{"id":382939,"date":"2025-12-31T16:42:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T16:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/382939\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T16:42:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T16:42:33","slug":"sydney-hobart-a-very-ordinary-hobart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/382939\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney Hobart \u2013 A very ordinary Hobart"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sydney Hobart \u2013 A very ordinary Hobart
\n by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 30 Dec 17:02 PST<\/p>\n


\n MIN RIVER – Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison representing the host club, CYCA \u00a9 Rolex \/ Kurt Arrigo<\/p>\n

\"Henri-Lloyd
<\/a>\"Barton
<\/a><\/p>\n


\nNow don\u2019t get me wrong. That\u2019s a not a description of the on-water action from the 80th rendition of the Boxing Day Classic. Far from it, actually. Rather, it is a reflection upon that fact that an \u2018ordinary\u2019 Hobart invariably involves a mix of a couple of days on the breeze, with cold air and big water being the soup du jour, and then the de rigueur moments in the sun. The latter are the ones that would let you say to yourself, \u2018I\u2019ll line up for that again!\u2019 \n<\/p>\n


\nWhen it looked like a \u2018small boat\u2019 race, many (including this Scribe) looked at the 40-footers, because the running later in their multi-day race would suit a boat capable of going square and using its LWL. A very few went for the 30-somethings, like count them on one hand. Clearly, they were right. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe Double-Handers have been a fleet of 20 or thereabouts since the Division was created, and there are lot of 30-somethings in there, including ones that are very good at using the stiff breeze when aft of the beam. Twin rudders, advanced sail tech, some old school kite pole type stuff, water ballast, were just some of the variables to determine where you wanted to sit on the rating spectrum. In other words, many are in the same speed bracket, and even faster, than many a 40. Yes. Times do change. \n<\/p>\n


\nSo, it is really of no surprise that a Double-Hander got the Wonka ticket, when you see that most of that Division comprised the very craft that Huey anointed to the top status for the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. A fully crewed 30-footer could have done it too, but did not. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe doubles had a ding-dong battle the whole way, with lead changes about as quickly as you could hit refresh. They went in, they went out. They were West of the Rhumbline. They stayed East of it, especially in the early days, and never went across it when they came back in on Port. Make the most of the EAC for as long as you can stand the pain of tide against wind. Rack \u2018em. Pack \u2018em. And stack \u2018em. \n<\/p>\n


\nNow the absolute latest generations of the slick 30s that amazed in the Fastnet were not here for the Hobart, but it certainly did not mean there were no well-credentialled craft and crew around. Previous Fastnet winners. Previous Hobart winners. Totally optimised IRC production gems. Vessels that have already one or more laps of the planet. As for the sailors, in amongst them were seasoned short-handed pros from the European circuit, so you only had to join the dots to get the picture. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe Wonka Ticket \n<\/p>\n


\nIn reality, once the River Derwent closed down and held Celestial up for a handful of hours, the writing became pretty clear, like someone had passed the black light over the invisible ink. There was a moment when the Ocean Graders looked to be a chance briefly, but as the pocket of Nor\u2019easter grew in both size and intensity, and the bulk of the 30s made a good transition from Flinders Island to St Helens, it became a lot like watching the coach move the names on the magnets around the steel board. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle\u2026 \n<\/p>\n


\nLooking at IRC Overall, and the first big boat (MRV at 61 feet) is in 14th place (including all finishers). You have Love & War at 47, then a couple of 40s and the rest are 30 somethings, seven of which are doubles. It is more about generational change than anything else, and this will continue. Just look at the latest Leon (JPK 1050) and Rahan (enhanced Beneteau First 36, and hello to our mate Charlie BTW). This is a critical point. When you have a 33 that can punch out to 26 knots SOG as a blast speed in the ocean, 12 or so just isn\u2019t in the same league. Then you add that in for a few hours or days, well, you get the point. The Hobart IS a Windward\/Leeward, and this has just been proven rather emphatically. \n<\/p>\n


\nMin River gets up for the overall win and the Tattersall Cup. Not bad for 10 years out sailing and just the five Hobarts for owner, Jiang Lin. \n<\/p>\n


\nForget the Daily Double! \n<\/p>\n


\nAlso, what a Trifecta for Alexis Loison. La Solitaire du Figaro, The Fastnet and now Hobart, all in the one year. What\u2019s that going to be paying out? And what price is he going to be able to command for his services moving forward? Hat\u2019s off to both sailors, all right. JPK must be loving the podium, as well, me thinks\u2026 \n<\/p>\n


\nThere will always be a discussion around the full crewed vessels versus the doubles, and it needs to be said that before you go on, go out and try it. It is not just tiredness. It is not hand steering, a lot. It is not sail changes on your own. It is that sometimes you\u2019ll go one and a half or two gears in a change, and you\u2019ll go early, simply because it is harder and takes longer. \n<\/p>\n


\nSo yes, good to see friends remain friends. Good to sense and sensitivity win the day. And next year, everyone gets to do it all over again. Who\u2019s up for it? \n<\/p>\n


\nSorry for all the retirees. Just not your year. Almost all home as we write, and some will get in for the fireworks (on paper at least), with the remainder slugging it out for a bit longer yet, so that means it\u2019s not so much a wrap as it is a \u2018still to close off\u2019. \n<\/p>\n


\nThanks for being a crucial part of Sail-World.com \n<\/p>\n


\nEarlier 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Editorials: \n<\/p>\n


\nNew rulebook?<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nA new measurement system<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nDouble is not nothing<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nMoment in the sun?<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nThey will! Huey playing nicely<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nWill they? Won’t they?<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nNew leader as SHK Scallywag comes to the fore<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nWar of attrition as the plateau arrives<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nSurprised it took this long<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nI should be so…<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nDeath Valley or Plateau of Pain<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nOcean Graders’ Delight in the Sydney Hobart Race<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nNew and improved Swiss Army Knife (now with steroids)<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nLike watching a big front build<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nWho let the dogs out?<\/a> \n<\/p>\n


\nAnd so, it begins\u2026<\/a>
\n
\n
\n
\n \n <\/p>\n

\"Armstrong
<\/a>\"Marskeel
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