A third on Line Honours makes George a happy boy!

by Peter Campbell on 29 Dec 2004 Another trip south, another long difficult slog, but still George Snow, the owner-skipper of the Sydney maxi Brindabella talks up the experience of competing yet again in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.


‘Ninety-eight was harder, but 36 hours of tough cold conditions really brought it home that this is a great race,’ said George, who early this afternoon achieved an impressive third across the line in what has been his 23rd Sydney Hobart.


‘It was on the nose all that time for 36 hours and didn’t let up. Every time we looked for a slant in the breeze it didn’t happen,’ Snow said.


‘But we’re very happy to be here in Hobart. This is one of the great races in the world, and one of the great cities to finish a race,’ the ebullient skipper said.


‘Brindabella is a 12-year-old boat and she has a lot of life still in her.’


Sailing with four of his adult children on board, Brindabella crossed at 13:56:30 hours this afternoon, her white spinnaker hastening the Jutson 79 up the Derwent River towards the Castray Esplanade finish.


Launched in 1993, Brindabella experienced similar conditions in her inaugural race, and had to retire midway across Bass Strait, George flying to Hobart from Flinders Island. Since then he’s had a win, four seconds, a third and a fourth across the line.


This afternoon he praised the attitude of skippers and crew who elected to go to Eden and review their position and the conditions they might face crossing Bass Strait.


‘If it’s not going to be comfortable and you’re not going to enjoy it, go home – its safer.


‘People have to remember that for every boat that’s a winner, there are 20 boats out there for the fun, the challenge and the companionship,’ George said.


Fourth to finish at 15:43:43 was the British yacht Aera followed by the Volvo 60, Seriously Ten at 16:16:28.