2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron

Willie Smith's

Updated:  25/12/2022  9:39:24 PM

Race Officer Tom Bain | Start Boat Stolly

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Fork in the Road Finish - Photo Credit Gill Dayton

Fork in the Road Finish - Photo Credit Gill Dayton

Launceston to Hobart Race Review

Fork in the Road limps in for Line Honours, Sundowner wins Overall FOR THE 2022 Willie Smith’s Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

Bagging their 9th Line Honours win, Fork in the Road drifted by the Iron Pot at 11:00am yesterday with an uncharacteristic flouro orange trysail in place of the usual giant fork. The team were flying the uncommon combo of a Code Zero and a storm trysail, the racing main lashed to the boom – a sign of the thrashing they took Wednesday in the big Nor’Wester.

“We copped it in Wineglass Bay,” says crew member Finlay Crisp. “We saw it coming, and put a reef in, then another, and going for our third the main just went.” Skipper Gary Smith decided to throw the trysail up, and for a moment thought that was the race for them. “But it blew all night” Smith reports, “And we ended up taking down the larger foresail and putting up the No. 4” jib. They sailed quick through the evening, enough to overcome the limp home in the early tickle of the seabreeze.

Second over the line was Heatwave (Matthew Keal), who put in a good final run, but there wasn’t quite enough distance left to grab the IRC win.

Overall IRC and ORCc winners Alice Grubbs and Tom Stearns co-owners of Sundowner say the victory wasn’t without a few scars. “[We] broke a mainsail, broke a jib, broke a spinnaker pole…” says Stearns. Grubbs adds, “It was not easy, it was a lot of work, we used every sail on the boat, broken two of them, but there are no broken hearts, no broken bodies… and we’re still friends!”

They broke the first main off the top of Tassie, broke the second when the 50 kts came through near Wineglass bay, and eventually repaired the first main. “Doesn’t hurt to have a professional sailmaker on board” Grubbs laughed.

“Nothing beats old Dacron, though, who says you need to be a millionaire to go sailing. When it breaks it doesn’t shred.” The irony is this tough old material might have been the secret to the win, with the conditions faced by the fleet.

Zephyr Insurance Masters (Ian Johnston) kept the pressure on to the last, making huge gains throughout the night and matching Sundowner in the final leg to the finish. Force Eleven (Steve Brown) finally got out of the doldrums of Storm Bay to finish during peak sea breeze and a roaring crowd at the Taste festival.

Big Pup (Teresa Badrock) also had a good night, leapfrogging over Planet X (Dylan Reid) and into 1st place in the PHS, both boats rounding Tasman Island as the finishers tie up ashore and hoping the breeze holds through the night.

Congratulations to all sailors and crews, including the retirees, all safe and accounted for. Congratulations to Line Honours winners Fork in the Road, IRC and ORC winners Sundowner and Big Pup for the PHS win.

Words: Liz Loughridge

Photos: Gill Dayton & Colleen Darcey

M.O.S.S Australia

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Launceston to Hobart yacht race set to be full of competition

Kraken 42s. Picture: Colleen Darcey

Derwent Sailing Squadron race director Scott Brain is delighted with the number of entries in this year's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

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The anticipated on water rivalry is likely to see a close finish between line honour contenders.

"We have 24 Tasmanian entries and I'm impressed with the calibre of the fleet from both the north and south of the state. We have five boats representing the local Port Dalrymple Yacht Club (PDYC) and Andrew Jones' AdvantEdge, from PDYC, is expected to push hard for line honours from southern rival veteran, Gary Smith, sailing Fork in the Road." Brain said.

Family ties continue to dominate in the 2021 L2H with many of the entries featuring families sailing together in this iconic race of the Tasmanian sailing calendar.

The 285-nautical mile race starts at 9.30am on Monday, December 27, at Inspection Head at Beauty Point.

READ MORE: Ariarne Titmus gets recognition with Nike and City of Launceston council

The fleet will head out of the Tamar River to Low Head before hitting the challenging Banks Strait.

Current predictions will have the fleet across the top of Tasmania by late evening on Monday but with strong tides and light conditions forecast, the navigators will be looking for every opportunity to maximise their performance in this notorious area of the race.

Local knowledge of the Tamar River and Banks Strait is expected to give PDYC entrants a boost as they hit the start line.

Last racing in 2019, Andrew Jones, from PDYC, will be looking to improve on his result of first in PHS and third in IRC.

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Other PDYC entrants vying for handicap honours will be Big Pup (Teresa Badrock and Anthony Bezemer), Honey Pott (Nick Mcelwee) and Sassy (Tim White).

This will be a race within a race for some entrants as they compete against like designed boats, with several Cookson 12s, Farr 1104s and Northshore 38s involved.

The race is expected to finish in Hobart on Wednesday, December 29.

Tim Membrey's return for St Kilda against Geelong was a memorable one for all involved at the club. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

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COMMENTS

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  5. About the L2H Race

    Departing on 27 December each year is the Launceston to Hobart yacht race. A 285 nautical mile race around the North East and East Coast of Tasmania featuring very competitive and challenging offshore competition. The L2H, as it has become known, has rapidly become a favourite amongst local yachties, providing and affordable, solid ocean race ...

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  7. 2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

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  8. TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

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  9. Launceston to Hobart Race Review

    Launceston to Hobart Race Review. 30/12/2022. Fork in the Road limps in for Line Honours, Sundowner wins Overall FOR THE 2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. Bagging their 9th Line Honours win, Fork in the Road drifted by the Iron Pot at 11:00am yesterday with an uncharacteristic flouro orange trysail in place of the usual ...

  10. YB Tracking Race Viewer

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2022 - YB Tracking Race Viewer. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2022 - YB Tracking Race Viewer.. Zoom Options. Overlays / Map. Powered by PredictWind. Level: Showing Wind. Enable real-time playback Speed: Teams Leaderboard ...

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  15. Race Documents

    The Derwent Sailing Squadron has now released the Notice of Race and Entry Form for the 2023 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race and invites eligible yacht owners to enter. This years 17th L2H is open to all boats over 8.5 metres, meeting category 3 racing safety requirements, including a life raft. With a …

  16. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

    Tamar Yacht Club are proud to offer support for the annual Launceston to Hobart (L2H) Yacht Race, facilitated by Derwent Sailing Squadron. The L2H race departs Beauty Point on the 27th of December each year, with entrants competing in a 285 nautical mile course, towards the finish line off Castray Esplanade, Hobart.

  17. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race Entries Open

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race Entries Open. By Tasmanian Times. Posted on September 27, 2020. Starting at Beauty Point on 27 December 2020, the race will be celebrating its 14th birthday as the fleet sails the 285 nautical mile race along the rugged northern and eastern coastline of Tasmania. An important aspect of this year's race will be ...

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    TASPORTS NAVIGATOR OF WINNING BOAT - 1 st Navigator on winning yacht on IRC. John Ryan - Detail First, BYC. CITY OF HOBART TROPHY - 1 st yacht under 10 metres on PHS. Twitch - Twitch Syndicate, BYC. Line Honours: 1 day 19 hrs 30 min 52 sec (new record) Alive - Reichel/Pugh 66 - Phillip Turner - Skipper, Duncan Hine, DSS. 2021

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  21. News

    DERWENT SAILING SQUADRON 23 Marieville Esplanade, Sandy Bay Tas 7005 P 03 6223 1977 | E [email protected] www.dssinc.org.au | L2H Facebook | L2H Facebook

  22. Results Archives

    TRACKER; Results VERTIGO DIZZY WITH SUCCESS. 31/12/2019 L2H Admin No comments. ... (Wings Three) have been declared joint overall winners of the National Pies 10th Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. Continue Reading. Philosopher crowned King of the Derwent. 02/01/2017 L2H Admin No comments.