1988 sydney to hobart yacht race

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Winners 1980 to 1989

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• Posted on December 26, 2022 December 26, 2022
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The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event, which was first sailed in 1945. The race takes place over 5 days and attracts over 100 yachts of all types and sizes.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in December is an icon of Australia’s summer sport. The course covers a distance of 628 nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to the East coast of Australia, Bass Strait, the Tasmanian east coast, Storm Bay, Derwent River and finally Battery Point in Hobart, Tasmania.

Line Honours goes to the first yacht to cross the finishing line. The Overall Winner is determined by each yacht’s finish time adjusted by several factors. As a result, the fastest boat is often not the Overall Winner.

Overall Winner = ow     Line Honour = lh Time is shown as   DD:HH:MM:SS     Days:Hours:Minutes (and Seconds where available)

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Westcoaster History & Results

The 435 nautical mile blue-water classic Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race was the brainchild of Stan Gibson from Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club in Melbourne and Dr Joe Cannon at Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart. It was intended as a challenging alternative for Victorian and South Australian sailors who wanted to be in Hobart for the celebrations but did not want the logistical hassle of getting the yacht up to Sydney to compete in the Sydney to Hobart.

The then fearsome reputation of the west coast of Tasmania ensured that the proposed new race was viewed with scepticism by the local yachting community. However, Stan Gibson’s analysis of the summer weather patterns along the west coast overcame the critics and Donald Trescowthick (subsequently Sir Donald KBE) sponsored the event and donated the Heemskerk Perpetual trophy.

The inaugural 1972 race attracted 15 entries and support for the race increased steadily over the next 20 years with typical fleet sizes of 20 – 30 boats throughout the 1980’s. The fleet record of 65 yachts was reached in 1996 .

By today’s standards, the race was a “big budget affair” in its early years with financial support from both the Victorian and Tasmanian Governments and commercial sponsors - and this was reflected on trophy night. In additional to the Perpetual trophies, still awarded today, in the 1970’s prizes included gold and silver ingots and sovereigns. In 1976 these were upgraded to include “gold plated solid silver ingots hand painted by Pro Hart” for each major place getter. The three main ingots were approximately the same length as a house brick and the painting was described by Pro Hart as the most detailed work he had ever done. The NOR at the time valued these trophies at $25,000 - including $1,500 for each of the 4 Pro Hart paintings. They got that wrong!

Now in its 50th year, the race has a proven and enviable safety record. More than 950 yachts and some 7500 crew have competed in the event without major incident. There is no doubt that the weather can be difficult and there are numerous accounts in the race history strong 50 – 60 knot (100 kph) winds for periods of 3 or 4 hours associated with passing fronts. In these conditions its not easy and the Westcoaster safety record is a tribute to the careful preparation of the crews and to the careful race management and training programs put in place by the ORCV.

In most years, race retirements are limited to only 1 or 2 boats but the record shows 4 years when one third or more of the fleet have not been able to finish the race – and this highlights a different aspect to the challenge. In both 1981 when 12 of the 30 starters retired and 2004 when only 4 boats finished, the problem was lack of wind. In the third year, 1998, eight of the 25 entrants elected not to start, doubtless influenced by the difficulties experienced by the Sydney Hobart Fleet that year but 15 of the 17 starters successfully finished the race.  2019 saw all the fleet struggling to find wind and arriving into Hobart a day later than expected.   In 2021, 77% of the fleet dared to follow the wind, taking the longer route West of King Island with Matt Fahey on Faster Forward brave enough to dream and believe "West was Best" and crowned the overall winner.  

Then came 1999, undoubtedly the most challenging race, with Nigel Jones and his crew on “Cadabarra 7” being the only boat to finish out of 20 yachts. The race started in light 10 – 15kn conditions but with an approaching low-pressure system promising difficult conditions. Cadibarra took the unusual decision to sail to the west of King Island, thus avoiding rough conditions which could be expected in the gap between King Island and NW Tasmania. By morning Cadabarra was west of King Island, the wind had shifted south and strengthened to 25 Kn. The wind continued to strengthen throughout the day – 30kn by nightfall with 3m seas, gusting to 45 kn by the morning of day 3. With wind and 5m seas “bang on the nose” progress was slow and remained uncomfortable until the next morning. After 40 hours sailing, the worst of the low-pressure system had passed, the wind abated and shifted west. South West Cape (around 100 nm from the finish) was rounded by lunch time, first hot meal for a while, spinnaker up and a dash across the bottom of Tasmania at 10 – 18 knots. The finish - 2am on Day 4 after 3 days ands 14 hours. Not dangerous but challenging. That’s the Westcoaster.

The honour of being the first two crewed yachtsman to complete the race was Simon Kellett’s “ bobby Dazzler who finished 20th overall in 1990 out of a fleet of 36. Entries since then have been spasmodic but autohelm and navigation technology is improving and two-handed racing in the Westcoaster is actively encouraged. There were 10 “double handed” entries in the 2017 Westcoaster which is a qualifying event for the Melbourne – Osaka Race and they performed well. Magique (Maurice Contessi & Martin Vaughan) finished second overall in AMS taking out the Sovereign Series against the fully crewed fleet and Kraken (Todd Giraudo & David White) second in IRC.

History of the Westcoaster Snapshot

How it all started.

The first ocean race staged in Australia was sailed between Geelong, Victoria and Stanley, Tasmania in 1907 with yachts competing for the Rudder Cup trophy. In 1971 it was time to run a new ocean race. ORCV Commodore, Stan Gibson, had long held the desire to organize a Melbourne to Hobart yacht race. Gibson believed that such a race would be well supported by not only yachtsmen from Victoria but from all States.

Gibson discussed the matter with his ORCV Committee and received a lukewarm response. However, Gibson continued with his desire, but could not find financial support for his idea. The ORCV at the time had no funds and was not too interested in Gibson's idea.

Gibson enlisted the aid of fellow yachtsmen, Peter Riddle and together they approached Donald Trescowthick who saw the immediate benefits and prestige to the Victorian yachting community. Supporting the Melbourne to Hobart Race were ORCV Honorary Secretary, Ron Elliott and his wife Peg.

Trescowthick immediately set up the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Committee and Gibson arranged for the ORCV, along with the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, to take care of the technical sailing matters in Victoria, with the Derwent Sailing Squadron looking after the Hobart end.

The promotion and management of Melbourne to Hobart were entirely in the hands of Trescowthick and his Committee. The public relations for the race were handled by Richard Sexton who had previously managed the public relations for General Motors Holden.

When the public announcement of this new Blue Water Classic was launched, there was considerable unfavourable press and comments such as "Don't go west young man you could be putting your life on the line. In the Interests of safety. The Melbourne to Hobart Race should be abandoned" were made. It was all of this negative publicity that caused Trescowthick to coin the phrase "The boys go down the east, and the men go down the west"

Initially, the Race Committee decided the race should commence at Queenscliff and arranged for the Victorian State Governor, Sir Henry Winneke to start the Race.

The Race Committee had many meetings to discuss what should happen to ensure the ongoing success of the race. At Trescowthick's suggestion, the Sovereign Series of Races was born comprising Cock of the Bay, Melbourne to Hobart and King of the Derwent races.

Trescowthick's companies, Signet Insurance Group, Charles Davis Limited, Co-operative Motors Limited and Swann Insurance Limited were sponsors. These companies invested more than $2m in sponsorship of the Sovereign Series during the ensuing years.

The Sovereign Series was managed by the Race Committee in an effort to generate interest in Melbourne to Hobart. It was promoted as an equal to the Southern Cross Series which was raced bi-annually in Sydney.

Trescowthick's Race Committee negotiated with Victorian and Tasmanian Governments and gained financial support from each during the formative years. After two starts at Queenscliff, the newly formed Sovereign Series Committee (the Melbourne to Hobart Committee having changed its name to reflect the three races) decided to move the start from Queenscliff to Portsea, which had an immediate positive effect on increasing spectators on land, on water and in the air.

Over the coming month's newsletters, we will continue the history with a summary of each race...

THE FIRST RACE 1972

The race entry fee was $20 and attracted 15 intrepid entries. In the first year, the race started off Queenscliff on Boxing Day at 1.30 pm with a course via King Island and South West Cape to a finish line in Hobart’s Derwent River, off the Wrest Point Casino.

With fresh breezes blowing in Bass Strait, the 15 yachts made their way out through Port Phillip Heads with every boat passing King Island to the West. Peter Riddle’s Warwick Hood designed 41-footer ‘’Mary Blair went on to take line honours and hold the Abel Tasman Trophy in the very quick time of 2 days, 16 hours, 19 min and 7 seconds. John Marion’s Phillip Rhodes designed 30-footer, ‘Ailsa’ won the Heemskerk Trophy for the fastest boat on IOR Mark III corrected time

One very lucky boat to complete was Leon O'Donoghue's Swanson 27 ‘Lady Hamilton’ which needed a 6-inch skillet of plywood glued to its skeg to enable it to meet the minimum 24-foot waterline length race entry requirement. In its crew, with 26 offshore races to his credit, was Royal Brighton Yachtsman, Alan Collins, who in later years went on to win the race multiple times.

Worthy of mention was Geoff Wood’s famous 55-foot 3 masted schooner ‘Ile Ola’, with a piano onboard. During her 34 years of racing and cruising, Ile Ola logged no fewer than an astounding 510,000 sea miles and competed in 15 Melbourne to Hobart races.

Ile Ola out through the heads with piano onboard

1973 - 1979

1973 race saw a fleet of eight yachts in the race. Bill Croft’s Tawarri II won line honours, nearly two days slower than Mary Blair’s record time, with Royal Geelong’s Ron Spence’s Appaloosa winning on handicap. Melbourne to Hobart race founder and ORCV member Stan Gibson’s Four Winds II came fourth. In 1974 weather conditions better suited the race fleet and John Williams’s Minna defeated Mary Blair across the line to take line honours, some four hours slower than the race record. Reg Hare’s 37-foot Alan Payne designed Tasman Seabird, Pagan won on handicap. One of many ocean races won by Alan Payne designed yachts of the years. Worthy of note is that 40 years later, Pagan won the 2014 Brisbane to Gladstone race.

Colour television had just been launched in Australia, and in 1975 Dr Tony Fisher’s maxi the 72-foot Joe Adams designed ferro cement, Helsal (named after Fisher's wife Helen and daughter Sally) made its first appearance in a bid to smash the race record. Already holding the 1973 Sydney to Hobart race record, Fisher wanted both. With mostly light winds during the race, meant the maxi was almost half a day slower than the race record. Bob Mercer’s Carter 38 Rovama won on handicap. Helsal returned in 1976 for another shot at claiming the race record. Despite some halyard issues, Helsal went on to take line honours in a record time of 2 days, 7 hours, 18 mins and 51 seconds, nearly nine hours faster than previous record. Jock Sturrock’s former Alan Payne 42-foot Monsoon skippered by John Attwood won on handicap.

The Searle family began a new chapter in the race’s history book in 1977. Wiley Jim Searle and his son Neil scored the first of the family’s record making four back-to-back wins (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980) on their superbly prepared white and green Farr 1104 Hot Prospect. Line honours was won by Guy Ellis’s 54-foot steel Buchannan, Anaconda, some 13 hours slower than race record time.

Neil Batt’s Sandra scored Tasmania’s first line honours win in 1978 in a time of 2 days, 12 hours, and 21 minutes and in 1979 Alan Collin’s new S&S 34 Eastern Morning entered the race for the time. Over the next ten years Collin’s won the race twice.

Jim Searle returned in 1980 with a new boat Relentless and it didn’t let him down in his quest for a record breaking fourth successive Melbourne to Hobart handicap win. Line honours went to South Australia’s Jim Howell on Nimrod II in a time of 2 days 11 hours 46 mins.

1981 was the 10th anniversary of Melbourne to Hobart. After a decade with no major disasters, a tribute to the race's safety standards and competency of the crews, the Westcoaster emerged from a cloud of controversy as to whether it should ever have been sailed, proving that it could be, and safely. For the first time, Arbitrary Division boats were allowed to race and 11 entries increased entries to a record 33 boats.

Joe Becher’s former Admirals Cupper Apollo II made its race debut, winning IOR handicap division by more than 90 mins with Edie Wall-Smith's Farr42 Rimfire second. Ken King’s new Steinan 40 Noeleen III made its race debut finishing 3rd in IOR Division. Brian Kosts’s 36’ steel cruiser Ebee III won Arbitrary Division and Max Gill’s Holland 48 Isle of Luing took line honours in 3 days 1 hour 13 mins.

1982 IOR Division honours went to Tasmania this year when Hobart based Bill Escott’s S&S 34 Solandra won both line honours and the Arbitrary Division. Meanwhile the Sovereign Series Chairman/Sponsor Sir Donald Trescowthick’s Peterson 40 Kiknos with Neal Searle at the helm, notched a fourth placing in IOR Division.

1983 saw South Australia producing its first handicap winner when James Cowell’s S&S 34 Morning Hustler won the IOR Divion by 65 minutes on corrected time from Alan Collins S&S 34 Eastern Morning David Bowman’s Farr 11.6 Freelance took line honours in 3 days and 7 mins, just 2 mins ahead of Robin Hewett’s Lexcen 49 Yoko. In Arbitrary Division John Edwards UFO 34 Ninda took the trophy against a strong fleet of 16 entries.

In the 1984 race Gary Graham’s 60-foot Royal Geelong based steel sloop Quasimodo won line honours in 3 days 6 hours 27 mins 59 sec., whilst Alan Collins after a 7th and 2nd in previous years broke through for his first IOR Division win on S&S 34 Eastern Morning defeating Ken Page’s S&S 39 Mark Twain. One of the legends of the race, Mac Stokoe from Sandringham Yacht Club sailed his Duncanson 35 Milluna to victory in the Arbitrary Division with Peter McLaren's Adams 12 Lady Bay runner up

The 40 boats in 1985 started with gale force winds as they battled their way across Bass Strait and past King Island. John Lake’s magnificent new Steinman 52-foot Flying Colours from Sandringham Yacht Club made its race debut winning line honours in 2 days 14 hours and 54 mins. Hobart’s Reg Escott sailed home to score his second IOR Division win in three years with his S&S 34 Solandra defeating Graham Aldersea’s Steinman 30 Ruzulu.

Tasmanians won their first ever handicap double in the race, when Drew Murray’s all steel Bollard 36 Trident III (former Ebee III winner Arbitrary Div in 1981) with a hot shot crew of state champion dingy sailors won performance handicap by three and a half hours, defeating Graeme Alexander’s Mottle 33, Thermopylae.

1986 was Flying Colours big year, which saw the quick 52-footer pick up a gale along Tasmania's south coast, surfing home in the new record time of 2 days 3 hours 19 mins 53 sec. Flying Colours slashed almost 4 hours off Helsal’s 1976 record, which had stood for 10 years. Flying Colours also won performance handicap by 3 hours from Dr G Humphrey’s Valkyrie. In IOR Division Peter Gourlay’s Dubois 40 Seaulater won.

In 1987 the IOR Division attracted just three entries, with Eddie Wall-Smith Frers 43 Challenge 3 winning on handicap. The Tasmanians continued their winning streak with Arthur Budd’s bright red hulled Van de Stadt 43 Trumpcard. Line honours went to Flying Colours for the third year in a row.

1988, in the first year of the Sun Smart sponsorship, John Lakes Flying Colours carried the sponsors logo and was line honours winner for a record fourth time in succession.

The South Australians came in force in 1989, when Keith Flint entered the Adams 66 Helsal 1 with his eyes on the line honours record. However, the winds were not quite right and Helsal had to be content with a line honours win in the time of 2 days 12 hours 12 min 3 sec, some 9 hours outside Flying Colours race record time.

In the last year and IOR Division was included in the race, Rob Kenyon steered Ray Abikhairs Farr 37 Hummingbird to victory. Alan Collins won the Channel Handicap in his newly acquired Cavalier 37 By Order of the Secretary and Gary Brice skippered the Navy’s SIII Scarborough of Cerebus to a Performance Handicap victory.

THE 1990'S and FIRST 25 YEARS.

The 1990 race will be remembered as the year Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing was captured on film wave dancing on the Southern Ocean by Tasmania’s world-renowned yachting photographer, Richard Bennett.

Wild Thing was pictured three quarters out of the water surfing down 10-meter waves at speeds in excess of 30 knots, as the Inglis 47 sped on its way to setting a new race record of 2 days 20 minutes and 19 seconds. Bennett’s image was voted Yachting International picture of the year, and it was published in over 60 magazines and books worldwide!

Nigel Jones’ Farr 40 Paladin won Channel Handicap division with style and Richmond Edmunds gave Tasmania its 5th Heemskerk Trophy win in 19 years with his Adams 13 Risky Business.

With the Melbourne to Osaka double handed race looming the following March, Simon Kellett with co skipper Chris Pullin raced the 12.4-meter Swanson Bobby Dazzler to victory in the Westcoater. The year of first Double Handed race entrant.

1991 was when former ORCV Commodore Robin Hewitt’s Lexcen Yoko celebrated its 10th Westcoaster race by notching up its first handicap win in the very competitive Performance Handicap division. Yoko defeated Grant Wharington’s line honours winner Wild Thing by 4 hours and 30 minutes on corrected time.

Robin Hewitt, Trevor Huggard and the crew were so excited they organized a 'Big Day Out’ party for over 250 colleagues on a nearby landing barge to celebrate the occasion

This was also the year for the first running of the new IMS division, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club based Adams 12 Friction skippered by Chris Laker won the converted Heemskerk Trophy

For the 1992 race, Lactos Cheese was the sponsor. All eyes were on Robert Hopcraft’s Adams 52 Animal Farm which after losing its mast soon after the start the year before, was back larger than life and out to get rid of its “Second to Hobart Bridesmaid” tag. Soon after clearing the heads, Animal Farm shot away to lead the fleet down the West Coat of Tasmania. By the Derwent River, after a record-breaking run from South West Cape, Animal Farm held a 15-mile lead over Flying Colours and looked odds on for its maiden win. But in the last few miles, it got caught in the windless “Taroona Hole’ and sat helplessly as Flying Colours caught up, and passed them, to not only win Line Honours but set a new race record time of 2 days 15 mins 7 seconds, 15 minutes faster than Wild Thing’s race record!

In Performance Handicap Division, Richard Edmund’s Adam 13 Risky Business and in IMS Division John Saul’s 12 m sloop Quit for Life brought home two winners in one year for Tasmania.

Sadly, 1992 was to be the last year that Geoff Woods was able to sail Ile Ola to Hobart. Two years later when Geoff died in Geelong, the Westcoaster, and Yachting Victoria lost a true legend.

1993 was quite the year. If winning yacht races is all about evoking high levels of emotion, 1993 Melbourne to Hobart IMS winner certainly produced a heart wrenching story. Well known Royal Brighton Yacht Club skipper Allan Collins, recovering from a throat cancer operation, was unable to compete. However, his crew, led by co-owner Rex Billing raced the Cavalier 37 By Order of the Secretary flat out down the West Coast dedicating their fine win to their absent and ailing skipper back in Melbourne.

In line honours battle, Royal Brighton’s David Gotze sailing his Davidson Murray 52 Prime Example celebrated his recent marriage, and his first Ocean Race, by being the first to Hobart and greeting his new wife in 2 days 22 hours and 8 mins. This was the first ocean race for David, and it was where his passion for ocean racing and his love of the Melbourne to Hobart race was born.

The Navy's Scarborough of Cerberus skippered by Ken Moody scorched home to win the Performance Handicap by 62 minutes. Sadly, three weeks later at the Western Port Marina in Hastings, the yachting world was shocked when Ken Moody tragically lost his life after he was accidentally electrocuted whilst building the ‘boat of his dreams’. Later in June, Melbourne to Hobart sailors bid farewell to another great character and loyal supporter of ORCV when Alan Collins lost his battle with cancer.

1994 race saw Line Honours and Double Handed trophy won in spectacular fashion by Simon Kellett's Inglis 47 entry Fast Forward. Simon was lucky to reach Hobart after he escaped injury when trapped upside down in a bosuns chair at the top of Fast Forward's mast in a gale off South West Cape!

In Performance Handicap, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs brought home the previous year's winning Navy entry Scarborough of Cerberus to take first prize.

1995 was Tasmania’s turn to dominate results again with Hobart’s John Saul traded up to the Inglis 47 Tasmap, which more than 200 spectator boats at the start off Portsea saw win the converted Port Phillip Pilots Trophy race to the Heads, before it went on to score an all the way convincing Line Honours win in 2 days 20 hours and 27 mins.

1996 was the 25th anniversary of the race and was contested by a race record size fleet of 74 yachts. A great achievement for a race that they said would never be held! It was a fast race with a new race record set by Peter Hansen’s PL Lease Management of 1 day 23 hours 15 mins and 38 seconds. Taking more than 50 minutes off the previous race record. Standing up to receive the Heemskerk Trophy (holding his new born baby) was skipper and owner of Brighton Star, David Gotze.

“The Westcoaster was my first ocean race and will always be my favorite ocean race...... it's a very special race, I love the race,” (David Gotze, August 2022)

A special race for Brighton Star skipper David Gotze winning the 25th Melbourne to Hobart race in 1990. Photo Richard Bennett

Melbourne to Hobart Past Results

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS. For the past 4 years the overall winner has competed under both IRC and AMS rating systems and has been the leader in both of the Measurement Handicap Divisions. Results since 1999 are given below.

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS.  For a number of years, the overall winner also 1st on AMS and IRC. Results since 1999 are given below.

Overall Winners 

Between 1972 and 1999 the Heemskirk trophy was awarded to the winner under the premier handicapping system of the day  but the handicapping systems varied and the system applied in any given year was not necessarily in common use nor system with the most entries.                                                     

The Overall winners in this period are listed below.

Results by division.

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BILL MANNING

• Nov 11, 2019

The 1987/1988 race to Hobart and return to Sydney

Updated: Jan 29, 2020

The 1987 Sydney to Hobart was uneventful, the real story concerned the trip back to Sydney. For this trip we sailed the Norske a Peter Cole design Nantucket 42 footer which was owned by Bruce Dickson and family.

For the trip to Hobart 146 yachts finished, we were 71st across the line finishing in 4 days 6 hours and 41 seconds, and on IOR handicap we were 87th with a corrected time of 3 days 10 hours

and 34 seconds. The reason we went in the race was to participate in the return race featuring many tall ships and yachts from the 1987 Hobart race on the 200 anniversary of the first fleet arriving in Sydney.

The return race was due to start at 1400 hrs on 3 January 1988 out of the Derwent River and in Storm Bay. This is approximately 20 nautical miles from Hobart city and it took about 4 hours to the start line. The river was full of boats , tall ships and yachts all moving at about 4 to 5 knots. There was absolutely no wind and everybody was moving by motor power. There was much talk on the radio and across the water, there was a real buzz between the boats in the race and many spectator boats.

Then Radio Hobart came on the air booming over all the boats chatting.

“This is radio Hobart, we have a message from the prime minister of Australia The Honourable RJ Hawk.” On comes Mr Hawk in strine “my fellow Australians, I wish you all……”

Now normally Radio Hobart booms over the top of all other traffic, but there were so many others coming into the conversation that much of the rest of the message was garbled by many singing

“the working class can kiss my arse … etc.

Then came the US Coast Guard Tall Ship ‘Eagle’,

“I have a message from the President of the United States for the Prime Minister of Australia, we wish you all …”.

Once again the message was interrupted by a lot of out of tune singing. The same thing happened to a message from the Polish Tall Ship Dar Młodzieży (300 feet in length and 2255 ton deadweight the same as US Coast Guard Ship ‘Eagle’)

At 1400 hrs the gun went for the start of the first division of the race. We did not move for about 1 hour due to no wind. Eventually the gun went for the Tall Ships and they were going no where. Then at about 1500 hrs it came in very hard from the north and we were so busy we did not see how the others in the race were fairing. Eventually we gathered the tall ships we headed for New Zealand.

We settled down, rounded Tasman Light and then we were close hauled on a 25 to 30 knot northerly. At about 12 midnight we were off Maria Island with Bruce Gould at the helm when BANG the forstay broke at the deck. Bruce really saved the day by turning the boat around 180 degrees down wind and thus taking the pressure off the mast. All hands on deck, we took the now ripped genoa off and took all the halyards to the bow to hold the mast up. We then sailed through the Schouten Passage behind Maria Island into Triabunna.

When we got to the Triabunna Wharf we pulled along side and tied up. It is a ships wharf and is about 4 metres above low water mark. Shore side there is a fish factory with offal sliding into the bay. There were about 2 dozen kids and a few adults fishing off the wharf. They were catching good fish and the odd shark.

We established that the broken forestay had gone at the bottle-screw at the deck. If we could get a replacement bottle-screw it would be an easy repair. We phoned Mike Snook and asked him to get us a replacement. He advised he would have to get it from Melbourne and it would be at Hobart Airport by 0900 in the morning.

We then adjourned to the local hotel and booked in. Malcolm Levy upset the bar maid who was pouring the beers. He asked if she could fill his just poured glass of beer with some rum.

She said she certainly could.

‘Then fill it up with beer please,’ Black mark Malcolm.

The next morning we were up and about early and ready for Mike Snook to delver the bottle-screw. At about 1000hrs the children were all fishing and Mike arrived and stopped his ute at the end of the jetty in front of the fish factory. He ran down the wharf and handed the bottle-screw to Bruce Dickson. Unfortunately the bottle-screw went strait through Bruces’ hand and into about 2.5 metres of water. On seeing this the crew’s first reaction was to come to the side of the boat, to place there hands on the side wire and look over the side to where the bottle-screw disappeared into the water. They could see nothing not even bubbles where it went in. Bruce said that he dropped it so he would get it back. He took off his shirt and dived in. With this drama unfolding the was an audible drawing in of breath from all those on the wharf and a muffed reference to sharks in the water. After about 20 seconds there was the sound of a whale breeching. It was Bruce coming up for air and diving down again. Then like King Arthur holding Excalibur out of the lake Bruce came up again thrusting the bottle-screw above his head to the cheers from the crew and the crowd on the wharf.

Later, Bruce said the first dive involved him diving to the bottom and on his first touch of the bottom his vision was reduced to zero by the very fine black silt. His second dive he felt his way to the bottom and thrust his hand into the silt. As luck would have it he found the bottle-screw first up. He the surfaced with the bottle-screw in his hand above his head.

Without any engine assistance we sailed from the wharf in a light south easterly breeze. The following day the south easterly was still at 15 knots pushing as along at 6 knots when we spied on the horizon the Dar Młodzieży.

We were overtaking her quite swiftly. After some discussion it was decided to sail right up the her and give her three cheers. We sailed under her lee and along side by about 6 metres and shouted our greeting. With that, the claxton on the Dar Młodzieży sounded and in Polish we deduced the broadcast saying

‘all hands on deck’.

With that 250 ‘hands’ appeared from below decks and took their positions in the rigging and returned our three cheers with gusto. It was a memorable day for the Norske crew.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. At the time the race had to finish we were abeam of Ulladulla so we dropped off some of the crew who wanted to get home as soon as possible and motor sailed our way back to Sydney.

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Sydney to Hobart 75 Years

Challenging, Thrilling, Racing - Sydney to Hobart 75 Years 

Challenging, Thrilling Racing.

Charting the history of the blue water classic, with stunning photography by acclaimed photographers Andrea Francolini, Carlo Borlenghi and Richard Bennett, this exhibition is an expansive visual timeline, including evocative film.

Highlighting the excitement, comradery, risk and danger of this great yacht race, Challenging, Thrilling, Racing - Sydney to Hobart 75 Years includes material from significant years such as the tragic events of 1998's race . You'll gain an insight into the character of the race that began in 1945 with only nine contestants. In this, its 75th year, the Sydney to Hobart race fields 170 local and international teams. 

Also included in the 75th year commemorative program for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2019 is a display of photographs by acclaimed yachting photographer Richard Bennett in the museum’s Yots Café during December 2019 to January 2020. Richard's book will be available to purchase in the museum store.

Main image: Skipper Captain John Illingworth (centre standing in cap) with the crew of Rani, the winner of the first Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, 1.45am, 2 January 1946. ANMM Collection 00048228_003 , Gift from Alison Richmond

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Harbour Cruise: Sydney-to-Hobart Race Start

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Australian Sailing Hall of Fame

Tasmanian Photographer Richard Bennett has become synonymous with the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. For 50 years, he has been out there with the fleet, capturing every boat as they fight for the best time across Bass Strait to Hobart.

Today, at 1 pm, the firing of a cannon will mark the beginning of the race, and the fleet will sail out of Sydney Harbour. Richard, now 78 years old, will watch the race tracker and the wind, ready to take to the skies and photograph the iconic race for the 50 th time. 

Yachties describe him as courageous and dedicated and his work as the pinnacle of yacht race photography – spectacular and realistic. 

One yachtie said:

The sight of his beard behind the camera as he hangs out the side of the branded aircraft has become as familiar and exciting a sight to yachties as the tall dolerite cliffs that mark the entrance to the home stretch. 

For Richard, it all starts before dawn. At 4 am, he heads to the airstrip to meet his pilot to take off at first light. He wants the beautiful morning glow, and he doesn’t want to miss a minute, an opportunity to capture a yacht and a crew in their element approaching the finish line of the world’s toughest ocean race.

His daughter Alice, also a photographer, will be shooting the race with him this year, something she has been doing intermittently since she was 14 years old. She is in training for the eventual day that Richard puts down his camera, which he is adamant is many years away. 

“To share that experience of being there with Dad, with him in his element, is very special,” Alice says. 

In between shooting, Alice says they are ‘giggly’ with excitement, literally hopping from toe to toe, eager to get back out there. Richard monitors the weather constantly, and if there is a huge wind off the south coast, they fly down there to ‘get the west coasters’. 

“We’re just having so much fun. The light, the waves and the boats are coming. We’re so excited to get out there, the pilot is always telling us to wait and let the yachts get a little closer until we can’t wait any longer, and then we leap into the air again.” 

They are out from dawn to dusk getting every boat possible in the daylight. Alice says Richard goes so hard for that week and then crashes at the end. A couple of times, Richard has finished the race with pneumonia from being in extreme conditions, pushing himself hard for the duration of the race. 

“What struck me the most,” says Alice, “is how much he cares – about getting every boat and about getting the best shots. He wants a shot that the yachties will be proud of. 

“As he approaches, he assesses the yacht, and if the sails aren’t set correctly, I can hear him talking to them (into his headset) saying ‘come on’, sort of willing them to get everything perfect. He instructs the pilot to come around again, allowing the crew the time to put everything right. “Oh, hang on, they’re getting on the rail,” he’ll say “do another pass” to get the portrait. 

“He appreciates what they are going through below and wants to capture what they went through.”  

Richard says,

“The wind is where the action is.  And yachties like to see their boat sailing well in rough conditions. They go home and talk about how rough it was out there and the water can look flat calm. And people say, that isn’t rough, it looks like a mill pond. So, I capture what they go through. Out at sea. And to do that I need a jet ranger helicopter with a highly skilled pilot to provide the platform and the experience to put me where I need to be – where the action is.  And it’s been said that the harder it blows the happier I am. And that’s generally, true. There have been occasions where it has blown too hard.  But fortunately, that doesn’t happen often.”  

On when he’ll retire, Richard says “I’m only 78. Approaching my prime.”  

Photographing the race is demanding but he says “When you’re concentrating on a major project, you need to put in 100 percent effort.”

“It doesn’t matter how hard it is. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. It requires total commitment, determination and relentless pursuit of the goals, irrespective of the difficulties, because the yachts don’t stop until they get to Constitution Dock.

“And until I have photographed them all, I’m going to be out there chasing down every yacht because when they get to Hobart they’re going to turn up at my stand and ask to see their photographs. So, it’s my job to make sure the photographs are there when they get to Hobart.  It’s a shared experience really.  It’s telling their story in amazing photographs.”

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Last Sydney to Hobart yacht arrives with 18 minutes left of 2022

A ny other day, they would have slipped quietly into Constitution Dock. But when 70-year-old Kathy Veel and 62-year-old Bridget Canham crossed the Sydney to Hobart finish line - the last of the fleet to do so - at 11.42pm on New Year’s Eve, it was as if they’d heralded the early arrival of 2023.

A crowd in the thousands who had packed out the Hobart shoreline to ring in the new year chanted “Currawong, Currawong!” as the two-hander made its way past the packed-out Taste of Summer festival and around Constitution Dock.

Cheers came from the water, too, where boats had lined up to greet the nine-metre yacht as it pushed up the River Derwent.

After a lap of honour around the thrilled spectators, interviews on the boat, and the well-deserved popping of a giant bottle of champagne: the fireworks. Veel and Canham watched from the 1973 vessel that had carried them south.

You couldn’t have written a better ending to a story that stretched five days at sea, 630 nautical miles, and a day of waiting in Eden as they waited for bad weather in Bass Strait to pass.

“You wouldn’t believe the stops we pulled to get this happening,” said Canham. “The biggest challenge we had was getting here before New Year’s Eve,” she said. “We’ve been working our butts off to get here. And it’s paid off.”

Veel said the experience was “unbelievable”. “[It was like] nothing I’ve ever had ... in my whole life, she said. “When you heard people going, ‘Curr-a-wong!’, I thought, ‘What?!’

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”

The sailors described the weather conditions down the coast as “brilliant”.

“The boat behaved so well, it was just magic,” said Canham, a retired nurse.

The sailors are among the oldest to compete in the Sydney to Hobart race, and certainly the oldest in the race’s new two-handed fleet section. But Veel, a retired teacher now living in Bullabarra, near Katoomba, said they didn’t want to be defined by their age - nor their sex.

“It’s not, to be honest, how we think of ourselves,” said Veel in the lead-up to the race. “We’re sailors who happen to be women rather than women who sail.

Veel purchased the boat last year, and ran a GoFundMe page to raise financial support so the pair could purchase the necessary supplies to enter the race.

In 2021, Veel was named Blue Mountains Volunteer of the Year for her work with the not-for-profit sailing-based Making Waves Foundation.

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