Sydney Hobart – Other side of the coin.
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 26 Dec 2021 23:02 UTC
Botin 80 Stefan Racing off Sydney Heads after the start of the 2021 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race © Mitch Pearson / Surf Sail Kite
Certainly was action aplenty overnight. You have to expect with the conditions on offer. So. You have managed to survive the first night. As Eric Idle wrote for ‘The Life of Brian’, it’s time to ‘Always look on the bright side of life.’
Now as the supermaxis make their declarations and commence the leap from Green Cape to Tasmania, who else has had a good night? Well the first thing is to note that Black Jack leads, and has certainly used a very inshore route to do it. Well done to Squark and the gang. Scallywag have also put in a herculean effort to return to the leading pack after their J2 tack incident off Sydney Heads.
At one stage overnight Stefan Racing had moved into third overall, so the crew have certainly extracted a lot from the Botin 80. Current leaders in Division Zero are Ichi Ban, Division One (which is ostensibly the village of the Teepees who have had a high attrition rate this year) is Celestial, with the mighty Quest only a few miles astern. Division Two has Mayfair in the lead over Khaleesi, and then Maritimo 11, but just three nautical miles separate them all, so this one changes just about every time you refresh the screen.
Division Three is currently the elegant Swan 65 ketch, Eve, and Division Four cannot be relied upon at this time, as the leader’s position is based on dead reckoning, so the little S&S Azzurro may be a better indication of the lay of the land for now.
The Tasmanian entry of Rob Gough and John Saul in the Lombard penned Class 40, Sidewinder, lead the new Two-Handed division overall, but it is Robert Large and Chris Riggs from South Australia who own IRC for now.
Another challenging and tiring day of racing awaits all… Once you have survived the rigours of the beating, you will have the joy of dealing with lighter and more fickle conditions as your change of gear. In the meantime, the transition remains interesting depending on where you are in the fleet, and what time you leave Green Cape.
Much to play out and watch for yet… And you thought you were tired now. Crew rest, best helmers on the job, and not getting absent minded, and the Brains Trust back in Fantasy Land plotting and scheming the best possible scenarios. Almost enough to make you get back out there.
Stay safe, thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com, and all the best for 2022.