newton (3) H.Brodie (23) P Messenger (24) R. Higginson, J. Dock (9) A. Ferguson (4) C. Crafoord (23) J Harris (1) S McCuaig (1)

“Bob Steel's Quest at HIRW 2008 ”
Jack Atley©

Notes : Bob Steel returned to the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2008 after a five year break and won the race overall, collecting the Tattersall’s Cup for a second time. He had previously won the race in 2002 with his previous Quest, a Nelson/Marek 46.

His current Quest is a state-of-the-art TP52, (brought from the US where it raced as Bright Star), has notched up some impressive wins including 2009 NSW IRC State Champion, Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta (IRC Division 1), Sail Port Stephens (IRC Division 1), 2008 Skandia Geelong Week and finished 2nd over the line in the 2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race. He has crew of great experience including Mike Green who has sailed to Hobart 29 times.

Boat Name : Quetzalcoatl

Sail Number : 2001

LOA : 12.33M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0882)

Designer : Jones, Don

Launch Year :2001

Type : Jones 40

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : Yellow

Hull Construction : Timber Epoxy Composite

Owner/Skipper : Antony Sweetapple (7)
Owner/Skipper : Antony Sweetapple (7)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Mark Ayto(2), Anthony Bruce(2), Josh Ey (5), James Lee Warner(5), Nick Read(2), Aren Springbord(2), Antony Sweetapple(7), James Sweetapple(3), David Ulm,

“Quetzalcoatl - Savills Regatta 2007”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : The well-performed yacht Quetzalcoatl, a 40-footer, a development of the successful Cadibarra 7 was modified to create a more rounded yacht with more emphasis on windward performance, by its designer Don Jones.

However hard downwind and reaching conditions are still the boats forte. It was built in Hobart by its original owner, Tasmanian fine furniture maker Josh Ey, with the hull of King Billy pine.

She has scored two wins in the West Coaster Melbourne to Hobart Race, one on line honours and one on handicap in 2005.

The new owners are a syndicate of four including Antony Sweetapple, the son of well known yachtsman Bill Sweetapple who raced the Farr 37 Pippin for many years with the CYCA.

Boat Name : Ragamuffin

Sail Number : AUS 70

LOA : 15.85M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.342)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2005

Type : TP52

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Syd Fischer (42)
Owner/Skipper : Syd Fischer (42)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : TBA

“Ragamuffin”
© Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Notes : Eighty three year-old Syd Fischer, a legend in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race history, is contesting his 46th offshore season and his 42nd race south as skipper of his latest Ragamuffin, a TP52 originally from San Diego.

Fischer won the Sydney Hobart overall in 1992 and took line honours twice with his German Frers-designed maxi Ragamuffin, in 1988 and 1990. Fischer was the CYCA’s Blue Water Champion (2007-2008), the ninth time he has held this coveted title.

Boat Name : Rán

Sail Number : GBR 7236 R

LOA : 21.90M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.56)

Designer : Judel Vrolijk

Launch Year :2009

Type : JV 72

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Satin Beige

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner : Niklas Zennstrom
Owner : Niklas Zennstrom
Skipper : Tim Powell (3)
Skipper : Tim Powell (3)
Principal/starting helm : Niklas Zennstrom

Club: Royal Southern YC

Crew : Steve Hayles (6), Jeremy Robinson (3), Adrian Stead (2), Chris Dougall (3), Garry Bainbridge, Guy Reid (3), Andy Hemmings, Richard Bouzaid (5), Chris Hoskins (7), James Stagg, Jon Taylor (1), Mo Gray, Richard Meacham (2), Matteo Auguadro, Wille Beavis, Lou Varney (3), Scott Crawford, Catherine Zennstrom, Tim Powell (2)

Notes : UK based Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán, a 72-footer from the design board of the noted German-based naval architects Judel-Vrolijk, was launched in April 2009. While conditions inthe 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race favoured the larger boats, Rán sailed an impressive race to win overall.

The crew of Rán is a veritable who’s who of international offshore yachtsmen including Volvo Ocean Race veterans Tim Powell (skipper) and Steven Hayles (navigator).

Following last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race Rán returned to the Mediterranean to win the Mini Maxi Division 00 of the Maxi World Rolex Cup in Sardinia in September, beating Neville Crichton’s RP71 Alfa Romeo 3. In her debut Rolex Sydney Hobart last year, Ran won IRC Division 1 and placed 6th overall.

After staying in Sydney for the early part of 2010 and making modifications to the boat with the most notable a reduction in the weight of the bulb to improve the light wind performance, Ran returned to Europe via Antigua winning her class and the USA winning her class (Class 10 Gibbs Hill Division) in the 2010 Newport to Bermuda race. She went on to win her division in the 2010 Copa Del Ray regatta in August and won the inaugural 2010 Mini Maxi World Championships in Sardinia.

Boat Name : Rapture

Sail Number : MAR 1005

LOA : 30.20M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.476)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2007

Type : Farr

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Jeff Hanlon (2)
Jeff Hanlon (2)
Principal/starting helm : Jason Beaver

Club: Harmony Hall, Antigua

Crew : M Humphries, tactician (5), M Broughton (4), W Benson (4), Anthony Hussy (1), J Beaver (7), D Goff (1), R Donald (1), John Butcher , Garteh Griffiths, Mike Mclean(1) Paul Hunt (1) Roger Snell (2)Brook Lenfest (1) Jeff Hanlon (2) Mark )cchilupo ,Pascal Rieva, Glen Attrill ( 8 ) David Collins (5) , Matthew Jeffries , Anita van der Werf.

Notes : Rapture is a Farr 100 performance cruiser built by Southern Wind Shipyards in Cape Town South Africa in 2007.

Owned by a prominent American businessman Brook Lenfest and crewed with a mix of Australian and international sailors she has so far completed over 24,000 miles in her first 22 months in the water.

Rapture raced for the first time in the Heineken Regatta, St Martin 2008 and then sailed to Sardinia where she raced in the Super Yacht Cup, followed by the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta.

Currently on a circumnavigation voyage, Rapture arrived in Sydney in early December.

Lenfest is keen to tackle another Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race after competing in the 2002 race on his previous yacht, a Swan 86.

Boat Name : Ray White Castle Hill Tartan	Sail Number : 3846
LOA : 11.62M	Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.004)
Designer : Kaufmann, Hank	Launch Year :1984
Type : Norhshore 38	No of Sydney to Hobart: 2
	Hull Construction : GRP
Owner : Ian Sanford (1) Owner : Ian Sanford (1) Skipper : Bruce Moore (1) Skipper : Bruce Moore (1)
Crew : Dave Copley (2), I Sanford (1), B King (1), G Sanford (1), G Lamont
Notes : Ray White Castle Hill Tartan has served her apprenticeship over the last few seasons. 'It is now time to cast aside PHS & take on IRC' said owner Ian Sanford. She has had a busy six month campaign of offshore racing including Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Brisbane to Great Keppel Island, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and now the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009. Working with the same crew for the last three seasons, Sanford has achieved some noteable results since taking ownership of Tartan in 2007 including 5th in PHS Division B in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2007, fourth in PHS in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2007, 2nd PHS in Audi Sydney Mackay Race 2007 and 3rd PHS Audi Sydney Gold Coast 2008.
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Boat Name : Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo

Sail Number : 2170

LOA : 14.80M

Division : ORCi Division 1 (TCC : 0.9602)

Designer : Sparkman & Stephens

Launch Year :1968

Type : S&S 49

No of Sydney to Hobart: 25

Hull Construction : Timber Cold Moulded

Owner :
Owner :
Owner/Skipper : Mike Freebairn (7)
Owner/Skipper : Mike Freebairn (7)

Crew : P White (6), A Reed (6), J Moody (2), B Harburg (2

“Spirit of Koomooloo (nee Margaret Rintoul II, Ragamuffin)”
Richard Bennett

Notes : Her crew of Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron ocean racers have tremendous faith in the champion who has the distinction of representing Australia in the Admirals Cup in England and completing the tortuous Fastnet Race on the North Sea.

She is essentially a past generation blue water racer but her crew of good mates believe that age and her extensive log of racing miles will not present a problem when the fleet head into another physical bash against wind and wave on the Tasman Sea.

Several of her crew also manned the deck of the equally famous Koomooloo when she was reported as the progressive race leader on overall corrected handicap after a torrid first night in 2006. Unfortunately their challenge turned from glory to gloom when the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race control centre received a May Day from the crew indicating the majestic timber sloop had sprung a leak and was in peril.

Her crew bailed with buckets in a valiant effort to save the grand old sloop but the inflow of water eventually left the Koomooloo crew with the heart wrenching decision to commission the life raft and abandon-ship before the famous sloop plummeted to the ocean floor.

Spirit of Koomooloo designed by the famed loft of Sparkman and Stephens who has a long and colourful history sailing as the original Ragamuffin and then Margaret Rintoul II including contesting 25 Rolex Sydney Hobarts, three Admiral’s Cups - 1969, 1971 and 1973, and a Fastnet Race Win in 1971, skippered by Syd Fischer.

Best Rolex Sydney Hobart results include a second to Love & War in the 30 year veterans division of the 50th race in 1994 and a division win in the storm swept 1998 race

She also has the pedigree to upset the modern sloops with her chances hinging on a forecast that provides a high percentage of windward sailing.

Boat Name : Rush

Sail Number : B45

LOA : 13.81M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.229)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Type : Corel 45

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Construction : Kevlar

Owner : Ian Paterson
Owner : Ian Paterson
Owner/Skipper : John Paterson (9)
Owner/Skipper : John Paterson (9)

Club : RBYC

Crew : P. Greenwood (4), M. Bunyard (4), T. Cembala (2), M. Bushby (2), R. Hudson (1), M. Quezti (1), S. Tedstone (1), J. Ezard, P. Davies (4), A. Lambert (5), I. Sheeky (1)

Notes : Built to compete on the International 45’ circuit, circa 1997, Rush has contested most of the major Victorian offshore races and regattas and is returning for her fifth Rolex Sydney Hobart with much the same crew as the last couple of races.

Rush placed 5th in IRC Division 2 in the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008 and in the 2007 Sydney Hobart placed 19th IRC overall in the 2007 race, 6th in division

Boat Name : Sailors with disABILITIES

Sail Number : 7878

LOA : 16.20M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.2693)

Designer : Lyons, David

Launch Year :2000

Type : Lyons

No of Sydney to Hobart: 9

Hull Colour : Blue Light

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : David Pescud (18)
Owner/Skipper : David Pescud (18)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : 1. David Pescud 2. Adam Burt 3. Albert Lee 4. Bill Watkins 5. Brett Pearce 6. Cathy Josling 7. David Leslie 8. Brett Pelham 9. Jo Thatcher 10. Kirk Watson 11.Mark Thomson 12. Liesl Tesch 13. Mark Whiteman 14. Al Grundy

Notes : Sailors With disABILITIES won the PHS Division A of the 2007 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, and in the 2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast race she placed 13th in the PHS division

In past years, she has sailed to Hobart seven times under different guises – Aspect Computing, Kaz and now Sailors with disABILITIES. in 2007 she sailed with 13 crew, of whom two were dyslexic, one was vision impaired and one hearing impaired, which made things interesting, according to Pescud.

One night down at the chart table when they were trying to tune the radio, those who couldn’t see the numbers recited to those who could and who could press the buttons.

In other years, Sailors With disABILITIES scored a PHS win in 2006 Sydney Mooloolaba and a second in the inaugural Sydney Mackay Yacht Race in the same year. In 2007, Sailors with Disabilities finished 13th in the PHS division of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and was one of five competitors who took on the Audi Sydney Mackay Yacht Race and finished with a win in the PHS Division.

This specially designed 54-footer which can accommodate up to five wheelchairs on board, has contested every east coast regatta and offshore race since being launched in 2000. With their previous boat, Pescud and his crew won PHS Division A of the storm battered 1998 Sydney Hobart. Sailors With disABILITIES also holds the monohull circumnavigation of Australia record.

Boat Name : Salona

Sail Number : S3274

LOA : 11.29M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.01)

Designer : J & J

Launch Year :2006

Type : Salona 37

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Construction : GRP

Skipper : Darren Cooney (5)
Skipper : Darren Cooney (5)
Owner/Skipper : Phillip King (8)
Owner/Skipper : Phillip King (8)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : N Wilson (1), E Wilson (1), J Roberts (3), P Davis (1)

Notes : This German designed yacht was built in Croatia but had a string of misfortunes in her first couple of seasons in Australia, including steering failure in her first Hobart Race and a broken mast in the 2007 Sydney Southport Race.

She completed the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart, but placed well down the PHS results, but has since placed 5th in PHS in the 2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race.

Owner/skipper Phillip King has had some impressive ocean racing results, including winning races from Adelaide to Robe and Adelaide to Kangaroo Island was well as winning Division A of the 1984 Sydney Hobart with Patrice III.

Boat Name : Seahold Perie Banou II

Sail Number : R4

LOA : 11.77M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 0.943)

Designer : Sparkman & Stephens

Launch Year :1971

Type : S & S 39

No of Sydney to Hobart: 7

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Jon Sanders (6)
Owner/Skipper : Jon Sanders (6)

Crew : L Rock (1), R Stainton (2), M Barwick (3)

Notes : West Australian sailing icon Jon Sanders is back to campaign this veteran yacht, (formally Pilgrim) which has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Sanders is famous for his achievements in single-handed round-the-world sailing, namely a triple non-stop circumnavigation in 1988.

Jon has raced to Hobart six times, placing 3rd overall in 1984, and has contested races to Bali and from Plymouth, England, to Fremantle in 1979, finishing 2nd overall. Jon teams up with an experienced group of Western Australia ocean sailors who have sailed many miles together, both in Australia and overseas.

Boat Name : Secret Mens Business 3.5

Sail Number : YC3300

LOA : 15.61M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.337)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2009

Type : Reichel Pugh 51

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Geoff Boettcher (21)
Owner/Skipper : Geoff Boettcher (21)
Principal/starting helm : Geoff Boettcher

Club : CYCSA

Crew : G Boettcher (20), S Kemp (6), N Bice (8), J Freeman (23), C Howard (3), M Dunstan (7), D Oliver (4), C Cook (4), M Fullarton (13), T Cowen (6), S Harris (8), A Common (1), J Clark (1), R Fidock (11)

“Secret Mens Business 3”
Rolex

Notes : Secret Mens Business 3.5 is the SMB3 which was relaunched in late 2009.

Launched in 2008, as Secret Mens Business 3, she raced the Australian IRC circuit the with mixed success but was returned to Hart Marine in Mornington (VIC) where Designers Reichel Pugh gave the boat a make over by adding a metre to the length of SMB3 and modifying the sail plan creating SMB 3.5.

Skipper Boettcher will be racing to Hobart for the 22nd time with a very experienced crew.

Boat Name : SES Inch by Winch	Sail Number : 393
LOA : 13.86M	Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0002)
Designer : Peterson	Launch Year :1980
Type : Peterson 44	No of Sydney to Hobart: 5
	Hull Construction : Aluminium
Owner/Skipper : Andrew Wenham (3) Owner/Skipper : Andrew Wenham (3)	Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia
Crew : D Burt, M Tyrrell, P Schoeffell (3), Phil Chisholm (3)
Notes : Inch by Winch was originally built for the 1981 Admirals Cup but narrowly missed selection in that series. Following a very successful racing career including first places in the Sydney Gold Coast and the Lord Howe Island yacht races, she was retired to the Whitsundays. In 2007, she returned to Sydney and underwent an extensive overhaul in preparation for a new racing career, competing in last year’s Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
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Boat Name : Shamrock

Sail Number : M330

LOA : 14.21M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.279)

Designer : Reichel Pugh

Launch Year :2004

Type : Reichel Pugh 47

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Tony Donnellan (1)
Owner/Skipper : Tony Donnellan (1)

Club: Mornington Yacht Club

Crew : Timothy Donnellan, J Donnellan, T Neate, A Parker, P Dynes, R Jackson, A Keep, P Emet, J Grover, R Kenner, P Karay, G Farrow

“'Shamrock' (formerly Secret Mens Business 2) won the Melbourne to 2008 Hobart Eastcoaster. © Teri Dodds - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart”
John Curnow/ORCV

Notes : Shamrock, (formerly Secret Mens Business 2), is a new boat for owner Tony Donnellan has campaigned her out of Mornington Yacht Club, since last year. His first offshore race was the Melbourne – Hobart east coaster in which he won line honours in IRC & PHS Division. She also won IRC Division 1 in this year’s Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

She finished 11th in IRC Division 2 in the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart

Boat Name : She

Sail Number : 4924

LOA : 12.23M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 0.9321)

Designer : Mull, Gary

Launch Year :1981

Type : Olsen 40 Modified

No of Sydney to Hobart: 12

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Peter Rodgers (13)
Owner/Skipper : Peter Rodgers (13)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : C. Apps (1), A. Ozls (5), B. Cohen (6), P. Samuelson, J. Lewis, M. O'Dea

“SHE, Sail Number: 4924, Skipper: Peter Rodgers, State: NSW, Division: PHS, Design: Olsen 40 MOD, LOA (m): 12, Draft: 2.28 - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : This 'golden oldie' of ocean racing has been sailed by Peter and his crew in 16 Rolex Sydney Hobart Races and 12 Lord Howe Island Races, as well as various NSW coastal races.

Good results have been achieved in the races to Hobart, second across both divisions PHS in 2008, 1st in 2009,amongst earlier placings

Tasman Light is owner Peter Rodgers' nemisis, 'having have parked alongside at night for many hours many times sliding slowly down the list from first into madness'

The 28 year old Mull 40 is built for comfort rather than speed. There is however a few wooden plaques on She's wall and a fair bit of silver in the cupboard.

Peter Rodgers states 'that the rewards came about in line with our borrowed motto 'Treachery and old age will always overcome youth and skill' upheld by the prodominantly legalistic and absolutely unscrupulous all male crew. '

The crew describe the yacht as a mix of Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo all in one, and is benefiting from the a bum tuck and nose job operation in 2005

Boat Name : She's The Culprit

Sail Number : 370

LOA : 11.96M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.109)

Designer : Jones, Don

Launch Year :1994

Type : Inglis 39

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : GRP/Balsa Core

Owner/Skipper : Todd Leary (2)
Owner/Skipper : Todd Leary (2)

Club : Bellerive Yacht Club

Crew : Todd Leary, Rod Chamberlain, Grant Davis, George Peacock, Paul Nanscawen, Tim Cubit, Matt Cubit, Mark Jeffery, Daniel Followes, Stuart Wells.

Notes : Tasmanian yacht She’s the Culprit will seek vengeance in the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for the heartbreaking crash that forced the boat out of the 2009 race, just 30 minutes after the start on Sydney Harbour.

In 2009, as the holed 39-footer and her crew limped back to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay owner/skipper Todd Leary decided to hang up his sailing boots for good, and put the yacht on the market.

But, in true Aussie spirit, Leary and his crew have decided to ‘have another go’ and again take on the 628 nautical mile blue water classic - and this time make it home to Hobart.

Leary said that for months he was unable to face looking at She’s the Culprit, and listed her for sale. But, buoyed by his crew’s enthusiasm, Leary decided just months ago to give it another shot and entered.. 'I want to do this for the crew, so we can finish what we started, it’s not about the result, it’s about getting to the finish in Hobart together.’’ ’’ he added.

Boat Name : Shepherd Centre

Sail Number : 11407

LOA : 11.92M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.066)

Designer : Briand, Phillipe

Type : Beneteau 40.7

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Hugh Torode (3)
Owner/Skipper : Hugh Torode (3)

Club: RSYS

Crew : I Douglas (2), J Thomas (1), D Sharp (8), G Ritchie (2), P Monk (1), J Torode, K Evans, C O'Neill, I Burchett

“Pelagic Magic”
. .

Notes : Pelagic Magic is Shepherd Centre for the 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

Dr Hugh Torode purchased Pelagic Magic in December 2008 with the specific intent to race her in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Pelagic took to the start line and finished 67th across the line, 44th IRC Overall, and 15th in IRC Division 4.

Pelagic Magic competed in 2010 Audi Victoria Week on her return passage home to Sydney, where she was crewed by family members. She competed in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta and in the CYCA's Blue Water Pointscore.

Boat Name : Shining Sea

Sail Number : 6338

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.11)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :2002

Type : Sydney 38 One Design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : Andrew Corletto (1)
Owner/Skipper : Andrew Corletto (1)
Principal/starting helm : Andrew Corletto

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of South Australia

Crew : M. Warman (4), D. Ottaway (3), N. Wilhelm (1), P. Flaherty (2), J. Dinham, A. Corletto, D. Poole, P. Judge, L. McGrath

“Shining Sea”
Simon Reffold

Notes : Sailing under the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia burgee, the Sydney 38 Shining Sea will be embarking on her second Rolex Sydney Hobart with an experienced and successful crew which includes Sydney Hobart race veterans and multiple Premier’s Cup and Lincoln Race week winners.

Shining Sea is showing good racing form, securing first place in the 2010 CYCSA’s Offshore PHS Pointscore, winning PHS Division in the 2010 Lincoln Race Week, third in the 2010 Adelaide - Pt Lincoln Race and first in the 2010 CYCSA Winter Series.

Boat Name : Shogun.. .

Sail Number : 6952

LOA : 15.24M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.358)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2005

Type : Cookson 50

No of Sydney to Hobart: 4

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : Carbon, foam

Owner/Skipper : Rob Hanna (5)
Owner/Skipper : Rob Hanna (5)

Club : Royal Yacht Club Of Victoria

Crew : J Bennett (7), B Decoster (4), S Kirkjian (14), B Garner (3), C Baretta (5), S Haines

Notes : Geelong yachtsman Rob Hanna bought this conventional keel Cookson 50 (she started with a canting keel), the former Living Doll, from his friend Michael Hiatt following this year's Meridien Airlie Beach Race Week and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in which the boat sailed most impressively.

She finished equal first with the canting keel Cookson 50 Quantum Racing at Airlie Beach, losing out on countback, and third in the IRC Grand Prix division at Hamilton Island to Cougar II and Quest. His crew includes sailmaker Tony Bull and yacht designer Robert Hick.

As Living Doll she placed 11th overall on IRC results in her debut Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2005 and retired from racing in the 2006 race due to the Green Cape rule. In the 2007 Polex Sydney to Hobart she placed 5th in IRC Division B.

The 2008 race was a disaster for her with a disqualification.

2009 racing saw her fifth over the line in the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race, second in the NSW IRC state championship and completed the Brisbane to Gladstone race with a fourth in IRC overall & IRC Division 1 and fifth over the line.

Boat Name : Shortwave

Sail Number : 52052

LOA : 0.00M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.349)

Designer : Judel Vrolijk

Launch Year :2005

Type : IRC52

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Matthew Short (5)
Owner/Skipper : Matthew Short (5)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Christine Short, Kylie Short, Nikki Short (1), Caitlin Short, Sarah Short, Matthew Smejlis, Ryan Short,Nicholas Short, Ian Short (10), Glen Cooper (5), Mathew W. Short (1), Peter Britt (8),James Craddock (3), Anthony Guy (6), James Warner

Notes : Shortwave is a newly imported Judel Vrolijk designed former TP52 (ex Cristabella) that has been modified for offshore sailing as an IRC52 in the UK before coming to Australia in early March 2008.

She is crewed by a large contingent of the Short family, with 11 family members on board, headed by Matthew & Christine, with 4 keen sailing daughters Kylie, Nikki, Caitlin & Sarah Short as well as sailmaker Ian and his son Mathew Short, and two of Andrew Short's sons, Ryan and Nicholas. Kylie's husband Matt Smejlis is also on the crew as boat captain.

Some Results so far include:
2008 M2H Westcoaster - Line honours, New Race Record (better by over 5 hours)and 1st on IRC.

2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast result Line Honours 4th, IRC Overall 16th, IRC 1, 4th

Boat Name : St Jude

Sail Number : 6686

LOA : 14.20M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.18)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :2007

Type : Sydney 47CR

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Construction : Foam E Glass

Owner/Skipper : Noel Cornish (4)
Owner/Skipper : Noel Cornish (4)

Club: CYCA

Crew : M Shepperd (2), D Shepperd (2), A Liddle (1), B deHaas (1), R Shand (1), C McKay, R Salmon, M Tilden, P Binstadt, J McPherson, T Robertson

“St Jude”
CYCA Staff - copyright

Notes : Launched in December 2007, St Jude was the sixth Sydney 47 out of the mould at Azzura Yachts. She sailed her first offshore race in the 2008 Australia Day Ocean Pointscore Race to Botany Bay and return, and won on IRC.

She finished fourth in IRC Division 2 of the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart and won the PHS Division in the 2009/2010 CYCA Ocean Pointscore

Cornish's personal record includes winning the 1999 Adelaide - Port Lincoln Race overall in his then Beneteau FC10, Subjude. Jude is a common theme name for his boats as his wife's name is Judith

Boat Name : Strewth .

Sail Number : 6188

LOA : 14.97M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.163)

Designer : Lyons, David

Launch Year :2002

Type : MKL49

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Skipper :
Skipper :
Owner/Skipper : Geoff Hill (9)
Owner/Skipper : Geoff Hill (9)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Bruce Gould (40), Ralph Carlier (29), Richard Grimes (20), R Snow (9), G Bauchop (13), E Adriaanse (20), B Collis (6), S Wall (7), R Stubbs (5), M Stoechel (6).

Notes : After racing this comfortable cruiser/racer in a couple of Rolex Sydney Hobarts, Geoff Hill took the boat to England to contest the 2005 Cowes Week and the Fastnet Race. Returning via Hong Kong, he sailed Strewth to victory in the Premier Cruising division of the King’s Cup at Phuket in 2006.

Strewth has a good racing record in Asia having won the 2005 Hong Kong – Hainan. 2006 was an outstanding year for Strewth in Performance Cruising. She won the Koh Samui Regatta ,the China Coast Regatta, the Hong Kong - Vietnam Race and the prestigious Kings Cup Premier Cruising division in 2008.

Geoff has gathered a crew of good mates who are full of experience and boast over 100 Hobarts between them including Bruce Gould who is competing in his 40th Sydney Hobart, Ralph Carlier (29) and Richard Grimes and Erik Adriaanse (20).

Boat Name : Suesea

Sail Number : F310

LOA : 14.90M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.249)

Designer : Marten

Type : Marten 49

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Owner/Skipper : Brian Todd
Owner/Skipper : Brian Todd

Crew : M Giles (1), M Piesse (1), J Mulcahy, M Anderson, P Hanson, A Stock, S Duffy, S Anderson, P Todd

Notes : Sue Sea, a Marten 49, is a relatively new boat which has participated in this year’s Club Marine Cruise to Hobart and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

She has circumnavigated Australia and raced from Fremantle to Albany, competing in many local offshore races conducted by Fremantle Sailing Club.

Boat Name : Swish

Sail Number : 6073

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.104)

Designer : Murray, Burns & Dovell

Launch Year :2001

Type : Sydney 38 One Design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP/Balsa Core

Owner/Skipper : Steve Proud (3)
Owner/Skipper :
Owner/Skipper : Steve Proud (3)
Owner/Skipper :
Principal/starting helm : Steve Proud

Club : Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Crew : K. Meyboom (2), G. Barnum(2), A. Proud (1), D. Sturrock (3), J. Scholton (16), T. Quick(3), P. Meyboom, J. Meyboom, T. Scardifield

“SWISH, Sail Number: 6073, Skipper: Steven Proud, State: NSW, Division: IRC / OD, Design: Sydney 38, LOA (m): 11.78, Draft: 2.63 - (2009 Rolex Sydeny to Hobart)”
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Notes : The team on Swish are out to repeat their success on last years race when they won the Sydney 38OD Division and came 4th overall in IRC. Swish is a regular offshore campaigner out of Sydney.

This will be the boats 4th Hobart race and she has also competed in each of the last nine Sydney to Gold Coast Races as well as many other events including Pittwater to Coffs Harbour, Newcastle Offshore and others.

Swish is the current holder of the One Ton Cup for the Sydney 38OD Division in the 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race when she was also 2nd in IRC3, 2nd in ORCi and 4th in IRC overall. Other successes include 4th in IRC overall in both 2008 and 2009, winner of IRC3 in 2009 and 2nd in 2008 in the Sydney to Gold Coast Race. Swish also races successfully in short offshore and inshore races around Sydney.

Boat Name : The Goat

Sail Number : 7027

LOA : 11.78M

Division : IRC Division 3 (TCC : 1.107)

Designer : Murray, Burns, Dovell

Launch Year :2003

Type : Sydney 38 One Design

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner : Mitchell Gordon (12)
Owner : Bruce Foye (9)
Owner : Mitchell Gordon (12)
Owner : Bruce Foye (9)
Principal/starting helm : Bruce Foye

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : B Foye (10),M. Gordon (12), S. Leslie (4), S. Price (6), , P. Tarimo (5), J Clayton (0), Sam Sexton (0), Sam Hunt (13), James Francis (2),M Blaxall (2)

“The Subzero Goat turns around the top mark - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008”
Crosbie Lorimer

Notes : Formerly Estate Master, The Goat is a Sydney 38 with good credentials including a first and second at the Sydney 38 Nationals. The boat is being campaigned under new owners, including 1993 Sydney Hobart overall winning co-skipper Bruce Foye.

The Goat's name is derived from Foye's Hobart winner Wild Oats (which has for many years been affectionately been referred to as 'the Goat' The Goat's debut ocean race ended prematurely when it retired from the Audi Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race. Foye and his crew went on to place seventh in the Sydney 38 division of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast in July 2007.

The Goat won the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart One Ton Cup and One Class Division. In 2008 The Goat won the Sydney 38 and IRC Division 3 and third overall IRC in the Sydney Southport Race.

The Goat came second in division in the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

Boat Name : Tow Truck

Sail Number : M6

LOA : 11.44M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.15)

Designer : Jason Ker

Launch Year :2001

Type : Ker 11.3

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Green

Hull Construction : Foam/Kevlar/Epoxy

Brett Filby
Brett Filby
Owner/Skipper : Anthony Paterson (8)
Owner/Skipper : Anthony Paterson (8)
Principal/starting helm : Anthony Paterson

Club : Lake Macquarie Yacht Club

Crew : B Filby (7), G Van Dijk (6), T Poulsen (3), P Williams (11), R Howard (6), W Howard (7), A Heenan (11), A May (3),W Wilkens(1)

“Anthony Paterson’s Ker 11.3 Tow Truck, currently third in the Blue Water Pointscore Series”
Andrea Francolini Photography ©

Notes : An extensive international search to find a replacement for Anthony Paterson's famous Mumm 30 Tow Truck has been completed with the discovery of this Jason Ker designed 11.3m racing yacht on the island of Jersey.

The Ker 11.3 is a semi popular one-design class from the design board of successful Spanish-based British designer Jason Ker.

The new Tow Truck was shipped in a car transport ship from Southampton and the crew have spent many hours racing together on Lake Macquarie.

An excellent result in her first Hobart race and there should be more to come.

Boat Name : Two True

Sail Number : YC400

LOA : 12.24M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.085)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2009

Type : Beneteau

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner : Andrew Saies (6)
Owner : Andrew Saies (6)
Principal/starting helm : Andrew Saies

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of South Australia

Crew : A. Saies (4), R. Human (14), M. Hutton (2), L. De Wit (2), B. Young (9) K. Kellow (2), J.Rowe(7), T. Lamond(3), D.Marshall, D.Connigrave,

Notes : Two True, a Farr-designed Beneteau First 40, won the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart after surviving a protest after an incident just after the start that saw one yacht retire (She's the Culprit) and another disqualified (Kioni) by the International Jury.

Two True also won the ORCi division, introduced into the race for the first time in 2009.

Two True is one of the new Beneteau First 40’s to hit Australian waters and is owned by Andrews Saies, representing the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia. In the boat’s first event, Saies scored a 3rd in IRC Grand Prix Division 2 at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2009 and Two True was named the CYCSA's Boat of the Year, having won 1st place in the club’s Musto Offshore Series.

In the boat’s first Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2009, Saies and his crew were declared the overall winners of the race, surviving a protest for an incident at the first rounding mark in Sydney Harbour. Saies continued on to Audi Victoria Week in January this year, where he collected second in IRC Division 2; and followed this up with a third at Lincoln Race Week in February.

Throughout 2010, she showed really good pace, finishing 6th in the Audi IRC Nationals with a divisional 2nd at Audi Victoria Week and 4th at Hamilton Island Race Week. In her home waters of South Australia, Two True was named the CYCSA's Boat of the Year, having won 1st place in the club’s Musto Offshore Series, Inshore series and state IRC titles.

Now she is back to see if she can do it again in 2010, however she has to overcome one small problem, and that is, finding a new mast to replace the one they broke whilst trying to get off a sandbank at low tide in Apollo Bay (VIC) on the 8th of December, 2010, en route from South Australia to get to the start line for the race.

Her second journey to Hobart was not to be: she suffered mast damage on her delivery to Sydney, was loaned a mast by fellow Beneteau owner CYCA Vice Commodore Howard Piggott Saies to make the Boxing Day start only to retire on the morning of the 28th December due to engine issues which prevented the batteries being charged. Saies was also named the CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year for 2009/2010.

Boat Name : Valheru

Sail Number : 1195

LOA : 13.05M

Division : IRC Division 2 (TCC : 1.207)

Designer : Elliott, Greg

Launch Year :1994

Type : Elliot 43

No of Sydney to Hobart: 10

Hull Construction : Aluminium

Owner/Skipper : Anthony Lyall (8)
Owner/Skipper : Anthony Lyall (8)

Club : Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Crew : P Brasington (16), P Hopkins (24), R Cohen (16), T Grafton (10), T Roberts (9), B Gadd (8)

Notes : Tony Lyall has competed in many ocean races, with a best result being line honours in all races of the 1994 Rudder Cup, which is the oldest sailing trophy in Australia, and is from Queenscliffe (Victoria) to Tasmania, across Bass Strait. He has also completed numerous Melbourne-Burnie and Melbourne-Devonport races.

This highly experienced crew will be looking for another top result after taking out second in division in the 1999 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race and third in division the year before.

Valheru was damaged and forced to retire following a collision soon after the start of the 2002 Sydney Hobart Race. During a protracted settlement case, it was confirmed she as the right of way boat. She has been repaired by builder Ian Milner and given a new rig configuration by Fred Barrett.

Boat Name : Wasabi

Sail Number : AUS88

LOA : 11.99M

Division : PHS Division 1 (TCC : 1.1964)

Designer : Sayer, Jon

Launch Year :2006

Type : Sayer 12 MO

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : Green

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Bruce McKay (2)
Owner/Skipper : Bruce McKay (2)
Principal/starting helm : Bruce McKay

Club : Cronulla Sailing Club

Crew : W. Langshaw, B. Swane (2), M. Tobin (2), G, Tobin (4) B. Lavin, A. Meriden. R Aasberg

“WASABI, Sail Number: AUS88, Skipper: Bruce McKay, State: NSW, Division: PHS, Design: Sayer 12, LOA (m): 11.99, Draft: 3 - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart)”
© Rolex/Daniel Forster

Notes : Wasabi was designed and built by Jon Sayer for the Melbourne to Osaka short-handed race for the previous Mooloolaba based owner.

Current owner Bruce McKay purchased Wasabi in June 2008 and has competed in all number of east coast races including two Sydney – Southport’s, ’09 Pittwater – Coffs Harbour, ’09 Lord Howe, Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks as well as the ’08, ’09 and ’10 summer offshore series at her home club, the Cronulla Sailing Club. Wasabi has also successfully campaigned 2 seasons with the SSAA (Short Handed Sailing Association of Australia).

Wasabi will be returning to defend her successful RSHYR debut outing, 1st place in PHS Division 1. The core of last year’s crew is returning with the addition of a couple of keen new trimmers.

As always, the Wasabi crew will be hoping for an off the breeze race to take advantage of her light weight and high downwind speeds.

Boat Name : Wave Sweeper

Sail Number : 7407

LOA : 11.92M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.061)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2000

Type : Beneteau 40.7

No of Sydney to Hobart: 7

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

G Stromov

G Stromov

Skipper : Andrey Arbuzov (1)
Skipper : Andrey Arbuzov (1)
Owner/Skipper : Morgan Rogers (2)
Owner/Skipper : Morgan Rogers (2)

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : M Rogers (1), M Ward (1), Z Jerome (1), G Scarlett (1), P Meakins, B Penty, J Todd, F Walker, G Stromov

Notes : Morgan Rogers liked Chancellor so much as crew he bought her off Ted Tooher, (but not the name), so he renamed her Wave Sweeper. She is an extensively tuned Beneteau 40.7, has a distinguished racing pedigree.

As Chancellor in the 2004 race she was running second in division before running out of crew, due to sea sickness, and retired just north of Flinders Island. She retired from the 2005 Gosford to Lord Howe race with electrical problems but finished 5th in division in the 2005 Hobart race.

This will be the seventh Rolex Sydney Hobart for this hard working yacht. She was also known as Le Billet

Boat Name : Wicked

Sail Number : SM4

LOA : 12.24M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 1.088)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :2009

Type : Beneteau

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Skipper : Mark Welsh
Skipper : Mark Welsh
Owner/Skipper : Mike Welsh
Owner/Skipper : Mike Welsh
Principal/starting helm : Mike Welsh

Club : Sandringham Yacht Club

Crew : Mike Welsh (2) Mark Welsh (3), A. Dawson (2), A. Ghattas (1), C. Zonca (1), L. Steers, G. Smith (2), G. Morris (5)

Notes : Wicked is one of the new generation Beneteau First 40s in Australia and this will be the boat’s inaugural Rolex Sydney Hobart. Mike Welsh and his son Mark will lead a team of experienced sailors from Sandringham Yacht Club. Wicked placed 4th on IRC and 1st AMS in their first ocean race - Melbourne-Stanley in November 2009 as their Sydney-Hobart qualifier.

The team has had considerable success in their last boat Alien, including winning IRC Division 3 Skandia Geelong Week 2008 and IRC division of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Melbourne-Vanuatu series in 2006. Alien also placed second in PHS Division B in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 1999.

Boat Name : Wild Oats XI

Sail Number : AUS 10001

LOA : 30.48M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.933)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2005

Type : Maxi 30m

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : Silver

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

T Tindill (6)
T Tindill (6)
Skipper : M Richards (7)
Skipper : M Richards (7)

Club : Hamilton Island Yacht Club Inc

Crew : T Wiseman (4), S Runnow (20), M Shillington (14), R Goodrich (4), J Hildebrand (5), R Daniels (8), A Henderson (13), J Whittaker (7), R Naismith (14), S Jarvin (21), T Tindill (5), I Murray (15), I Burns (13), A Cahalan (17), M Sanderson (1), M Mason (6), P Westlake

Notes : Returning for the sixth year in a row, with skipper Mark Richards at the helm, Wild Oats XI is hungry for her fifth line honours win, after finishing second to Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo in the 2009 race after making extensive modifications to increase her overall length to 100ft, in accordance with the rule changes to extend the maximum length overall of yachts from 98ft to 100ft.

After the 2009 Hobart she made a rapid turn-around from Hobart to hammer back to Pittwater to make the start line for the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race and took line honours.

Wild Oats XI currently holds the record for the most consecutive line honours wins – four - she surpassed Morna’s record of three in a row achieved in the 1946-1948 races when she won in 2008.

In 2010, aside from the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour line win, she took line honours in a tough 2010 Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race and the 2010 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race – missing the race record by only a couple of hours.

In her Rolex Sydney Hobart debut in 2005 this maxi with canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) took line honours in record time and won the Tattersall’s Cup – the only boat to take the trifecta since Rani in the first race in 1945.

The outstanding crew line up boasts 180 Hobarts collectively

Boat Name : Wild Thing

Sail Number : M10

LOA : 30.00M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.846)

Designer : Jones, Don

Launch Year :2003

Type : Super Maxi

No of Sydney to Hobart: 5

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Grant Wharington (22)
Owner/Skipper : Grant Wharington (22)

Club : Mornington Yacht Club

Crew : G Taylor (15), I Johnson (13), P Cosman (11), G Durran (9), D Witt (15), T Ede (8), G Healy (7), D Haines (12), P Heyes (9), M Bartlett (4), M Pearce (12), J Rae (16), B Coventry (8), S Crafer (11), S Haines (10), W Finlay (8), B Morrison-Jack (5)

Notes : Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing is back!

Wild Thing as Etihad Stadium retired on the start line due to rigging failure of the new mast due after a mammoth 15 day effort to replace the mast using Alfa Romeo's spare mast sitting in Europe after Etihad Stadium was dismasted on route to Sydney to participate in the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

‘As soon as we loaded up the mast we were losing jack pressure, as we loaded up the sail the mast was bending sideways, that is we were ‘unable to keep column. However the really stopper was an equipment one. We discovered our set up with our runner blocks was not right with the new four spreader mast; with the existing blocks we were unable to hold runner tension...we need to use blocks of a different design. ' - Grant Wharington

Grant Wharington’s Etihad Stadium / Wild thing previously won line honours as Skandia in the 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart but the following year, leading the fleet to Hobart, she lost her canting keel, capsized and the crew abandoned ship.

Skandia was rebuilt and went on to take line honours in the 2005 Sydney Gold Coast, Sydney Mooloolaba and Sydney Mackay races. In the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, Skandia finished second to Wild Oats XI after mounting a challenge for line honours.

In 2007 she broke the top of her mast off the Tasmanian coast, and after some hairy hours aloft strapping it so it would not plummet to the deck, finished the race jury rigged.

Grant Wharington stated after that race that 'we had some crew who never made it to Hobart before ....... , so a matter of a missing bit of the mast was not going to stop us'.

Boat Name : Yendys

Sail Number : 1836

LOA : 16.80M

Division : IRC Division 1 (TCC : 1.4)

Designer : Reichel - Pugh

Launch Year :2006

Type : Custom Racer

No of Sydney to Hobart: 3

Hull Construction : Carbon Fibre

Owner/Skipper : Geoff Ross (14)
Owner/Skipper : Geoff Ross (14)
Principal/starting helm : Chris Nicholson

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : G. Johnson (24), W. Oxley (11), D. Blanchfield (24), A. Crowe (13), M. White (9), R. Salthouse (5), W. Sykes (1), A. Powell (1), H. Roughly (1), J. Turner, C. Nicholson (5)

Notes : Geoff Ross' purpose built Reichel/Pugh 55 Yendys, the first grand prix yacht out of McConaghy International's boatyard in China, was launched just prior to the Rolex Trophy in 2006 to attempt a second overall win in the Rolex Sydney Hobart after claiming this honour with his former Yendys in 1999.

Ross has already recorded some notable results including 2nd in division 1 in 2006 Rolex Trophy and winner of the IRC Racing division at the 2007 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Additionally Yendys, placed 2nd in the 2007 Rolex Trophy in Division 0/1 and 3rd in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (Division B). In the 2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Yendys finished third over the line and 2nd in IRC Division 1.

In the 2008 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race she finished third over the line and 2nd in IRC Division 1.

Yendys carries a sail number of 1836 - the year Geoff's ancestors first arrived in Hobart via convict transportation..

Starting helmsman Chris Nicholson, Sailing Master Yendys, World 49er champion, Olympian
Watch captain Puma Volvo Ocean Race, Mainsheet, Rob Salthouse, Puma, JIB Billy Sykes, Pit David Blanchfield, Oracle Americas Cup, navigator Will Oxley Shore navigator Puma

Boat Name : YuuZoo

Sail Number : AUS 11111

LOA : 27.43M

Division : IRC Division 0 (TCC : 1.738)

Designer : Simonis - Voogd

Launch Year :2004

Type : IRC Super Maxi

No of Sydney to Hobart: 2

Hull Colour : Blue

Hull Construction : Carbon, Nomex sandwich

Owner/Skipper : Ludde Ingvall (6)
Owner/Skipper : Ludde Ingvall (6)
Principal/starting helm : Ludde Ingvall

Club: Port Huon Yacht Club

Crew : TBA

Notes : YuuZoo, (nee Tokolosh, Nicorette) is a 90 footer, light in weight with high tech canting keel and bow canard and in the 2004 race was not as fast as Skandia Wild Thing and Konica Minolta (Zana) but you only win Hobart by finishing and she did that, taking Line Honours.

Her skipper and crew knew when to sail fast and when to sail conservatively and she survived conditions which broke Konica Minolta and Skandia.

A month after the 2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race line honours win, Nicorette was dismasted during a corporate sail on the Gold Coast. Since then she has had her rudder moved aft, by a metre and a half to improve the balance of the boat.

In the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart she was 7th over the line and placed 9th in IRC Division 0. In the 2004 race, as Nicorette, she finished second overall on IRC.

Boat Name : Zephyr Hamilton Elevator

Sail Number : 8289

LOA : 10.20M

Division : IRC Division 4 (TCC : 0.958)

Designer : Farr, Bruce & Associates

Launch Year :1984

Type : Farr 1020

No of Sydney to Hobart: 1

Hull Colour : White

Hull Construction : GRP

Owner/Skipper : James Connell (2)
Owner/Skipper : James Connell (2)
Principal/starting helm : James Connell

Club : Balmain Sailing Club

Crew : A Brandon (1), A Mehaffey (3), T Petty (1), D Cutclife (3), S Thodey, I Fitzgerald

“Zephyr -Sydney to Southport 2007”
. .

Notes : Zephyr's current owners purchased the Farr 1020 in mid 2006 with one thing in mind - the Rolex Sydney Hobart and in the 2007 race had a divisonal win.

Zephyr's debut ocean race was the 2007 Audi Sydney Southport where they finished second in their IRC Division, they went on to contest the Audi Sydney Gold Coast but were forced to retire with a broken backstay, then made another appearance in the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast and finished third in their IRC Division.

Zephyr has been upgraded for the boat's trip south for 2009. They crew will be aiming for a repeat of their 2007 divisional win and hoping that the weather window is kind for the lower rating boats in the race for overall honours.

Boat Name : Zora 1

Sail Number : 8975

LOA : 13.55M

Division : PHS Division 2 (TCC : 1.0423)

Designer : J & J Design/AD Boats LTD

Launch Year :2005

Type : Salona 45'

No of Sydney to Hobart: 0

Hull Colour : Grey

Hull Construction : GRP

Skipper : Phil King (8
Skipper : Phil King (8

Club : Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia

Crew : Phil King (10) K Horne, (4) C Wightwick (1), C Flood (3), W Hus (2), K Griffiths (1), N Digges (0), Wendy Tuck (6), D Castleton (1), J. Trouwen (0), P. Baker (1)

“Zora 1 - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart (Photo: Kurt Arrigo) ”
Rolex

Notes : The yacht Zora is a Salona 45, designed by J & J (2002) and built in Croatia by AD Boats (2005). Originally sailed short-handed in New Zealand, she was purchased by Phil King, her home is now the CYCA and RANSA.

Although Zora was originally designed in 2002 as a Performance Cruiser, by today’s standards is regarded as heavy at 10.6 tonnes.

The light conditions of 2009 did not suit her at all as she needs a breeze to get going – 20+knots on the nose will suit her fine. Failing this, the Zora crew will have to resort to cunning and treachery to overcome the skill and enthusiasm of younger competitors. This tactic proved successful for her third placing in the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast race, first in the 2009 Cabbage Tree Island Race and other successes.