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 start

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Launceston to Hobart yacht race led by late entrant Alive

On deck: Competitors enter Bass Strait at the mouth of the Tamar RIver at Low Head at the start of the Launceston to Hobart yacht race. Picture: Phillip Biggs

Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine, is leading the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race on line honours.

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A late entry in the race, Alive, a Reichel-Pugh 66, sailed by a Tasmanian crew pulled together from some of the boat's regulars when in Hobart, was the first boat to Low Head, and is expected to break the race record of one day, nine hours, 33 minutes and 58 seconds, which was set in 2009.

It was a tough start for the 31-boat fleet which started the race in very light conditions at Inspection Head, Beauty Point, on the Tamar River, at 11:30 on Sunday.

Talofa, a Northshore 38 owned by Rob and Judi Cawthorn and a regular in the L2H race, was squeezed out on the start line and had to restart the race, while Black Magic, skippered by Bellerive Yacht Club Commodore, Graham Mansfield, was becalmed before the race, giving the fleet a 10-minute advantage.

The L2H is one race of a three-race series sailed over the Christmas and New Year period.

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Race one is from the start of the L2H to Low Head, the second race in the series is the race to Hobart, while race three is the King of the Derwent, sailed in Hobart on January 2, 2021.

Victorian entry, Dream, skippered by Robert Green, had a solid start to the race after a long absence from racing due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, winning the race to Low Head on PHS and ORCi overall.

The Quest Syndicate, sailing from the Lindisfarne Sailing Club and skippering Quest in her first L2H race, was the first to Low Head on AMS, while The Dog House, skippered by Ambrose Coad and with Benjamin Coad, the youngest competitor in the race on board, was first overall on IRC.

It was a disappointing day for Windrose with skipper Ashok Mani retiring the 1961 Admiral's Cup winner 90 minutes after the start as a precautionary measure after identifying a few issues of concern with the boat.

At 5pm, Alive was leading the race to Hobart on line honours and ORCi.

FULL GALLERY: Pictures by Phillip Biggs

Rumbeat, skippered by Justin Barr, was leading on PHS in division 2 and overall, while Quest was leading on PHS in division 1.

Talofa had recovered well from her slow start and was leading on AMS overall and division 2, as well as on IRC in division 2, while Jeff Cordell's Mumm 36, B&G Advantage, was leading on AMS in division 1.

The forecast for the rest of Sunday is for west to south-westerly winds averaging 25 to 35 knots for Banks Strait and adjacent areas, very gusty in the late evening and persisting into early Monday morning before easing to 10-15 knots (average) by 8.00am Monday.

The fleet will take on the challenges of Banks Strait overnight before heading down the spectacular east coast of Tasmania.

MELBOURNE TO DEVONPORT

Paul Buchholz's Cookson 50 Extasea started towards the back of the fleet but the race favourite hit the front only 1600 metres into the only interstate yacht race taking place across the Christmas period.

Poised to compete with the race record thanks to strong south-westerly winds, Extrasea is expected to hit Devonport after first light Monday morning.

Port's Sam Powell-Pepper (L) will learn on Monday if he's suspended for a bump on Crow Mark Keane. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

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Launceston to Hobart yacht race

VERTIGO DIZZY WITH SUCCESS

Its official, Victorian sailor Tim Olding and his crew sailing the Summit 35, Vertigo, was this afternoon declared the overall winner of the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H 2019. Official results were announced at today’s prize-giving at the Derwent Sailing Squadron with the trophy for overall winner and IRC divisional winner presented by Her Excellency Kate […]

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Philosopher crowned King of the Derwent

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IMAGES

  1. Launceston to Hobart 2019 Yacht Race set to be anyone's race

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  2. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

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  3. Impressive start at Launceston to Hobart Race 2019

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  4. Alive threatens race record in Launceston to Hobart

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  5. TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

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  6. 2020 TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race entries open

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COMMENTS

  1. YB Tracking Race Viewer

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2023 - YB Tracking Race Viewer. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2023 - YB Tracking Race Viewer.. Zoom Options. Overlays / Map. Powered by PredictWind. Level: Showing Wind. Enable real-time playback Speed: Teams Leaderboard ...

  2. Derwent Sailing Squadron's 2023 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

    Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a competitive and challenging 285nm offshore race starting in the North on 27 Dec and finishing in Hobart before NYE.

  3. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race Start

    Details Start: 27/12/2023 @ 11:00 am End: 31/12/2023 @ 3:30 pm Event Category: race events Event Tags: Beauty Point, Crew, L2H, TYC Organiser Derwent Sailing Squadron Phone: 03 6223 1977 Email: [email protected] Website: http://dssinc.org.au Venue Unnamed Venue Tasmania Australia + Google Map Phone: 03 6223 1977 « L2H Prize Presentaions

  4. About the L2H Race

    This iconic annual celebration of racing sees yachts from all three major ocean races, the Launceston to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney to Hobart, battle together up the River Derwent to the finish line, before tying up at the docks in central Hobart to bring in the new year.

  5. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

    The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race, [1] commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River, with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania (eastern Bass Strait), through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Mari...

  6. 2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

    Race Results by TopYacht. 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. Start : 10:00 ; Sail No: Boat Name: First Name:

  7. Here is the link to the...

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race · December 26, 2021 · Here is the link to the YB fleet tracker. ...

  8. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. 3,125 likes · 20 talking about this · 150 were here. Departing on 27 December each year...

  9. FOLLOW THE FLEET IN...

    FOLLOW THE FLEET IN 2023! The YB Tracking race trackers are warming up for the Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. To follow the fleet and keep up to date on the race progress now is...

  10. 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.

  11. TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

    The 2020 TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race (L2H) has attracted the biggest fleet since 2016, with 33 contenders including one Victorian and 32 Tasmanian teams including four teams from the north of the state. Derwent Sailing Squadron Race Director Ron Bugg is expecting a fierce battle for line honours from four boats. Victorian entry ...

  12. TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

    02/12/2020 The 2020 TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race (L2H) has attracted the biggest fleet since 2016, with 33 contenders including one Victorian and 32 Tasmanian teams including four teams from the north of the state. Derwent Sailing Squadron Race Director Ron Bugg is expecting a fierce battle for line honours from four boats.

  13. 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 giant fork.

  14. Home-state entries dominate field for Launceston to Hobart yacht race

    The crew of Patrick Clarke's Yolla is all that stands in the way of a home-state victory in the 17th running of the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. Ad. Home Local Sport Local Footy.

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race start

    Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race start. Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine, is leading the TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race (L2H) on line honours. A late entry in the race, Alive, a Reichel-Pugh 66, sailed by a Tasmanian crew pulled together from some of the boat's regulars when in Hobart, was the first boat to Low Head, and is expected to ...

  18. Race History

    Race History | Launceston to Hobart yacht race 2007 Inaugural year | Starters: 17 IRC: Host Plus Executive - Mumm 36 - Jeff Cordell, BYC Asylum - Sydney 38 - Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS X-Rated - X-35 - David Creese, BYC PHS: Host Plus Executive - Mumm 36 - Jeff Cordell, BYC Haphazard - Adams/Radford 49 - Nick Edmunds, TYC Lock on Wood - […] HOME

  19. Launceston to Hobart yacht race led by late entrant Alive

    A late entry in the race, Alive, a Reichel-Pugh 66, sailed by a Tasmanian crew pulled together from some of the boat's regulars when in Hobart, was the first boat to Low Head, and is expected to ...

  20. Results Archives

    Shaun Tiedemann's Philosopher yesterday proved herself to be this summer's champion yacht of Hobart's River Derwent, out-sailing a crack fleet to become King of the Derwent for 2016. Continue Reading