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2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

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2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2015 ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE REMARKS BY HER EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR THE HONOURABLE KATE WARNER AM GOVERNOR OF TASMANIA HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR, FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 Thank you for inviting my husband, Dick, and me to present the trophies for the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. I was interested to find when researching the topic that the Sydney to Hobart race began in a rather off-the-cuff fashion. During 1945 three members of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia —Jack Earl, Peter Luke and Bert Walker— planned a cruise to Hobart in their respective yachts after Christmas. One evening Captain John Illingworth RN gave a talk to the club members, and afterwards Peter Luke suggested Illingworth might like to join the cruise. Illingworth’s reply was ‘I will, if you make a race of it’.1 Now internationally recognised as one of the three classic blue-water ocean races - the others being the Fastnet Race in the UK and Bermuda Race along the east coast of the US – the Sydney to Hobart never fails to surprise. This year the start was difficult for all involved. The official start boat had to pull out after taking on water and as a result, a hooter rather than the traditional cannon started the fleet on what was to be a tumultuous first day for the race.2 After the chaotic start a southerly buster pummelled the fleet on the first night, forcing many damaged yachts to retire. Almost a quarter of the fleet were affected, including line-honours favourite Wild Oats XI. The list of damage is indicative of the power of the wind and sea: deck damage, hull damage, bow damage, broken forestays, broken rudders, torn mainsails and steering damage were among the reasons for yachts having to retire. Fortunately all crews are safe, although there has been a broken leg, cracked ribs and I guess lots of bruises. Even the yachts that continued were not all fully serviceable. Comanche suffered damage to a daggerboard and rudder. Skipper Ken Read briefly 1 http://stories.anmm.gov.au/sydney-hobart-70/ accessed 23 Dec 15 2 http://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/news/2015/day-1/wild-start-when-nothing-went-to-plan/ accessed 30 Dec 15 2 retired, and was heading back to Sydney but decided to repair and improvise – a gamble that paid great dividends. I am full of admiration for the courage and persistence of all of the competitors. What in a sailor’s terms are “the uncomfortable conditions” that are experienced at times during the race - which translated means enormous terrifying seas, and the deafening noise of the wind and the groan and creek of the boat – and for some, awful sea sickness – I am in awe. As David Payne writes in his paper on the race ‘‘There are no lanes, signposts or field markings to show the way’ There is no pit lane to pull over into for repairs, changes of personnel and refuelling—once you start, you have to be self-sufficient to the end.”3 There are so many stories that come out of every Sydney to Hobart race. Many of boats must have had frightening experiences this year – and the experience of the two crew members of Ragamuffin 100, who were washed or knocked overboard when the boat was knocked flat in the southerly buster is one they will never forget. It must have been a terrifying 20 minute ordeal as the crew righted the boat only to have one of the daggerboard sheer off forcing the crew to adapt the remaining daggerboard so it could be shifted from side to side. So to be second over the line after all of that was quite a feat. The super-maxi yachts showcase the latest in technology and are impressive in their ability to travel so quickly in all weather conditions. Of course there are also many smaller yachts competing. And this year just getting to Hobart is a major achievement. Well done to Myuna III that did not make it for New Years Eve but has just finished. This brings back many memories for me of Jim Molesworth’s Boongown in the sixties, which occasionally missed New Year’s Eve. So we both want to congratulate all of the sailors who have stepped up to compete in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, wherever they have finished. Well done too to the 12 yachts that make up the Clipper Race Fleet, taking part in the Sydney Hobart as part of their round the world races. They have all arrived safely in Hobart – Dick and I saw the skipper of PSP Logistics getting a dunking when they arrived yesterday morning. And particular congratulations to Wendy, Skipper of Da Nang Vietnam who was the first in of the clipper fleet. 3 http://stories.anmm.gov.au/sydney-hobart-70/ accessed 23 Dec 15 3 Congratulations to Comanche on overcoming numerous challenges to take line honours, making Kristie Hinze-Clark the first female owner to take line honours. Kristie also raced aboard the yacht in her first Sydney to Hobart. This is so appropriate in a year which celebrates 70 year’s of women’s participation. Handicap winner, the 10 year-old Farr designed Balance, owned by Paul Clitheroe won its second Sydney Hobart having won the first time as Quest in 2008. The crew thought they had been beaten by the much smaller Quikpoint Azzurro and had an anxious night before being declared the winner ahead of the French boat Courrier du Leon and Quickpoint Azzuro, ‘the little boat that nearly did it’ . To Rolex, sponsor of the race since 2002, I say thank you for your support of this event. Rolex present two of their magnificent watches to the winners of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - something that is a fitting and lasting memento of their achievements. And last, but certainly not least, I must thank all of the organisers, volunteers and staff who have made this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race such a success. It is an enormous undertaking and I congratulate you all on a job well done. .
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