Launceston to Hobart - Sassy steers from different port back to Hobart

by Peter Campbell on 24 Dec 2010 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

Hobart yachtsman Murray Wilkes will be steering his yacht Sassy in a different direction than he originally planned, at least initially, when he races back to Hobart late next week.

Instead of contesting the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, Sassy is a late entry for the Sargisons Jewellers – Nattuzi Launceston to Hobart Race.

However, it will be a race against time for the Bavaria 39 to reach Beauty Point for the start on Monday, 27 December, as Wilkes will not be leaving Hobart until Christmas Day, 25 December.

Sassy originally was one of five Tasmanian yachts entered for this year’s Sydney Hobart, but suffered steering problems early in the delivery voyage from Hobart which began last week.

'The rack and pinion steering box cracked right across as we were in the middle of Storm Bay in 25 knots and a couple of metres say,' Wilkes told 'The Mercury'. The breakage left Sassy with her steering jammed at half lock and doing circles in Storm Bay unpleasant conditions.

Replacement parts could not be sourced in time for Sassy to make it Sydney. 'By the time the boat is fixed, and given the appalling weather that is going to be in Bass Strait on Monday and Tuesday (of this week), we just could not do it,' Wilkes also told ‘The Mercury’s’ yachting writer, James Bresnehan.

Wilkes now plans to set sail from Hobart to Beauty Point on Christmas Day. 'We haven’t got time to get up there earlier,' the Derwent Sailing Squadron member added.

With the late withdrawal of Osprey and Ford Play and the late entry of Sassy the fleet for the Sargisons Jewellery & Natuzzi Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race stands at 33 yachts. The race starts from Inspection Head wharf, Beauty Point at 3pm on 27 December.

Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race website