Sydney Hobart race - She’s the Culprit seeking vengeance

by Peter Campbell on 18 Oct 2010 Tasmanian yacht She’s the Culprit will seek vengeance in this year’s Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for the heartbreaking crash that forced the boat out of last year's race, just 30 minutes after the start on Sydney Harbour.

As the holed 30-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.

She’s the Culprit is the third Tasmanian boat to enter this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart, the others so far nominated being Helsal III and Sassy.

'It was gut-wrenching; I’ve never experienced anything like the emotional highs and lows of the Sydney Hobart start last year,’’ Leary recalled today at the Bellerive Yacht Club.

'We spent months working around the clock last year to get the boat ready for the race, and we were confident we would be the first Tassie boat to cross the finishing line.

'But within minutes of the start we got hit in the stern and then holed in the topsides…there was no way we could continue to race.

'We were forced to go back to the yacht club, while the others raced on; it was like we were grieving at a wake,' he added.

Leary and his crew protested the Adelaide yacht Two True, which went on to claim the overall handicap victory, with the international jury subsequently finding another yacht, Kioni, at fault.

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 the race this week.

'I want to do this for the crew, so we can finish what we started,’’ he added.

'It’s not about the result, it’s about getting to the finish in Hobart together.’’

She’s the Culprit’s preparation for the 66th Rolex Sydney Hobart will start with Bellerive Yacht Club’s combined clubs offshore overnight race this Wednesday and will include all local long offshore races, including the Maria Island Race which she won two years ago.