Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

Tassie Sydney to Hobart yacht unveils key to speed

by Danielle McKay on 19 Nov 2009
The Culprits hard at training in preparation for the 2009 - Rolex Sydney to Hobart SW
Beneath the new racing stripes is a much greater force that has seen She’s the Culprit fast shape up as one of Tasmania’s top yachts to watch in this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

Tasmanian skipper and owner Todd Leary unveiled his modified 39-footer this week, which is set to be around a knot quicker, setting a cracking pace for the record Tasmanian fleet.

The deck has been extended and the sail area has increased by a massive 50 per cent, potentially cutting as much as 16 hours off the time She’s the Culprit set in the 628 nautical mile ocean race last year.

`We finished 52nd last year and we were the second Tassie boat across the line, but we'll be much more competitive this year,' Leary said.

`We've sacrificed racing in the summer pennant series, we've sacrificed everything, to make sure we had her in peak racing condition for this year's race.'

For the past four months the crew of 10, who have 13 Sydney to Hobart races under their belts, have worked tirelessly to revamp the Inglis 39.

She’s the Culprit not only boasts an extra 20 per cent sail area upwind and 37 per cent down wind, it also has a 1m extension to the spinnaker pole, three new sails and an additional 4ft of deck space.

'It’s more than just the paint job and racing stripes that will make the Culprit really competitive,’’ Leary said.

'The changes we’ve made will make a huge difference to our speed, especially in the light breeze and down wind.

'We’re a heavier boat so in the light wind we were slow, but now we’ve increased our sail area so we’ll fly through the light stuff, while keeping our strength in the heavy weather.’’

A shot-gun team of some of Tasmania’s best young sailors will also add to the She’s the Culprit’s arsenal.

`We definitely have a stronger crew this year, they're young, strong and experienced,' Leary said.

'Most of them are Farr 40 sailors, so they know how crucial every tactical manoeuvre, every tack and jibe and every sail change is.

'But the real key is that we're all team players so the huge amount of knowledge everyone has will be invaluable tactically, we should be really strong.'

Preparation has also been vital, as Leary admitted last year's preparations were less than favourable, having only bought the boat four-months before lining up on Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day last year.

Leary, 39, came to sailing late after retiring as Tasmania’s leading formula one power boat racer on the Australian circuit in 2006.

'Last year everyone said I was the rookie in the Tasmanian sailing fleet, but I’ve clocked up quite a few sea miles now and have a lot more confidence than I did last year,’’ Leary said.

She’s the Culprit is one of nine Tasmanian yachts entered in this year’s Sydney to Hobart, the biggest contingent since the 50th anniversary race in 1994.

While Tasmanian Sean Langman’s chartered maxi Maximus will be almost unbeatable as the Tasmania big gun, the competition between the remaining Tasmanian yachts is set to be heated.

`Dekadence, Auch, Archie and the Helsal yachts are all good competitors and will be hard to shake,' Leary said.

`We tussled with Valheru last year so we know they're strong too.

`But they beat us by less than 10 hours so in the right conditions we could have them.

`Actually, if we have a good down hill run the Culprit will be very hard for any Tasmanian boat to beat.'

The She’s the Culprit crew includes: Todd Leary, Rod Chamberlain, Grant Davis, George Peacock, Paul Nanscawen, Tim Cubit, Matt Cubit, Mark Jeffery, Daniel Followes and Stuart Wells.

The Tasmanian contingent in this year’s Sydney to Hobart also includes: Sally Rattle and Scott Brain's Archambault 35 Archie; David Bean’s Beneteau 44.7 Auch, David Creese’s DK46 Dekadence, Sean Langman’s maxi Maximus, Tony and Bob Fisher’s Adams/Barrett 20 Helsal III, Tony Fisher’s Dynamique 62 Helsal IV and Tony Lyall’s Elliott 43 Valheru.
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitBarton Marine Pipe GlandssMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

Related Articles

SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support.
Posted today at 7:00 am
2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Opening Ceremony
More than 500 sailors paraded through the Riva del Garda's beautiful streets The 2025 29er European Championship officially opened today in stunning Riva del Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 500 sailors paraded through the city's beautiful streets in a colorful, high-energy opening ceremony.
Posted on 2 Jul
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it?
Posted on 2 Jul
Stay, play and save at the 2025 Sydney Boat Show
The ultimate indoor boating experience will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park The ultimate indoor boating experience, Sydney Boat Show, will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from 14 to 17 August for the first time.
Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike.
Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves.
Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line.
Posted on 2 Jul
Four days to start the 5th AEGEAN 600
The fleet has a wide range of sizes and types represented Nearly all 60 teams are assembled here at the Olympic Marine venue getting ready for the start of the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600, organized by the Hellenic Offshore Race Club (HORC) with co-organizers being Olympic Marine and Region of Attica.
Posted on 2 Jul