Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Quotes from boats
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 29 Dec 2021 22:38 PST
26-31 December 2021
2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © Rolex / Andrea Francolini
Boats Still Racing:
Jen Linkova on Flat White: "We are enjoying the race more and more as we are learning how to sail her property. We are gaining a lot of experience and some hope to get to Hobart for the fireworks on New Years' Eve. We are trusting in the weather forecasts.
We lost our AIS, but then got it back. We also lost a spinnaker and a life ring.
"We have seen a sunfish, a shark, a tuna and dolphins.
On Chutzpah, it's a different story. Bruce Taylor and his highly-committed perennial crew were looking good, finally, for an overall win. It's the one wish on their bucket list, but they sit this morning in little air, watching competitors catch up and their changes behind them.
Navigator Kingsley Piesse has 37 Sydney Hobarts behind him, 23 of them on Taylor's various Chutzpahs. At midday, they were beyond frustrated.
"We're just rounding Cape Raoul waiting for the breeze to fill in. At the moment it's very light," Piesse said. "We're expecting a light and variable sou' west
"It's been so frustrating. We were so far in front and looking at a good result. But there's so little breeze, and boats that were 40 miles behind us, like Pretty Woman and Margaret Rintoul V, have now caught up...
"We are hopeful of a northerly or nor' easterly... a northerly would be good for us.
"We've been here too many times," a dejected Piesse said. "Too many times.
The vibe is just the opposite on Shane Kearns' S&S 34 White Bay 6 Azzurro.
The Sydney yachtsman knows he has to be in by 7.05am tomorrow morning and is keen for a New Year's Eve upset.
"We are on course to Tasman Island and doing 7 knots. We are very confident of reaching the finish line by 7.04am tomorrow morning," he said chirpily before the line cut out.
Quotes from James Irvine, Owner/Skipper of Mayfair after finishing today (30 December 2021)
James Irvine's Mayfair finished at 12.15pm and took 10th place on line honours.
Mayfair, a Rogers 46 that Irvine purchased last year, was the smallest boat so far to finish the race.
"I am really glad to be here. It was fantastic that we put on this event, got through to the start and we finished," Irvine said after getting in.
"It is all about starting and finishing as far as I am concerned.
Asked about Mayfair's race Irvine said: "The first night, punished it on the nose... a typical Hobart start. We got through it alright, then headed down the coast and fell into a few holes.
"The boys on Mayfair worked really hard to get through them and we might have hit one too many and even coming up the Derwent was a tough gig.
"We are pretty used to offshore racing. We are pretty well geared up. It was tough, but we have seen more difficult [conditions].
"We did the Gladstone this year and saw up to 50 knots [of wind] there. We just worked through it. We have our processes and we got through it alright."
Asked about his crew, Irvine smiled and said: "They are great... great crew, great people, great guys.
"We are all from north Queensland... good bunch of blokes and a pleasure to sail with them."
Irvine enjoyed the intra-Queensland tussle between Mayfair and the Schumaker 54 Maritimo from the Gold Coast that was still racing as he spoke.
"Maritimo is always our nemesis. We always like fighting with them. They might have got us here on IRC, but it's always good to have a good tussle with them.
"You have to sail your own race. But it's tough... you are always looking over your shoulder, but you really can't help the weather.
"You are in different sail patters and different wind patterns.
"You keep an eye on them but you still run your own race."
Shane Kearns, owner/skipper of White Bay 6 Azzurro, said: "The breeze is dying out. I think we're in trouble with regards to the overall win. Who knows what will happen at Tasman Island? Fingers crossed."
Bruce Taylor, owner/skipper of Chutzpah, arrived into Hobart: "It was a long day. I am shot to pieces having parked all day. The first night was pretty hard.
"Today we did really well in Bass Strait. We were in good shape. Then we died halfway down to Tassie Island. There was little breeze at Raoul. That was a killer. Nothing broken, but a few hearts.
"The only damage we did was blowing up a spinnaker right near the finish. We weren't paying attention and had a desire for a beer. It was different sailing without Drew (his son - he was stuck in Hong Kong, where he lives and works). I've done 40 now - 28 with Drew. I think I've got to come back again. I think I have a couple (of Hobarts) left in me."
Richard Hudson, owner/skipper of Pretty Woman, said: "It was awesome. We had a great race. Really zero damage - minor sail damage. It was very wet, but we all survived, and we're happy.
"We had nearly an all-Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club crew - seven from our youth program, including five girls. The youngest is 21 (Antony Hawke).
"Will Hardcastle and I supplied the mentorship. We're pretty pleased with our effort. I knew the young ones would be good - and we worked really well as a team - they are very committed."
Antony Walton - Owner/skipper, Hartbreaker: "We're pretty excited. It was a pretty tough race. Definitely up there, one of the harder ones. Crew is safe, the boat's in tact we're in really good shape. It was a long race though.
"It was hard going in a lot of spots. It was light, it was tactical. We did everything pretty much right. There are things you can always look back on. We're really excited about how we finished up."
On the first night: "We love all that stuff, we broke a staunchion. There's probably a few bruises along the way. We survived it all fine, so we're good."
On the rough conditions: "It was about trying to keep people focused. Obviously people get tired and fatigued.
"It was great to have a good run home. We thought we were going to have a long ride and get in late tonight."
Damien King - Owner/skipper, MRV: "We had an amazing trip; it was so much fun. It was very frustrating at moments, but we enjoyed it.
"The Sydney Hobart always delivers lots of different challenges. We worked our way through it. The boat held up beautifully; we had only one broach.
"It was certainly pretty hard at some points but we had a great time. Half the crew hadn't done the race before, so I guess it's great just to get through it and finish and do as well as we could.
"We had the great Matt Mullins aboard. He owns a few pubs. We had three and four course meals. Beef Bourguignon, chicken cacciatore, peking duck crepes, pork dumplings, beef dumplings, spaghetti bolognaise, nachos, egg and bacon rolls, pastries in the morning, muesli with fruit.
"We were a bit slow eating the first night, but at the start we had lobster rolls. This was Matt's first race, let alone Sydney Hobart, but he has sailed."
Matt Mullins, chef on MRV: "We had this idea you could do a Sydney Hobart and not eat freeze dried, so Damien challenged me to see if we could do it. And it turned out we found a way. There's always a way. It wasn't easily done in the first 36 hours. A little challenging!
"I'd done a little sailing before, but the race was everything I thought it would be. It was tough, brutal, challenging, uncomfortable and magic.
"We were lucky (regarding cooking) that this boat has an amazing galley. It's incredibly comfortable, even in the height of that first night I was still able to get the food up."
How does he feel after the race? "I'm pretty pumped. I am very happy to be part of the captain's crew."
Saul Davidson, crewmember Wild Oats (age 18)
- Grew up on and around boats and sailing.
- Is a commercial skipper.
- Will join the Air Force next year.
Regarding how he came to join the crew:
It happened about six months ago, a good family friend of ours who's unfortunately recently passed away put me onto the skipper Brett and I gave him a call asking about sailing on Wild Oats.
He said come up for a sail in Sydney, we'll see how you go.
I spent about a week working on the boat with the team getting prepared for Sydney Hobart and by that point they were very happy with my abilities and confident I was going to go well with the team. I felt like I really slotted in well with these guys.
Regarding the Sydney Harbour start:
It was surreal to be out on Sydney Harbour. Often, when I was sitting down and studying I'd put the Sydney Hobart start on in the background and the realisation that 'I'm actually doing one' was incredible - I was really chuffed with that.
Regarding what he's learned from the race:
Probably how to work well with the team. Everyone's got their own different abilities and how to use each other's strengths to really work well as a team to pull this race off.
We didn't damage a single bit of equipment the entire race. We're really happy with our result.
Regarding coming into Hobart:
I've done a bit of offshore racing and it just felt like a longer one of those. I never really pay attention to where we are, I just pay attention to what the skipper wants me to do and just sit there and chat away with everyone and relax. The realisation that we were coming up to Hobart and everyone's cheering on the docks for us, that we finished Sydney Hobart was quite exciting.
I've come down to nearly every single one of these to watch the boats finish in here and watch it every year on the TV - it's very much a highlight. To actually do it is incredible. I'm really happy to have been given this opportunity to join these guys.
Brett Eagle, skipper Wild Oats
Regarding crewmember Saul Davidson:
He was delightful - super experienced for his age, absolutely incredible.
Very handy on the bow, knows how to manage it and had a few really neat ideas for us that helped us in terms of how to manage the bow as well.
We sent him up the bow a few times coming down the Derwent River he was up there looking for wind for us. That sort of thing was really useful
Asked does it feel like the boat knows her way here (Hobart):
Without question. I tell my crew constantly that she's won the Sydney Hobart race twice so if we can't do it, it's not the boat's fault.
To follow the race and for all information, please go to rolexsydneyhobart.com