Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Niksen sets course for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart

by Windcraft Yachts 20 Nov 2023 17:08 PST 26 December 2023
Niksen en route for 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart © Harri Wren - Doyle Sails

Even before the crew of Niksen hoist their sails on Boxing Day, they will have already overcome one of the biggest challenges in offshore sailing.

Co-skippers Marc Michel and Logan Fraser are bringing their pocket-rocket Dehler 30od (one design) all the way from Auckland, sailing 1,250 nautical miles across the notoriously rough Tasman Sea that has a well-deserved reputation for testing boats and crews to their limits.

At just 9.14 metres or 30 feet Niksen is one of the smallest yachts in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet of 120 boats. Marc Michel, a former pro sailor with experience in big races all over the world has no illusions about the potential hazards of crossing the "Ditch" as its sometimes referred to.

"It's much more unpredictable and generally tougher [than an Atlantic crossing]", he admits. Niksen's crew dropped the docklines on Sunday 19th November and at this stage the routing says seven days to Sydney Heads with some favourable southerlies, "but it's the Tasman so there's a fair amount of local variation in that," Michel noted wryly just before they left.

The forecast is showing southerlies gusting to over 20 knots as Niksen rounds the top of the North Island of New Zealand which means fast beam reaching, a point of sail Niksen with its powerful sail plan for its size, excels in.

"The boat just lights-up," Michel reveals. "Our rig is probably a metre further back [in the hull] compared to the older 30-footers so when that's combined with the Dehler's form stability, the chine and water ballast it's a big thrill ride. On the last leg of the Round North Island Race we averaged 15 knots for 6 hours, and at times hitting 20 knots as we surfed down waves," he recounts.

Once safely in Sydney Marc and Logan intend to prepare Niksen for the 172 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race on December 1, their first hit-out against some of their competition in the Hobart's Two-Handed Division which has attracted 21 entrants all eager to be the first double-handed boat to win the famous 628 nautical mile ocean classic on handicap.

While Niksen and her co-skippers have established a formidable reputation in New Zealand short-handed racing circles with a string of podium places, Michel acknowledges the Rolex Sydney Hobart represents their toughest racing challenge so far.

"There are two objectives," he states. "First it will be the best looking 30-footer on the Harbour on Boxing Day and second it will be the fastest 30 footer irrespective of rating."

The award-winning Dehler 30od's lines are courtesy of well-known designers Judel/Vrolijk, who have given the 30od a reverse profile bow and heavily chamfered topsides/gunwale that reduce windage and panel weight. She looks like a smaller version of the Fast 40 Ran or one of the later Hugo Boss IMOCA 60s. Weighing just 2,800 kilograms the boat effectively handles like a big skiff, responsive to every tweak and burb.

Niksen also boasts a couple of extra arrows in its offshore armoury, usually only found on big custom racing machines.

The first is water ballast, meaning the boat can carry an extra 200kg on the high side, equivalent to three 67kg crew which translates into another half-a-knot of boat speed; a big deal over 628 nautical miles.

The other is the so-called 'Stealth Drive'. The shaft and prop are on a retractable strut, easily operated by a lever in the cockpit. When lowered, the three-blade prop pushes the boat along at over six knots. When retracted, the strut is hermetically sealed behind a cover. Dehler have managed to do it on a 30-footer, the drag saving equivalent to an estimated 7-8 seconds a mile.

Downstairs on the Dehler 30od Marc and Logan are surprisingly comfortable. There are two generous quarter-berths aft with padding up the sides. A one-burner cooker pumps out the coffee and noodles, while next to the galley is a secure, moulded locker for cold storage. Bunk cushions are strapped up out of the way, and a wooden table folds out. One of Marc's short-handed criteria, he says, is "a boat that looks after its crew."

Of course, the weather will play a big part in deciding the eventual winner of the Two-Handed Division and the Rolex Sydney Hobart itself. Last year the fleet experienced what was described as "a traditional Hobart" with big winds and seas in Bass Strait on the night of the 27th and a stiff southerly for the two-handed entries trying to get to the finish in Hobart.

With its ability to keep pace with much larger boats in the right conditions and her crew hardened during long miles in tough Kiwi waters Niksen could surprise the dockside pundits. Either way it's shaping-up to be a memorable international racing debut for this Kiwi speedster.

Related Articles

Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, Day 3
Epic breeze cuts racing short; clear division between teams sets scene for final day Sunny skies met big breeze on Day 3 but by 12:30 p.m. racing was postponed, and as the wind built to 25+, the Race Committee abandoned racing at 3:00 p.m. Posted today at 12:39 am
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta overall
Southern Wind 100 Agapi Mas awarded the Willy Persico Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous concluded today with another outstanding day of racing. The event is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani. Posted on 31 May
11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta
FD Future boats join the youth regatta at Seven Star Yacht Club The 2025 11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta kicked off in Seven Star Yacht Club in Shenzhen on the 23rd till the 25th of May. FD Future boats joined the youth regatta with 11 competition groups and more than 80 youth participants. Posted on 31 May
Countdown begins for the 2025 29er Worlds
At the iconic city of Porto, Portugal The countdown is on! The 2025 29er World Championship will land in the iconic city of Porto, Portugal, with the fleet descending on Marina da Afurada - Douro Marina from 1st-8th August 2025. Posted on 31 May
Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club Day 3
Pauline Courtois will meet Nicole Breault in the final Defending women's match racing world champion Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team from France will meet USA's Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing in the final of the 2025 Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco. Posted on 31 May
Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, Day 2
Consolidation In the Ranks: U.S. Teams Lead A thrilling action-packed series of races on Day 2 of the 2025 Team Racing World Championship saw the three teams representing the United States consolidate at the top of the leaderboard. Posted on 31 May
5.5 Metre German Open in Warnemunde day 2
Otto takes command on the second day Otto (NOR 68, Lasse Berthelsen, Sam Haines, Kyle Gundersen) storm into the lead at the 2025 5.5 Metre German Open in Warnemunde after three wins from four races on Friday in winds from 8-15 knots. Posted on 30 May
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Preview
Getting ready to race at Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona Today (Friday) Galicia's prestigious Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona (Galicia, Spain) hosted the official presentation of the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP, the second scoring event for the 2025 season of the 52 SUPER SERIES. Posted on 30 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta day 3
No racing due to light wind in Porto Cervo The forecast of very light winds proved to be accurate today as the starting procedure for the third day of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous got under way. Posted on 30 May
1D35 "Relentless" to Race 2025 LBRW with new owner
First-time owner Derek Williamson eager to join the fleet for premier event As Derek Williamson prepares to race in his first regatta - Long Beach Race Week (LBRW) - where he'll be helming his own boat, Williamson acknowledges that he's new to the game and has a lot to learn. Posted on 30 May
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMZhik 2024 December