Rushour clears race traffic in 2024 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race
by Jane Austin/ORCV media 28 Dec 2024 11:47 AEDT
27 December 2024
Kioni enjoying their first Westcoaster race © Al Dillon
Rushour, the Drew 15 catamaran designed, built and skippered by Queenslander Drew Carruthers, has set a cracking pace down the West Coast of Tasmania and currently lead’s last year’s multihull winner, Peccadillo, by over 35 nautical miles.
In his first Westcoaster, Carruthers is on track to set a new race record in this division and could arrive in Hobart on Saturday evening, especially if the wind strengthens behind her as she runs along the bottom of Tasmania.
While new to this race, Carruthers and his seasoned crew boast plenty of sailing experience having circumnavigated New Caledonia twice in the Cat-2 Groupama Race and competed in several Brisbane to Gladstone and Brisbane to Hamilton Island races.
“We do a lot of ocean sailing, but this is something different,” said Carruthers, who is also using this race as quick delivery to Tasmania where they will stay for a summer cruising break.
Peccadillo, the Chris White 46, skippered by Charles Meredith and race newcomer, Resolute II, the Atlantic 48 skippered by Ken Gibson, are also on track to beat the multihull race record set by Peccadillo in 2023.
Rushour is well past the halfway mark with just over 150 nautical miles to travel of the 435 nautical mile race and leads the multihull handicap division on OMR.
In a race with two line honours winners, Scarlet Runner, the Carkeek 43 skippered by Rob Date has just over 208 nautical miles left to sail and is the leading monohull on line honours, but on current predictions is just outside the race record.
There is no clear handicap leader and predictions are difficult, Kioni, the Beneteau 47.7 skippered by Dennis Ward from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, is having a great race, clearly benefiting from a strong and steady build up to this year’s Westcoaster.
Ward has taken a methodical approach to his preparation for the race, gaining invaluable expertise from mentor and experienced ocean racer and helm, Ron Brown who has sailed with him in previous races, while also offering opportunities to his crew to enhance their sailing skills.
“The whole experience of preparation and learning from the experience within the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) has been totally invaluable – even doing the Cat-2 audits, I continue to learn about things I can do to make the boat safer.
“I see ocean racing as a way to gain experience, seamanship in controlled conditions as my longer term plan is to go cruising and this is all good experience,” said Ward.
Kioni also encourages diversity onboard and is sailing in this year’s race with the 2024 ORCV Crew Development winner Irama Navarro Ruiz onboard, while Belinda Duivenroorden has been building her skills in radio and communications.
Lillian Stewart, co-skipper of the First 50 Beneteau, White Spirit, is tired but enjoying the race down the West Coast alongside co-skipper and ORCV Commodore, Cyrus Allen, noting the rain has come in and there are squalls on the horizon.
Stewart thrives on ocean racing and will be taking in all that the majestic West Coast has to offer as she makes her way to Hobart.
“The feeling of being out on the water in the open ocean is like nothing else.
“Some of the experiences I’ve had include seeing the Southern Lights in the sky above me painting everything purple and green.
“There’s something to be said about being at sea and having ten Albatross just gliding across the water around you as if you don’t even exist to them, it is just unreal,” said Stewart.
The fleet is experiencing relatively good but wet conditions down the West Coast of Tasmania in what is currently a reaching race with winds of around 24 knots, moderating during the day, but building again into Sunday morning to speeds of 25 to 30 knots.
One thing is for sure, Tasmania’s rugged and remote west coast, with its lee shore and spectacular birdlife, will be a breathtaking sight for all competitors.
The monohull fleet is competing for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual trophy which will go to the handicap winner on AMS.
Other prizes on offer include the Zeehan Trophy for the Navigator of the boat that wins the Heemskerk Trophy, the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy for the winner on line honours, and the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for first on corrected time on performance handicap.
The fleet is carrying trackers enabling race followers to track the action from start to finish.
Follow the 2024 race via: Blue Water Tracks
The monohull race record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds was set by Shortwave in 2008, winning the race with an average speed over the course of 10.49 knots.
The multihull race record of 2 days 18 hours, 4 minutes and 1 second was set by Peccadillo in 2023.