Maritimo 11 Wins Line Honours in 50^th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

Maritimo 11 has won line honours in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race in Hobart today.  

In a time of 2 day 1 hours 22 minutes and 2 seconds, Michael Spies skippered the 54-foot Schumacher to victory in a race which tested the resilience and patience of the entire fleet, but none more so than the Maritimo crew.

Maritimo crew concentrate to maximise every breath of wind in the Derwent today Photo Jane Austen

The Maritimo team expected to line up on the start line of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on the Maritimo TP52 but experienced boat damage on the trip south to Sydney. When an attempt to replace the TP52 entry with the Schumacher 54 in the race failed, Spies and the Maritimo race management quickly pivoted to the 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, and what a decision that turned out to be.

Maritimo led the fleet off the start line in Port Phillip at Portsea but after a tactical misjudgment on the sail across to Queenscliff, lost the lead to Rob Date’s high-performance Fast 40+ boat, Scarlet Runner, who pounced on the opportunity and was first out of Port Phillip Heads, winning the Port Phillip Bay Sea Pilots Perpetual Trophy for their efforts.

Maritimo was locked in a close battle across Bass Strait with the Inglis 47 AdvantEDGE, skippered by Andrew Jones, Scarlet Runner, and Paul Buchholz’s Cookson 50, Extasea, but drew away from the fleet as they sailed past Green Point Beach on the run down the West Coast of Tasmania.  

Spies had the rest of the fleet covered from there, with the boat averaging 9.6 knots across the race, and making the most of the south-westerly air stream which saw her reach 16.9 knots in the run across the southern coast of Tasmania.   

Maritimo is currently well-placed to take out the IRC ratings division, but much will depend upon how the rest of the fleet navigates the last miles of the race and whether a forecast light sea-breeze helps or hinders the fleet.  

Michael Spies gives up thumbs up on the finish line photo Jane Austen

The overall winner will be decided on AMS handicap which is being led by the Elan 410, Saltair, skippered by Sarah Allard from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Currently at the halfway mark, and with over 200 nautical miles and several weather systems still to navigate, it’s going to be a tall order for Allard to hold her lead.

Other yachts currently in contention to win the race overall include Soiree Bleu, an Archambault A40 skippered by Douglas Lithgow, Patriot, sailed by Jason Close from the Sandringham Yacht Club in Victoria, and Goggo, a Beneteau First 50 skippered by William Newman from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.   

Expect division standings to fluctuate throughout the day as the Derwent River makes her intentions clear.

Tasmanian boat AdvantEDGE is in a duel of her own against MRV, the Frers 61 skippered by Damien King, as they compete for a podium place on line honours. 

Racing is close in the double-handed division with Anthony Fowler’s Nelson Marek 43, Quest, and Alex Toomey’s Sayer 12, Ryujin, locked in a tight battle.

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 Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au

Jane Austin/ORCV media

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Line honours pending for Maritimo in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

Maritimo, the 54-foot Schumacher skippered by veteran sailor Michael Spies, looks set to take line honours in the 50th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

On current estimates, Maritimo is expected to cross the finish line around 10am on Thursday 29th of December, but with the breeze predicted to drop to five knots this morning, navigating the River Derwent might prove to be the biggest challenge for the team.

There has been some shuffling of the deck chairs overnight and some interesting tactical calls from the lead boats determined to give themselves the best chance of a quick run to the finish line.

Maritimo closing in on line honours in the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Image Steb Fisher

At 6am this morning, Maritimo was racing at 8.8 knots just off Cape Connella on Bruny Island and had just over 31 nautical miles to sail to the finish line. Maritimo has a lead of about 29 nautical miles from Tasmanian Andrew Jones’s Inglis 47 AdvantEDGE and Damien King’s Frers 61, MRV.

Maritimo leads Rob Date’s high-performance boat Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner and Paul Buchholz’s Cookson 50, Extasea by just under 40 nautical miles.

Scarlett Runner and Extasea have given themselves every chance to claw back time from Maritimo and improve their overall position in the race by sailing further south in a strategy to find the best wind angle and strength for a quick run to the finish line in the 15 to 20 knot breeze across the south coast of Tasmania.

Leading the race overall is the Elan 410 Saltair, skippered by Sarah Allard from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria while Maritimo is currently leading on ORC and IRC ratings and is in second place on PHS and overall. MRV is in third place overall with

Jazz Player, the Bakewell-White Z39, skippered by Tasmania’s Brent McKay, in fourth place.

Sarah_Allard_Skipper_of_Saltair_Photo_Michael_Currie

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 Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au

Jane Austin/ORCV media

***Ends***

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Smaller boats rising to the challenge in the 50^th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 

The focus of offshore racing is often on the performance of maxi and super maxi yachts, but in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, several of the 35 to 40 footers in the 49-boat fleet are sailing the race of a lifetime. 

As at 2pm on Wednesday 28^th of December, the Tasmanian Farr 1104 yacht, Rumbeat, co-skippered by Justin Barr and Stewart Geeves from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, was maintaining her lead on overall handicap and is well in contention for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.

Tasmania’s Cromarty-Magellan, a Knoop 39 skippered by Richard Grant and with a mostly female crew, had moved into second place overall, a terrific effort for the team which has several newcomers onboard.

Cromarty Magellan in contention for overall handicap honours

Enchantress, a Muirhead 11 skippered by John Willoughby, and one of only two South Australian entries, is currently sitting in third place overall. In 2010, Enchantress won the Westcoaster, as the race is affectionately known, taking out all divisions. 

Willoughby was nostalgic when reflecting upon previous victories, as he prepared for this year’s anniversary race. “I’m coming back to the Melbourne to Hobart this year because it’s the 50^th race and I’m keen to join other past winners on the start line,” said Willoughby.

Willoughby, who was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021 for his ongoing contributions to regional and international eye health, is also celebrating 50 years as an ophthalmologist during this year’s race - a dual celebration for the seasoned campaigner.

Enchantress and her distinctive red hull is in the run for overall winner to the Melbourne to Hobart yacht race Photo Michael Currie

Another boat climbing up the overall handicap leaderboard is the family-led Summit 35, Vertigo from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Vertigo, skippered by father-daughter combination Tim and Clare Olding, is currently in eighth place on overall handicap and will be hoping to make small gains every hour to strengthen her position in the fleet.

Vertigo is no stranger to the dizzying heights of success, with wins already on the board in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 2021 Melbourne to Devonport Rudder Cup and the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race in 2019.

Clare Olding is the youngest skipper in the race and at 22 years of age, has a bright future in the world of ocean racing.

After a good reach across Bass Strait overnight, the fleet is experiencing tougher conditions down the West Coast of Tasmania with south westerly winds of 20 to 30 knots testing the fleet, however conditions are forecast to lighten-off overnight, when the fleet is expected to race across the southern coast of Tasmania with kites flying. 

Jeremy Walton, Race Director of the 50^th anniversary race, was speaking with ABC News this morning, and reflected upon the challenges and strengths of the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. 

“This is a race for everyone, sailing their boats as well as they can which to me is the biggest attraction about this race. It’s a complete and absolute challenge – it’s the only race that goes across Bass Strait – the other [Sydney to Hobart] race goes across the Tasman Sea – so yes definitely, this is a far far tougher race.”   

The battle for line honours continues with the Schumacher 54, Maritimo, skippered by Michael Spies, leading the race from Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, who is now in second place just three nautical miles ahead of AdvantEDGE, the Inglis 47 skippered by Andrew Jones from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club in Tasmania.   

On current estimates, the first boat is likely to arrive into Hobart around 11am on Thursday 29^th of December, but as all sailors racing to Hobart know, almost anything can happen in the Derwent River.  

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 Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au 

Jane Austin/ORCV media 

Smaller boats rising to the challenge in the 50^th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 

The focus of offshore racing is often on the performance of maxi and super maxi yachts, but in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, several of the 35 to 40 footers in the 49-boat fleet are sailing the race of a lifetime. 

As at 2pm on Wednesday 28^th of December, the Tasmanian Farr 1104 yacht, Rumbeat, co-skippered by Justin Barr and Stewart Geeves from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, was maintaining her lead on overall handicap and is well in contention for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.

Tasmania’s Cromarty-Magellan, a Knoop 39 skippered by Richard Grant and with a mostly female crew, had moved into second place overall, a terrific effort for the team which has several newcomers onboard.

Enchantress, a Muirhead 11 skippered by John Willoughby, and one of only two South Australian entries, is currently sitting in third place overall. In 2010, Enchantress won the Westcoaster, as the race is affectionately known, taking out all divisions. 

Willoughby was nostalgic when reflecting upon previous victories, as he prepared for this year’s anniversary race. “I’m coming back to the Melbourne to Hobart this year because it’s the 50^th race and I’m keen to join other past winners on the start line,” said Willoughby.

Willoughby, who was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021 for his ongoing contributions to regional and international eye health, is also celebrating 50 years as an ophthalmologist during this year’s race - a dual celebration for the seasoned campaigner.

Another boat climbing up the overall handicap leaderboard is the family-led Summit 35, Vertigo from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Vertigo, skippered by father-daughter combination Tim and Clare Olding, is currently in eighth place on overall handicap and will be hoping to make small gains every hour to strengthen her position in the fleet.

Vertigo is no stranger to the dizzying heights of success, with wins already on the board in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 2021 Melbourne to Devonport Rudder Cup and the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race in 2019.

Clare Olding is the youngest skipper in the race and at 22 years of age, has a bright future in the world of ocean racing.

After a good reach across Bass Strait overnight, the fleet is experiencing tougher conditions down the West Coast of Tasmania with south westerly winds of 20 to 30 knots testing the fleet, however conditions are forecast to lighten-off overnight, when the fleet is expected to race across the southern coast of Tasmania with kites flying. 

Jeremy Walton, Race Director of the 50^th anniversary race, was speaking with ABC News this morning, and reflected upon the challenges and strengths of the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. 

“This is a race for everyone, sailing their boats as well as they can which to me is the biggest attraction about this race. It’s a complete and absolute challenge – it’s the only race that goes across Bass Strait – the other [Sydney to Hobart] race goes across the Tasman Sea – so yes definitely, this is a far far tougher race.”   

The battle for line honours continues with the Schumacher 54, Maritimo, skippered by Michael Spies, leading the race from Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, who is now in second place just three nautical miles ahead of AdvantEDGE, the Inglis 47 skippered by Andrew Jones from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club in Tasmania.   

On current estimates, the first boat is likely to arrive into Hobart around 11am on Thursday 29^th of December, but as all sailors racing to Hobart know, almost anything can happen in the Derwent River.  

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 Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au 

Jane Austin/ORCV media