Sydney Hobart Nightmares and Joy - Comanche wins Line Honours

The River Derwent is the stuff of nightmares. Just 2.5nm from home and you get this...

One minute you are steaming towards the finish and your second Line Honours victory, then she pulls the plug. SOG 000, she is sitting absolutely still, sails hanging like rags... Worst of all, you turn around and there is InfoTrack seven miles astern back down the river, with a kite up doing 10 knots, and you can see only holes around you. Just have to find the wind and get there... (which they are thankfully.)

Sometimes the River Derwent is cruel. All that sail and no use for it... - photo © Tony Lathouras

Weight for'ard to get her hefty tail out of the water - like glue at that point. - photo © Tony Lathouras

Only moments earlier they were dashing for the Battery Point.... - photo © Tony Lathouras

Then all of a sudden you win - One day, 18 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds elapsed.

Puff of smoke from the gun means you got there first - well done Comanche. - photo © Tony Lathouras

A very happy owner in Jim Cooney. - photo © Tony Lathouras