Epsilon, Valtair final division winner in Sydney to Hobart

by Peter Campbell on 1 Jan 2002 A homebuilt yacht from Adelaide and a 66-footer from Sydney sailing in her first race south have been declared winners of the last two handicap divisions to
be decided for the 57th CYCA Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.


Epsilon, a van de Stadt 38 built in his spare time by 31-year-old Michael Tromp has won IMS Division C from two-times past winner Love and War
skippered by 77-year-old Peter Kurts, the oldest owner/skipper in the race, third place going to the little 30-footer, Zeus II, skippered by Jim Dunstan
and also a past winner.

Valtair, a Lyons 66 owned by Sydney yachtsman Matt Allen, has won the PHS Division from the Lyons 54, Aspect Computing, skippered by David
Pescud and crewed by Sailors with disabilities, third placing going to the Peterson 51, Bright Morning Star, skippered by Randal Wilson, both boats
also from Sydney.


The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announced the final results this morning for the 57th Sydney Hobart which saw 75 boats start in the 630 nautical mile
race and 56 finish after 18 boats retired and one boat, the Volvo 60, Tyco, being record a DNF (did not finish) for failing to meet a mandatory safety radio
check-in when abeam of Green Cape on the NSW South Coast before entering Bass Strait.

The last four boats crossed line in the early hours of today, January 1, 2002, with the last boat, Sorine finishing at 05.31.46 hours, giving the Carter 30 an
elapsed time of 5 days 16 hours 31 minutes 46 seconds compared the Line Honour winner Assa Abloy’s time of 2 days 20 hours 46 minutes 43 seconds.


Epsilon’s win in IMS Division C was very much a family affair with owner/skipper Michael Tromp, a member of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron,
being joined by his father, uncle and brother for the Sydney Hobart.


In winning IMS Division C, Epsilon also placed 12th overall in the grand prix IMS fleet.


Light winds throughout yesterday spoiled the chances of several 30-footers in figuring higher on the handicap results, with the Lyons 66 Valtair’s 18th place
in the fleet giving her a time advantage to beat another David Lyons’ design, the 54-footer Aspect Computing.

Valtair, from the CYCA, has been a regular competitor in most long races off the Australian East Coast but this was her first Hobart Race, with owner Matt
Allen recruiting an experienced crew that included Victorian Bernie Case sailing in his 17th Hobart Race and CYCA chief safety audit officer Jon Meyer
notching up his 18th Hobart, while for another Victorian, Gary Schipper, this was his 20th.