Tasmanian Boats in hunt for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race
Tasmanian boat Rumbeat, skippered by Justin Barr from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, with co-skipper and fellow Farr 1104 yacht owner Stewart Geeves, is currently leading on overall handicap in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, placing them firmly in the hunt for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.
Barr’s local rival Bryan Walpole, skipper of the Farr 1104 Invincible, is currently in second place with Michael Culhane’s Northshore 38, Weekend Option, in third place overall.
The Tasmanian boats are also applying pressure at the front of the fleet with Port Dalrymple Yacht Club’s Andrew Jones, skipper of the Inglis 47 AdvantEDGE, in second place in the fight for line honours, 11 nautical miles behind race leader Maritimo.
Scarlet Runner, the slick Carkeek 43 high performance boat skippered by Rob Date and winner of the Port Phillip Sea Pilot Perpetual Trophy for first out of the Port Phillip Heads yesterday, is in third place four nautical miles behind AdvantEDGE with the Cookson 50, Extasea, skippered by Paul Buchholz in fourth place.
Brent McKay’s Bakewell White Z39, Jazz Player, representing the Kettering Yacht Club and race partner, the Derwent Sailing Squadron, is in seventh place.
After a good reach across Bass Strait overnight, the fleet is experiencing stronger north to north easterly winds of 20 to 30 knots as they race down the West Coast of Tasmania, with a south westerly front expected later in the morning bringing similar wind strengths.
Race Director, Jeremy Walton, predicts the experienced double-handed crews will benefit from the stronger conditions and may be the boats to watch over the day.
Blue Water Tracks, the Moody 54 skippered by Grant Dunoon is leading the double handers with Joker on Tourer closing in.
On current estimates, the first boat is likely to arrive into Hobart around 9am on December 29th, approximately four hours outside the race record, however, if they can pick up time over the day, the race record could still be in reach.
Follow the race live on https://race.bluewatertracks.com/50th-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster-2022
The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, is organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.
For further info, please visit: www.orcv.org.au
Jane Austin/ORCV media
