First interstate entries boost Optus Launceston to Hobart

by Peter Campbell on 29 Nov 2011 The Launceston to Hobart, Tasmania’s longest offshore yacht race, has been given a major boost this with the first interstate entries and a national sponsor for the 285 nautical mile dash down the East Coast.

Yachts from New South Wales and Victoria have been entered. A three-way battle for line honours is looming with the Hobart yachts, War Games and Helsal III expected to challenge the supremacy of two-times winner Mr Kite.

The two interstate entries are David Pring’s Beneteau cruiser/racer from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney and the David Ellis’ successful racing yacht Audi Penfolds Sports, an Archambault 31 from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Melbourne. Ellis a former Hobart yachtsman, who raced Etchells on the Derwent before moving to Melbourne.

Tasmania’s Deputy Premier Bryan Green MP today launched the Optus-sponsored fifth annual Launceston to Hobart (L2H) Race which will start from Beauty Point on the Tamar River on Tuesday, 27 December 2011.

Commodore Ron Bugg predicted a fleet of between 35 and 40 yachts from southern and northern Tasmanian clubs for the fifth L2H.

'This race continues to grow in status every year, with telecommunications company Optus coming aboard as our first national sponsor and now at least two interstate entries joining a strong fleet of local boats.

'This reflects the concept of the Derwent Sailing Club in providing a long offshore race that is both interesting and testing for Tasmanian yacht owners while being less demanding in cost and time than contesting long ocean races such as the Sydney Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart,' Commodore Bugg said.

'Having a national company of the standing of Optus as the major sponsor lifts the status of the L2H as it comes up for the fifth year, with continued growth in fleet numbers,' Commodore Bugg said.

'The Derwent Sailing Club and our northern colleagues, the Tamar Yacht Club, look forward to both sponsorship and promotional support from Optus,' he added.

With entries closing this coming Thursday, 1 December, Hobart yachting identity Wayne Banks-Smith has already nominated his Farr 40 War Games while an entry is expected from Rob Fisher with his 60-foot ocean race Helsal III for the first time.

Defending line honours champion is Andrew Hunn’s Cape/Barrett 40 Mr Kite, the state-of-the-art, canting keel 40-footer that will be aiming for a hat-trick of wins this year after an impressive lead-up victory in the recent Maria Island Race.

Banks-Smith believes that in light to moderate weather War Games will be a strong competitor for line honours against Andrew Hunn’s Cape/Barrett 40 Mr Kite.

However, if conditions are heavy he predicts line honours could go to Rob Fisher’s Adams/Barrett 60 Helsal III which has withdrawn from the Sydney Hobart and will contest the L2H for the first time.

Although racing War Games for the first time in the L2H, Banks-Smith has sailed previously on Cyclone. 'It is much more interesting than most offshore yacht races, with the extra demands of sailing through the narrow Banks Strait from Bass Strait to the Tasman Sea, and then having to sail through the Mercury Passage inside Maria Island on the way south,' he added.

Entries already received by the DSS for the Optus L2H include Malcolm Cooper’s 32 year old Snook 30 Kaiulani which has competed in every L2H since its inception – with owner Cooper 'hoping to do many more'.

Other early entrants include Michael Rowley’s Huon 10 Planet X, Sally Rattle’s Archambault A35 Archie, and Robert and Sally Smith’s Beneteau First 40.7 Helsal V from the DSS, Charles Booth’s Ocean Freeway from the Tamar Yacht Club and Mark Ballard’s 42 South from Bellerive Yacht Club.

Expected entries from the Tamar Yacht Club include Richard Fisher’s Beneteau First 45 Believe, Dave Allen’s Sydney 38 Obsession, John Joyce’s Lyons 47 Allusive and Andrew Jones’ Inglis 47 Advantage.

The Optus Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race will start from off Inspection Head wharf at Beauty Point on the Tamar River at 1.30pm on 27 December, with a fleet of 35 to 40 boats expected, including at least six from northern Tasmanian clubs and one from Victoria.

The fleet will finish in Hobart after sailing a 285 nautical mile course that will take the boats through in eastern Bass Strait and Banks Strait before heading down the east coast, sailing inside Maria Island, thence rounding Tasman Island and sailing across Storm Bay to the River Derwent. The finish will be off Castray Esplanade.

Race director for the Optus L2H is DSS life member John Blackwood.

The starting time for this year’s race has been brought forward from 3.00pm to 1.30pm to give the fleet slack tidal conditions for the dash from the Inspection Head start line to Low Head.

The historic fog horn at Low Head will be sounded to recognise the first yacht to sail out of the Tamar River into Bass Strait after the often tricky passage from Beauty Point.

Overall winner of the Optus Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2011 will again be based on AMS handicap results, although there will also be divisions for IRC and PHS handicap results.

Notice of Race is now available from the DSS and TYC or online at http://www.l2h.com.au