Happy hour as Gillawa commits to Sydney to Hobart

by David Jean Canberra Times/Sail-World on 19 Oct 2006 Last December Canberra sailor David Kent vowed he would 'shout the bar' if his Cavalier 975 Gillawa finished the Sydney to Hobart yacht race before New Year's eve.

Unfortunately for the sailors on the Hobart waterfront, Gillawa didn't sail into Hobart's Constitution Dock until late on January 2, nearly 48 hours later than Kent's stated aim.

'The little boat that could' - as Gillawa has become affectionately known - finished last out of the 80 boats that completed the 2005 Sydney to Hobart race.

Her time of seven days, 10 hours and 23 minutes was nearly six days behind line-honours winner Wild Oats.

But despite missing his stated finish time by nearly two days, Kent is backing up this year with the same promise. If Gillawa arrives in Hobart before New Year's eve her owner will shout the bar.

David Kent has restored the Cavalier 975 as a training vessel. He teaches sailing under the Yachting Australia Incorporated schemes providing theory sessions in Canberra and practical sessions on Pittwater (Sydney).

Kent and regular crew members Greg Dawes and Ann van Haaren will team with ocean-racing rookies Rahn Laird and John Ellison to tackle the infamous Bass Strait for the third time aboard Gillawa. The skipper is yet to confirm his sixth crew member.

Kent - a veteran of five Sydney to Hobart races - said the crew would try to complete the 280-nautical mile course before the dawn of 2007, but safety not race speed was the main priority.

He would pack a couple of bottles of champagne for his crew to drink if they were still on the water.

'It's the same old deal, we think the weather is going to be pretty lousy and with that it's very much safety conscious as opposed to speed,' Kent said.

'It's more the joy of saying 'this is one of Australia's top races' and in addition to that it's also giving rookies the chance to get out there who might never ever get the chance.

'If we get in before New Year's eve I'll shout the bar no worries. I'll be so ecstatic I'll be on cloud nine for years.'

Gillawa will not be the smallest boat in the Hobart fleet, that honour will go to Sean Langman's 74 year old Maluka, which is 9.01 metres in length.

Langman is a highly competitive racing sailor and he will be keen not to last boat into Hobart.

Gillawa will use next month's 180-nautical mile Sydney to Port Stephens ocean race as a warm-up event before the gruelling Sydney to Hobart.