Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Dreki Sunnan Rolex Sydney Hobart 2018 Interviews - It all starts somewhere…

by Dale and Crosbie Lorimer / Bow Caddy Media 2 Jan 2019 18:57 PST From Dec 26

As Wild Oats XI berthed in Hobart for her ninth Line Honours win her crew had accumulated 289 Sydney Hobarts between them!

But for each of those crew members it all started with their first race and that was an experience that most of the crew on Ken Holmes Beneteau First 45 Dreki Sunnan were enjoying in Bass Strait at that moment.

With barely more than a handful of Hobart Races between some of the more experienced crew and only 18 months of sailing together in the lead up including the Ponant Sydney Noumea Race.

This also turned out to be the ideal year of downwind sailing for Holmes to take his boat south as a first time Hobart skipper.

In these interviews we hear from James Rawlinson and Floyd Higgins (before and after the race) on what its like to be first-time rookies at the front end of the boat.

We also hear from Ken Holmes on how it feels to have chalked up his first Sydney Hobart as an owner and skipper at the back of the bus.

Remember, it is not all about finishing in first place.

84 boats took to the Tasman on Boxing Day, bound for Hobart Town. Four did not get that far, and the back of the fleet dealt with the strongest of conditions, in this, a very benign sort of year.

So if you're thinking about it, especially with the 75th to come up next year, then have a look at these videos -

Crew - Pre-Race

Crew - Post Race

Ken Holmes - Owner/Skipper Post Race

Related Articles

Fastnet Race 2025 | D4 Update from Cherbourg
Update on the leaderboard across the different classes Information on finished boats, including a summary of discussions with the Black Jack 100 team, and an update on the leaderboard across the different classes. Posted on 29 Jul
Smuggler puts down hammer and goes unchallenged
In the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race The reigning Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Champion, Smuggler, set a clear goal to open her offshore season with strength and continue her streak of top performances. She delivered on that promise, outpacing the competition and never looking back. Posted on 29 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | Black Jack 100 wins
Black Jack 100 takes the Erivale Trophy for Monohull Line Honours. Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 - Black Jack 100 takes the Erivale Trophy for Monohull Line Honours. Posted on 29 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | Interview with Linda Goddard
The latest from Cherbourg as well as Bedouin before that start and a compilation of the start itsel The Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 | The latest from the dock in Cherbourg – Monday July 28 @ 12.00noon - as well as Linda Goddard from on board Bedouin before the start, and a compilation of all the Australian boats at the start Posted on 28 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | Interview with Alice Parker
Interview with Alice Parker and the latest from the dock in Cherbourg The Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 - Interview with Alice Parker and the latest from the dock in Cherbourg (Sunday July 27 @ 1600hrs local) Posted on 28 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 | Race Start Pics
A vastly different scene from the last two Fastnet's and the boat-breaking conditions The fleet of more than 400 yachts leaving the start line off Cowes was an impressive sight this morning. The light 5-8 knot sou'wester and flat water was a change from the last two years and boat-breaking conditions experienced then Posted on 28 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | Race Start and Interviews
Start video and also analysis and updates prior to departure for the Fastnet Race Start video and also analysis and updates prior to departure for the The Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 and interviews with Zen and Back2Black Posted on 26 Jul
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race start
The weather gods promised and delivered The start gun for the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race fired at 1300hrs sharp, sending the fleet off in stunning conditions. Posted on 26 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | Pre-Race Interviews
Interviews with Gordon and Charlie Maguire, David Witt, Mark Bradford, and Luke Parkinson Interviews with Gordon and Charlie Maguire, David Witt, Mark Bradford, and Luke Parkinson Posted on 26 Jul
Fastnet Race 2025 | David Griffith and Whisper
Discover the motivation for entering Whisper in the Fastnet Race and getting boat to the UK David Griffith's JV62, Whisper, is in the UK for the Fastnet. Discover the motivation for entering Whisper in the Rolex Fastnet Race and the logistics of getting the boat to England, as well as hear from crew member Jules Hall. Posted on 26 Jul
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOMArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM